Why c2pi?
Complementing the i3d3 model, our researchers have also produced a client-contractor project innovation (c2pi) tool that can assess the extent of innovation that has taken place during project delivery.
It is generally accepted that the merits of project success depend on who is judging and when the evaluation takes place. Yet not all project participants share equally in success. There are potentially winners and losers. There are also differing interests and motivations at play. This is no more obvious than in the client-contractor relationship during the project implement phase, when the client’s objectives (maximum scope with minimum cost, time and risk) collide with the contractor’s objectives (maximum profit with minimum defects, time and accidents). These success factors lead to diverse outcomes but remain agnostic to project type, size, location or date.
Business-as-usual might be argued as a process that delivers a project that satisfies the goals of both client and contractor. Unsatisfactory outcomes might be considered as failure and depending on the extent of dissatisfaction this could lead to a serious reduction in project benefits. Project managers are typically charged with implementing projects that can realize stakeholder benefits (or value for money). They sit between client and contractor although not with equal allegiance.
The intersection between client and contractor is contested space. It comprises client-led variations to the scope of work, contractor-led innovation that improves delivery performance (working smarter) and how mutual benefits can be accessed and shared. The space is a microcosm within a wider context of financial, social, ethical and environmental consequences where a range of stakeholders can be affected. Collateral damage can occur.
The purpose of c2pi is to explore the nature of this contested space and how decisions taken during project implementation can be optimized to deliver us from business-as-usual. It is where innovative ideas can be implemented that lead to process improvement, productivity gains and better outcomes without reducing quality. Below is a hypothetical example of the c2pi calculation. This tool is ideal for measuring the nature of client-contractor relationships and benchmarking head contractor success (HCS).
