Pre-conference In-depth Learning Sessions - Monday 17 November

In-depth Learning Session A:
Improving contract management and supplier relationship management in the public sector

The increasing importance of contracting means that managing responsibility transcends the traditional, more administrative role. To manage today’s contracts, a direct role must be played at a strategic and operational level to ensure value for money is achieved and risks are minimised.

Furthermore, many leading companies have realised that it is vital to make sure supplier relationships are managed well - at corporate and interpersonal levels. This session will help you gain an insight into your relationship style and improve your interpersonal relationships involved in managing contracts.

This workshop is specifically for those responsible for one or more aspects of contract management. It provides an in-depth understanding of the contracting process, how to effectively manage contracts, and how to get the most value out of them.

Participants are split into small groups with similar expertise areas to ensure everyone has the maximum opportunity to have their individual questions and needs addressed. In this group, you will work through the issues and techniques raised within the program.

You will also complete a confidential online profile prior to the workshop, to gain valuable insight into your Contract Management Style.

Key topics and take away skills:

Compare your contract management to a best practice checklist
Learn the difference between a good and poor specification, and what that means to your role as a contract manager
Examine the different techniques required to manage the different price models
Understand the contract lifecycle and how it affects contract management
Implement the contract management team with the right skills
Implement effective issue, variation, and dispute management
Discover your CM style and how to work with people that have different styles
Effectively plan your options at the end of a contract

Workshop facilitator:

Joe Caruso, Director, The Cullen Group

In-depth Learning Session B:
Probity & procurement – improving systems and processes to ensure the most upright and honest standards are kept throughout your organisation

Maintaining probity within procurement involves more than simply avoiding corruption or dishonest conduct – it requires ethical behavior in every step of every process to ensure impartiality, transparency and accountability. Suppliers need to be comfortable and confident when engaging with government through both tenders and direct procurement and the public must be confident that these processes are fair and every dollar spent achieves the best ‘value for money’ possible.

This workshop is designed for those working within procurement in the public sector who want to deepen their knowledge of proper probity practices and take away proven strategies to mitigate risk.

Key topics include:

The foundations and principles of probity
Best practice internal organisation and decision making processes
How to establish check and systems to ensure impartiality
Managing and mitigating probity risks in procurement

Workshop facilitator:
Alan Osborne, Executive Director, PSI Asia Pacific