Business Procurement and Contractual Practice

Summary of module for applicants:

This module enable students to develop their business management skills required for the construction industry both in the UK and in developing areas of the world.  It explores the changing and increasingly global construction industry with a focus on the financial, planning and management aspects of a project life cycle. It will consider the differing international requirements for overseas construction trade and development.

The aim is to have understanding that how the social and political environment can shape the way that the construction industry operates in any country. Students will be able to recognise how to manage international construction projects and what will be the key factors.

Also the module will enable students to explore and develop their understanding of the Contract negotiation and strategic of construction procurement and tendering.  Explain how the current, common standard construction contracts evolved. To examine the nature of construction contracts, standard form of contracts, procurement and construction processes, contract claims, and dispute resolutions.

Main topics of study:

• Understand general management principles in the global engineering and construction environment.
• Understand innovation, creativity and its role on construction organization
• Demonstrate the construction marketing strategy
• Financial and cost management
• Organisational structure, design, and environment. and the influence of culture on an enterprise.
• The key difference when buying design and construction services around the world.
• Critically review companies development strategy and an implementation plan for the international market.
• Systems thinking and its application in an international business.
• The institutional infrastructure of the industry and standard form of contracts such as JCT, NEC, FIDIC
• The selection of contract and risk allocation
• The formation of contract, tendering procedures and liability
• Environmental law and legislations related to the construction industry
• Contractual terms and clauses in construction contracts, such as extension of time, liquidated damages, nature and quality of contract work, payment, claims, subcontracting, insurance and bonds
• Remedies for breach of contract, litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, arbitration, mediation, negotiation and adjudication
• Construction law

Learning Outcomes for the module

• Digital Proficiency - Code = (DP)
• Industry Connections - Code = (IC)
• Emotional Intelligence Development - Code = (EID)
• Social Intelligence Development - Code = (SID)
• Physical Intelligence Development - Code = (PID)
• Cultural Intelligence Development - Code = (CID)
• Community Connections - Code = (CC)
• UEL Give-Back - Code = (UGB)

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

Knowledge

• Explain and demonstrate the development of business management theories on international projects. (IC)
• Compare and contrast different project environments for major projects. (PID)
• Demonstrate and be able to analyse cost and financial information for a construction  project (CID)
• Assess and compare and contrast  various construction contracts and their application for different construction projects (CC)

Thinking skills

• Outline the role of organizations and how they are shaped to meet short, medium and long term objectives (CID)
• Illustrate how management has developed over time and the relevant connections and influences between key authors and identify why business must cope with change and uncertainty (DP)
• Demonstrate and be able to analyse cost and financial information for a construction project (CID)
• Critically evaluate the selection of contract and risk allocation (SID)

Subject-based practical skills

• Evaluate strategic planning models and leadership styles (DP)
• Recognize the importance of resource management on organizational performance, cost, financial management and marketing strategy (CC)
• Critically apply tendering procedures within the construction industry (PID)
• Demonstrate the choice of dispute resolution in construction contracts and critically evaluate it (SID)

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Develop the ability to construct robust arguments whilst drawing upon theory.(IC)
• Select & justify the use of construction contracts to manage different construction work within the industry (PID)