What are contracts and how are they created?

• The need for contractual relationships
• What is needed to create a valid contract?  Ingredients and formalities
• Authority and agency
• The tender process
• Alternative sourcing
• Making contracts enforceable – with particular emphasis on the international context

The Structure of contracts

• Form of Agreement
• Hierarchy of Terms and Conditions
• Different contractual structures ?Traditional and new
• Risk and Title (ownership) in international trade. When does it transfer?
• Notices and other formalities
• Which law and which courts?

Collateral documents

• Securitising performance obligations
• Bonds and guarantees
• Parent company guarantees
• Letters of intent,  comfort or awareness
• Insurance policies
• Assessing the need for financial security

Change and variation

• Changes to Contract documents
• Assignment/Novation explained and distinguished
• Variation clauses  and changes to the scope of work
• Claims – what they are, and how they arise
• Delay and disruption
• Force majeure

Resolving Disputes

• Conflict avoidance and tiered dispute resolution clauses
• Negotiation
• Litigation
• Arbitration
• Mediation, ENE and new best practices in dispute resolution and management
• Final questions and review of course

The 1st Steps to Becoming World Class

• Stages To World Class Purchasing
• How Purchasing is viewed today
• Strategic Sourcing
• Developing Spend Profiles and the ABC Analysis
• New Job Descriptions For Purchasing of the future
• Purchasing Personnel Required Skill Sets

Evaluating Your Own Operation

• What are Best Practices
• Purchasing Gap Analysis
• Vision and Mission for Purchasing
• Developing The Purchasing Department Strategic Plan
• Developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) For Procurement
• Developing A Company Purchase Price Index

Continuous Improvement and How to Get It

• Cost Reduction Initiatives
• Methods of Cost Containment
• Waste In The Supply Chain
• Breaking Down The Elements Of Supplier Cost
• Commodity/Service Strategic Planning

Supplier Management Approaches

• Supplier Classification System
• Supplier Qualification Methods
• Supplier Performance Metrics
• Apply Performance criteria to Purchasing Decisions
• Process Mapping To Eliminate Low Value Activities
• Applying eProcurement business process

Improving the Image of Procurement

• Global Sourcing
• International Labor Rates Comparison
• Developing and Maintaining a Customer Focus
• Basic Issues In Corruption And Fraud Prevention
• Increasing The Level of Procurement Professionalism
• Keeping Current in the profession