Managing a programme under the NEC3 ECC contract

A well thought out, detailed contractor’s programme should be used such that is a proactive management tool for both managing the works on a day-to-day basis, and a mechanism to demonstrate the effects and hence entitlement (if any) when change occurs. The NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) in terms of programme management is essentially a set of good practice project management requirements that, if followed, should benefit all concerned. This paper considers some of the practical problems in managing such a system and offers some practical advice to both contractor and project manager to help to ensure that the up-to-date accepted programme that the contract is striving towards becomes the reality.