Procuring Successful Mega-Projects
How to Establish Major Government Contracts Without Ending up in Court
By: Ms Louise Hart
About This Book
Mistakes on mega-projects continue to embarrass Governments all over the world. No country has been immune from such fiascos, but the failures are eminently avoidable - if you know how. Governments don’t need the costs of failure, they don’t need the aggravation. They do need Louise Hart’s Procuring Successful Mega-Projects. Within the context of large public projects, the author explains how to structure the project, how to build and manage a team, how to run the procurement process and how to ensure that the handover to the delivery phase is not a hospital pass.
AI Overview
Book Overview: "Procuring Successful Mega-Projects" by Louise Hart
Title: Procuring Successful Mega-Projects: How to Establish Major Government Contracts Without Ending Up in Court Author: Louise Hart Publisher: Gower Publishing (Surrey, UK) Edition: 1st Edition (2015)
Key Themes
- Contract Establishment: The book focuses on the critical process of establishing major government contracts, emphasizing the importance of avoiding undeliverable obligations and perverse incentives.
- Public Sector Environment: It navigates the complexities of the public sector environment, including hiring freezes, governance frameworks, and managing relationships with ministers.
- Adviser Selection and Management: The book provides guidance on selecting and managing lawyers and other advisers, highlighting the importance of building effective adviser-client relationships.
- Bullet-Proof Procurement Process: It outlines a structured and fair procurement process that delivers great outcomes for both bidders and project stakeholders.
- Risk Management and Performance Incentives: The book covers risk management strategies and performance incentives to ensure successful project management.
Plot Summary
The book is a mentor's guide for project directors, offering practical advice on how to set up major government contracts that avoid litigation. It is divided into five main parts, each addressing different aspects of megaproject procurement:
- Introduction: Describes the main issues in megaproject procurement and key technical issues to avoid.
- The Contract: Covers projects, specifications, risk management, performance incentives, and boilerplate clauses.
- The People: Focuses on ministers, agencies, lawyers, other advisers, and governance frameworks.
- The Procurement Process: Explores key technical issues in establishing a procurement process, including cost and time overruns, and sustainability in megaprojects.
- Finishing in Style: Provides guidance on completing the procurement process successfully.
Critical Reception
The book has received positive reviews for its practical and engaging approach to megaproject procurement:
- Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers: Described as a "unique specialist book on the good practice of megaproject procurement," it is recommended for both academics and professionals involved in megaproject procurement and management.
- Strathprints Review: The reviewer praises the book for its inspirational and useful content, noting that it provides numerous useful in-text tips from vivid experiences in related procurement practice.
Overall, "Procuring Successful Mega-Projects" is considered essential reading for anyone involved in the procurement and management of megaprojects, offering practical advice to avoid costly failures and ensure successful project outcomes.