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CONTENTS

1. ECI News
2. ECI Events - register online below
3. ECI Master Classes- register online below
4. Other Events/News - register online below
5. Publications - order online

Launch of Project Development and Definition Handbook

The launch, on 28 September, of ECI’s new handbook on Project Development and Definition, was a lively affair. It took the form of a workshop at the British Nuclear Group site at Risley, Warrington and was attended by a mix of members and non-members from major clients and contractors. The author, Chris Fox, presented the background and purpose of the book, outlining the issues that it tackled.
He cited the ECI Value Enhancement Practice 1.2 “A Project will only meet the owner’s business requirements and deliver cost-effective solutions if the objectives, scope and the basis for performing the work are explicitly defined with clear success criteria articulated. “If this is not properly executed,” he warned “The project will encounter difficulties and ultimate success may be compromised”. The workshop also included presentations from Shell UK who gave detailed examples illustrating some of the issues covered in the book.

The book will be essential reading for both clients and contractors. It contains tools to enable best practice as well as a wealth of information and good advice based on the author’s long career of responsibility for projects, mostly with the Royal Dutch Shell Group. It has been compiled with the help of experienced professionals from other major client members of ECI, namely Air Products, AstraZeneca, BP, Procter and Gamble and Shell UK.

Copies can now be purchased from ECI, tel: +44 (0)1509 223526 or email: eci@lboro.ac.uk, price £60 (members £40).

The next ECI handbook to be published will be Managing People on Construction Projects, which will be launched by a workshop on 13 October, at the offices of Alstec Ltd in Leicester, starting at 13.30.
Please see ECI events section below for further information.

ACTIVE Awards 2006

Following last year’s successful project management competition, the decision has been taken to run it again in 2006.

Nominations are open to all ECI current member companies, including associate members, or to projects in which ECI members have had a significant involvement.

Entrants will be judged on the extent of application of ECI and ACTIVE Value Enhancing Practices (VEPs) as well as actual achieved performance.

Up to four awards will be made for projects which have been completed during the past year. The closing date for entries, which must be on an official entry form is 31 January 2006. Awards will be presented to the winners at the ECI Annual Conference in Delft, March 23 and 24 2006.

For further details about the ECI and ACTIVE VEPs, can be obtained from the ECI office by tel: +44 (0)1509 223526 or email: eci@lboro.ac.uk. Entry forms for the ACTIVE awards will be available soon.

Workshop to launch new ECI handbook - Managing people in Construction Projects
Date: 13 October
Venue: Alstec Offices, Leicester
Timings: 13.30 - 16.30

For the last two years the 'Respect for People' Task Force has been investigating how companies manage people in projects and this work has culminated in a new ECI publication: 'Managing People on Construction Projects Handbook'. The half day launch of this publication is free to ECI members who will receive a copy of the new publication at the event.

Autumn workshop for ECI members and Friends (open to all)
and the ECI Board of Advisors (BoA) meeting (ECI members only)
Date: Thursday 17 November
Venue: Sheraton Heathrow Hotel, London Heathrow, UK
Timings: 10.30 - 16.30

The workshop programme will include specific workshops on:

• Multicultural Team-Working and
• Construction Futures.

Please see attached flyer for further details, including registration information.

ECI ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2006
Date: 23 & 24 March 2006
Venue: Aula Conference Centre, Technical University of Delft, Netherlands
Theme: Global Construction 10 years on

A range of expert speakers will address the key issues, such as:

• the drivers for change in the industry 
• strategies for survival and growth
• safety, health and environment issues that will affect the industry's evolution
• evolving markets 
• technological progress 
• the new reality of multi-cultural working and distributed 'virtual' teams
• other industries’ response to the challenges of momentous
  change

Further details of the programme and how to apply will be available soon.

To register for any of the events listed above or for further information, please contact Anu Khandelwal at the ECI office on +44 (0)1509 228797 or visit the ECI website for further details.

UK MASTER CLASSESS

MC03 Risk Analysis & Management
The programme is aimed at project and contract engineers who already use risk management but want to take their knowledge and experience to a higher level of practice.
The management of risk is inherent to both project and contract management. It is inherent to project management because projects, being unique, novel and transient, are uncertain, and hence risky. It is inherent to contracts because one of the functions of contracts is to share this risk between the parties in a project. This class looks at the principles of managing risk, the psychology of risk and examines both the qualitative and quantitative management of risk.

Date: Thursday 20th October
Time: 10.00 - 17.00
Venue: Manchester Airport Moathouse Hotel
Course Tutor: Steve Simister

MC20 Learning from Experience (LFE)
This Master Class will describe learning from experience (LFE) and look at its application to projects and contracts, whilst explaining how organisations can make use of knowledge to add value to the project process. Delegates will be encouraged to share their own learning experiences, and industry-based case studies will highlight the benefits LFE can bring to projects and organisations.

Date: Thursday 27th October
Time: 10.00 - 17.00
Venue: The Parkmore Hotel, Stockton-on-Tees
Course Tutor: Steve Simister


MC19 Project Development and Definition
It is clear that quality of project development and definition is a key factor in determining project outcome and that it is in the development phase that the majority of the key strategy decisions are (or should be) taken. This masterclass will propose methodologies for optimal development of projects, and to encourage cross-fertilisation of ideas and experience of those present.

Date: Thursday 10th November
Time: 10.00 - 17.00
Venue: The Parkmore Hotel, Stockton-on-Tees
Course Tutor: Chris Fox

BENELUX MASTER CLASSESS

MC02 Partnering and Alliancing
Partnering and Alliancing has been adopted as the modern approach to contract formulation, in an attempt to overcome the destructive, confrontational approaches of the past. It is expected this will lead to better outcomes for both clients and contractors. The Master Class will also focus on how successful long term partnerships can be established and managed to the benefit of all parties. It will describe a process model which can be used and will highlight the risks associated with this type of relationship and how they may be overcome. Case studies of successful long term partnerships will be presented. This class draws on the work of ECI in this area.

Date: 03 November 2005 (please note date change from original programme)
Time: 10.00 - 17.00
Venue: Delft, the Netherlands
Course Tutor: Professor Rodney Turner

For further information and to register for any of the above masterclasses please contact Anu Khandelwal at the ECI office on +44 (0) 1509 228797 or visit the ECI website for a full list of the topics and venues for 2005

EPMF 10 - Current Project Management issues
It's a selection of very current project management topics: risk, governance, earned value, people and programme management. The unusual item this time is Hovercraft, celebrating 50 years, selected especially for our Mechanical hosts.  Can EPMF help it back to prominence?

Date: Thursday 8 December 2005
Timings: 9:00 - 16.45
Venue: Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London SW11 9JJ

For further information and to register for this event please contact Steve Wake or contact the EPMF office by telephone +44 (0)208 886 5594.

NEW PUBLICATIONS OUT NOW

ECI Pricing System for Piping Works - Version 2 (2005)
ISBN 1 873844 60 3

Since the initial publication in 2002, a number of owners, EPC contractors and construction contractors in our industry have applied the ECI Pricing System for Piping Works successfully on different types of project at various locations. Their contribution in providing comments and suggested improvements is highly appreciated and enabled the ECI Benelux Subcontracting Task Force to prepare this 'Revision 2005' of the system. In addition, a number of modifications were required to better support further automation of the execution work processes that interface with the system.

The system provides a structured approach designed to reduce bidding costs for owners and contractors alike, it includes a spreadsheet with multipliers on a CD-ROM, not a ready-made software package, but simple enough to integrate into any company's existing software.

This publication is now available to purchase from the ECI office at £40.00 to members and £60.00 to non-members.


Project Development and Definition Handbook (2005)
ISBN 1 873844 61 1

Effective project definition is a cornerstone of good practice. Engineering and construction projects are important components of business investment processes. Unless projects are properly defined, their chances of success are slim, often posing a significant risk to the overall business.

This ECI manual, written by Chris Fox, will be an essential tool for clients, contractors, advisers and suppliers.

This publication is now available to purchase from the ECI office at £40.00 to members and £60.00 to non-members.

Managing people in Construction Projects (2005)
ISBN 1 873844 61 1

This major new ECI publication will introduce a suite of practical techniques to underpin effective project teamwork, leadership and empowerment strategies. Essential for all those involved with managing teams.

This publication is now available to purchase from the ECI office at £40.00 to members and £60.00 to non-members.

A full list of publications available to purchase from ECI can be found on the publications page of the ECI website or contact Anu Khandelwal at the ECI office.

To learn more about the European Construction Institute (ECI), its members and work, please visit
the ECI website: http://www.eci-online.org/ or contact the ECI office on tel: +44 (0)1509 223526.