Managing Risk and Reducing Disputes in Construction

About this course.

What this course covers

This course is about preventing and managing disputes on building and construction projects. It starts by diagnosing why disputes happen so often, then works through the practical habits that stop most of them: getting a clear written contract with a well-defined scope, documenting variations and instructions, programming realistically, managing quality to prevent defects, and keeping thorough records and open communication. It then explains how progress payments work and the fact that every Australian state and territory has security-of-payment legislation giving contractors and subcontractors a statutory right to claim and recover progress payments through a rapid adjudication process — described in general terms, because the detailed timeframes, forms and steps differ by jurisdiction. Finally, it maps the spectrum of dispute-resolution options and explains when to bring in professional or legal help.