Introduction to dispute management -- The nature of disputes -- Potential sources of dispute -- Dispute avoidance techniques -- Dispute management

Provides a practical management primer for construction professionals in how to avoid and manage construction contract disputes in a non-confrontational way. Argues that running complex, high-value construction projects is demanding even when things run smoothly. Disputes are therefore unwelcome and can be exponentially damaging without due attention, so it pays to minimise the possibilities of them occurring in the first place, and failing this, use strategies to manage them effectively. Helps property professionals do this by identifying the types, causes and nature of disputes, and then offering a toolkit of simple management techniques to avoid costly alternative dispute resolution, arbitration or litigation procedures. The toolkit ranges from technical advice about contracts and good record keeping through to communication skills and managing expectations. Concludes by looking at what to do once a dispute exists, describing a range of techniques from dispute mapping and analytical problem-solving through to framing, negotiation and de-escalation.