Is Collaborative Contracting Relevent to me?

Collaborative contracting is not a specific form of contracting.

Rather, it is an umbrella term that applies to a range of contracting strategies that are characterised by legal and commercial frameworks not evidenced in other traditional contracting strategies.

Collaborative contracting enables participants, owner and non-owner, to work together in an open and non-adversarial environment which propogates relational principles and supports an open-book, partnership style to project delivery. Collaborative contracts provide all parties involved with the opportunity to work in a collaborative way, based on principles of trust and open communication. They enable the flexibility and incentive to work together to deliver optimal commercial outcomes for all. Collaborative principles, or relationship-based contracts as they are also known, foster a culture of equity, trust, respect, and openness.

In the 90s, the construction industry was coming out of a period of aggressive adversarial contracting. Signi?cant costs were being incurred in the arbitration and litigation that followed. Collaborative contracting signi?cantly reduces the risk  of claims between the parties. This is achieved through the use  of inclusive and collaborative legal and commercial arrangements.

This article explores the current state of play with collaborative contracting as well as what's ahead.

For more information about this subject matter you can also visit:

www.collaborativecontracting.com.au or call 02 9229 1000

Tags:   collaborative contracting | open book | collaborative principals | relationship-based contracting