PROJ410 - WEEK 1, DQ 2, CONTRACT VERSUS PROJECT MANAGEMENT

A project manager and a contract manager are both needed to administer a procured project or process. If you were the project manager, how would you work with a contract manager to ensure a successful procurement? In answering this question, consider such issues as the following: At what point would you want to get the contract manager involved in the project? What areas of the contract would you want to be his or her responsibility? How much and what types of communication would you want the seller (i.e., the contracted firm) to have with the contract manager? Who would handle conflicts that might arise with costs, schedules, or scope? Please remember to answer all components of the question. 1. The project manager should try to utilize all useful information the contract manager has in favor of successful project execution. The terms and conditions of the contract would be analyzed in detail, which will help the project manager to identify the pros and cons of the contract. The total cost of the project would be identified and an effort would be put up to minimize the cost. Risk management would be another issue to address requiring discussion with the contract manager. Post project marketing and issues related to the supply of the product would be analyzed with the help of contract manager. 2. Issues related to the contract, price fixing, any upcoming changes in the contract (additions, subtraction in policies of the seller). 3. The project manager is responsible for handling the conflicts that might arise with costs, schedules, or scope of the project however, the help of contract manager may be taken.