Conflict avoidance

Projects are usually long-term transactions with high uncertainty and complexity, and it is impossible to resolve every detail and foresee every eventuality at the outset. As a result, situations often arise that are not clearly addressed by the contract. The basic factors that drive the development of conflict are:

• Uncertainty,
• Contractual problems
• Behaviour.

Conflict can lead to the deterioration of relationships, a breakdown of trust, delays, additional costs and ultimately to breaches of contract and claims for damages.

For more information see: Construction disputes.

Conflict avoidance strategies can be used to manage these factors. Some of the most common conflict avoidance approaches include:

• Effective management. Potential problems can be analysed and managed by proactively planning future work and raising issues of concern early.
• Ensuring clear contract documents. Conflicts can arise from ambiguities in contract documents.
• Partnering and alliancing. Closer co-operation between project stakeholders can improve teamwork.
• Client management. A proper and full understanding of the client’s objectives can help avoid conflict, as can liaising with the client and managing expectations regularly.
• Progress assessment. Regularly assessing project progress, costs, and other key performance indicators and liaising with the main contractor to deal with any problems.
• Design team management. Ensuring timely provision of comprehensive and coordinated information both within the design team and from them to the contractor.
• Maintaining records. Conflict can often be avoided by keeping proper and detailed records of agreements, instructions, variations, labour, plant, materials, and so on.
• Payment practices. Establishing and adhering to proper payment practices.
• Stakeholder consultation and stakeholder management. Keeping all stakeholders up to date with regular reports on objectives risks, cost, progress and quality.
• Third party dependencies. Identifying and assessing third party dependencies and putting in place strategies to mitigate, transfer, avoid or accept risks.

See also: Conflict avoidance pledge.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Adversarial behaviour in the UK construction industry.
• Alternative dispute resolution.
• Chinese wall.
• CLC document on claims and disputes in construction.
• Conflict avoidance pledge.
• Conflict of interest.
• Construction disputes.
• Contract claims.
• Delays on construction projects.
• Dispute resolution.
• Game theory.
• Negotiation techniques.
• Pressing pause to avoid errors.
• Risk assessment.