Fighting their corner

QS News weighed in with a left hook and then followed it up with a crunching right in reporting on James Nisbet’s book and Tony Bingham’s remarks at the RICS legal seminar (QS News, 20 October).

I attended the latter event and wondered if any of the technical press was present to pick up on Tony Bingham’s controversial, but sound observations.

These men have got the “guts” to challenge the basis of decisions in construction procurement, a failing of many professionals (me included) who too often are frightened of speaking out in case we are seen to be “rocking the boat” or “out of date”.

I really should take my two-and-a half-year-old granddaughter with me to some of these meetings, as she’s good at persistently asking “why” to things the family say or do. We reply, in frustration, with “because we say so” and this is unfortunately often the answer in the construction industry when project strategies are questioned.

Sir Michael Latham and Sir John Egan got the construction industry thinking and introduced good ideas, while James Nisbet and Tony Bingham remind us, even with new ideas, of the need to apply the basics and common sense if we want to achieve a successful, dispute-free and profitable project.

Professionals occasionally need to have the nerve to challenge decisions that are patently going to create problems. That way we might avoid some costly mistakes.

Anyone want to borrow my granddaughter? (for a fee, of course!).

Doug Chalmers, The cbe Partnership

Source

QS News