The Project Delivery Sweepstake

With the Spring Racing Carnival underway, thoughts turn to runners, riders and for some an annual flutter on the big race – the Melbourne Cup. For those less interested in studying form there is always a sweepstake to participate in  – relying on nothing more than the luck of the draw. Over the years, I have observed that some Clients appear to take the same random approach to selecting a delivery method for their project, despite the stakes being considerably higher than a $5 office sweep .

So allow me to be your form guide and let us consider the different runners in the project delivery field.

Hard $

Also known as ‘Construct Only’, this is the workhorse of the field. If the track is simple and well understood Hard $ could be the horse for you. Pay the owner an agreed amount and watch them go. If they take too long you may be able to get some compensation but if the going is heavy you could be faced with some additional stabling bills.

D&C

If you generally know what race you want to run but you want a delivery horse that will look after the detail then Design and Construct, or D&C as she is affectionately known, is the horse for you. On the downside, if you change your mind mid way through – about the race you want to run  – you can expect to be stung for more than a bag of oats.

EPCM

Don’t want the hassle of managing jockeys, stables and arranging competition entry? Are you happy to pay someone else to do this for you?  If this is the case then EPCM or Construction Management is the horse (or trainer) for you. Whilst well suited to complex endurance races,  you won’t find very many owners of this horse sat in the Winners’ Enclosure with a large grin on their face (particularly in Queensland) as most races end up with a Steward’s Enquiry into how long the race took to run and why it cost so much to get to the finish line.

Direct Management

The opposite of EPCM, this horse requires a great deal of your time and effort to get it to the finish line. If you consider yourself an expert in the field and don’t mind mucking out the stables, this horse will be well suited for your needs. Who needs a trainer or a jockey when you can do it all yourself?

ECI

Early Contractor Involvement or ECI for short (from the same bloodline as Hard $)  is the right horse if  you want to test the track before the big race  and get some inside tips on the best line to take and shortcuts that may save you money. Once your plan for success is agreed, they will run your race for an agreed fee or you can give them an apple, pat them on the back and send them on their way.

Alliance

Competing in a steeplechase with lots of tricky fences to hurdle and highly variable track conditions? Alliance will help you navigate all of these and will always have your best interests at heart. You will always know where you stand with her financially as she will send you a monthly itemised bill for all costs incurred plus a management fee. If Alliance loses the race you can claim some of these costs back from her but if she wins she gets to keep some of the prize money. Some pundits have questioned whether she provides value for money.

PPP

If you don’t have enough spare cash to buy your own horse and have a big race to run that cannot be delayed, as your backers are getting restless at your lack of action, then Public Private Partnership will be happy to help you. For a small upfront fee, the team behind PPP will arrange finance for you and run the race to your exact requirements but you are likely to be paying them back for years to come especially if you over stated the prize money on offer .

Still confused? Want to avoid your project finishing last and losing the shirt of your back? Contact the the project delivery experts at Brackenway Consulting – just don’t ask us for a tip on the Cup!