Collaboration - Idea No. 2

We talk a lot these days about “collaboration" in the construction industry.

And it is all nice and good but what does this word actually ask us to do on a day to day basis, especially for those negotiating construction contracts.

Suggestion number two is to track drafting changes in the word document itself over departure tables.

WHY - the amendments can easily be seen and understood in their full context which in turn builds understanding and trust.

WHY ARE DEPARTURE TABLES BAD FOR COLLABORATION?

Departure tables drive all sorts of insidious consequences (a bit like billable hours):

· No one talks to each other.

· We all write in shorthand to fit the tiny boxes.

· We deal with each amendment individually and we don’t stop to assess the overall impact of the changes.

· We limit the issues we raise because commercially we think that a long list of departures looks bad, leaving lots of residual issues unexplored and misunderstood.

If collaboration is your goal, design your negotiation process to build relationships and understanding, not the opposite.