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World Class Contracting: How Winning Companies Build Successful Partnerships in the e-Business Age. By Gregory A. Garrett (Chicago, IL: CCH Incorporated, A Wolters Kluwer Company, 2003, ISBN Number: 0-8080-0977- X, Softbound, 336 pages, U.S. $56.00)
Best practices in contracting methods are the subject of this book. While approaching the subject from a commercial perspective, the commonalities between private and public sector contracting techniques and objectives are emphasized. The book starts by describing ways that contracting organizations can build trust and communication in the procurement cycle. The initial emphasis is on procurement planning and identifying the needs of the buying organization followed by an analysis of the contract formation process and the importance of defining terms and conditions. An overview of the acquisition process is provided to provide the setting for the in-depth description of best practices in contracting.
A continuing theme is the need for teamwork between project management and contract specialist officials; an entire chapter is devoted to this subject. Later, techniques of coordinating progress reports between technical departments, project managers and contracts management departments are described in terms of web based global systems.
The historical use of international contracts and their inherent weaknesses serve as a guide to recommended best practices. The appendix contains relevant official documents such as the Convention for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) in hard copy as well as the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Where these rules apply and where they do not is also described. Included are a description of the particular aspects of state law and how their applicability affects interstate and international business relationships.
A quite thorough review of the contract acquisition cycle is provided, with emphasis on the selection, review and evaluation...