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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

Experts on construction in China will share their knowledge and experience at the ECI Conference
CEL International have experience of China going back 40 years to when they were a division of the Courtauld group. Their MD, Gareth Davies, will be sharing their knowledge at the ECI Conference in Delft, The Netherlands, on 23 and 24 March, 2006, in tandem with David Lyon of Intralink, who are specialists in market access and business  development in overseas markets, particularly in China. They will look at the current and future issues for China and its construction industry, and share invaluable advice on how to achieve success in the market. Says Gareth: “China is currently the most exciting place in world  to be doing business".

This is an opportunity not to be missed!

For more information visit the CEL International and Intralink website.

Benelux New Year Reception sets the tone for the first full year at Delft University of Technology
A convivial and enthusiastic group gathered for the Benelux New Year Reception at Delft University of Technology on 25 January. Members and friends who attended made the most of the opportunity to talk with Chairman, Rick Donehoo and Operations Director, Hennes de Ridder about what ECI meant to them and the issues that they wanted to explore in the coming year. Their next event is a Dinner Lecture on Project Development and Definition to be given by Chris Fox on 23 February at Delft University of Technology (See under ECI Events below). We look forward to a lively year for the Unit!

ACTIVE Awards – deadline extended to 17 Feb 2006
Are your projects the best? Then prove it by winning one of the ACTIVE Awards which will be presented at the ECI Conference. They are for the winners to keep and display for the coming year.
For more information see under ECI Events below or visit the ECI website.

New ECI website
ECI has a new website at http://www.eci-online.org/. Erica Owden, ECI Marketing Manager, says “I have designed the site for busy people, to enable members, friends and enquirers to access the information that they want easily and quickly.” The site currently includes About Us, News, Publications, Research, Events and Masterclasses, and Membership pages. Members-only and regional pages are planned for the future. Constructive feedback is always welcome.

ACTIVE Awards 2006 – Closing date 17 Feb 2006
Following last year’s successful project management competition, the competition will run 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 principles 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 17 February 2006. Awards will be presented to the winners at the ECI Annual Conference in Delft, March 23 and 24 2006.

Further details about the ECI and ACTIVE Principles, can be obtained from the ECI office on +44 (0)1509 228797 or e-mail: eci@lboro.ac.uk. Entry forms for the ACTIVE awards are available on the ECI website at http://www.eci-online.org.

Benelux Dinner Lecture - Project Development and Definition
Tutor: Chris Fox
Date: 23 February 2006,
Timings: 17.00
Venue: Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Engineering and construction projects are important components of business, and effective project development and definition is arguably the greatest single factor in influencing their outcome. Even where a project is judged to be a success, it is most probable that it could have been executed more efficiently, at lower cost and duration.

The lecture will emphasise the importance of high quality development and definition and identify the key elements of such work.

Chris Fox has extensive experience in the management of projects based on a career of 32 years, mostly with the Royal Dutch Shell Group.

Further information and an invitation can be downloaded here or to register please contact Daniëlle Timmer, telephone +31 (0) 15 278 9061.

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

An international panel of speakers will share their perspective on the main issues facing European construction over the next ten years.

Among them, Muhammed al Shammary of Aramco will speak about investment plans and Gareth Davies of CEL International will share secrets of success in the evolving Chinese market. Prof. dr Michael Abbott of UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education will speak about the empowerment of stakeholders on the Øresund Fixed Link and Joost P. van Iersel of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will show how other industries in Europe have adapted to change citing shipbuilding as an example.  

More information and a flyer containing the full programme and a registration form is available on the ECI website conference page. Delegate places are limited. We recommend that you register and book your accommodation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

To register or for further information, please contact Anu Khandelwal at the ECI office on +44 (0)1509 228797 or visit the ECI website where you can download the registration form.

UK MASTER CLASSES

Managing Your Partnership Effectively
Date: Thurs 9 February
Venue: The Best Western Belfry House Hotel, near Manchester Airport, Manchester

Any cooperative venture should deliver a win/win to all parties. All should enjoy a better experience during the life of the project, and there should be no litigation afterwards.

Unfortunately, this does not happen anywhere nearly as often as it should, and this is mainly due to the absence of a strategy of proper engagement – especially from the client.

This Master Class is designed to offer an engagement and behavioural strategy that has worked on very successful projects from the North Sea to Hong Kong, on projects ranging from plant and equipment installation to buildings and major civils construction.

The full 2006 programme is now available on the ECI website at http://www.eci-online.org/pages/events.html

For further information and to register for the above master classes please contact Anu Khandelwal at the ECI office on +44 (0) 1509 228797.

Free legal information from Norton Rose
ECI member and London law firm Norton Rose produces a construction and infrastructure updater which is a free monthly email publication. You can see it at http://www.nortonrose.com/publications/construction_updater_jan06 and subscribe to the mailing list by replying to Construction.updater@nortonrose.com inserting the word “Subscribe” in the subject field.

"iBEHAVE" - EPMF workshops and presentations on Culture in Project Management 
Date: 21 Feb - 3 March 2006
Venue: University of Westminster, London
For further information is available at www.businesspsychologycentre.com/behave or contact Steve Wake on  swprojects@blueyonder.co.uk

European Institute for Industrial Leadership December workshops:

HPL4 Gaining and Maintaining the Commitment and Motivation of Others - 8th 9th Feb 2006
The ability to motivate oneself and others is a key skill of high performance leaders. If we were all motivated in the same way and by the same things leading teams effectively would be considerably easier. This two day workshop will explore these issues by tackling a series of tasks designed to replicate the workplace and a variety of situations.
http://www.eiil.net/mambo/images/stories/Course%20Details/coursedetailshpl0and4.pdf

Theory and Philosophy of Leaderhip Winter School: Leading European Industry in an era of Asian Industrial Supremacy

The Asian Challenge - TPLWS1 - 13th - 14th Feb 2006
This two day workshop will look at the transformations currently occurring in Asian industrial activities in terms of a so called 'knowledge economy'. The challenges presented to leaders of industry by the reassertion of Asian industrial predominance will be discussed.
http ://www.eiil.net/mambo/images/stories/Course%20Details/coursedetails%20workshop%201.pdf

The Concept of the Knowledge Society - TPL WS2 - 16th - 17th Feb 2006
A two-day workshop investigating the origins of a knowledge society and the viability of European industry within such a context, and the limitations of a purely technocratic view of industrial processes.
http://www.eiil.net/mambo/images/stories/Course%20Details/coursedetails%20workshop%202.pdf

Information and disinformation about the 'Global shift of Powers' - TPLWS3 - 17th Feb 2006
A one-day workshop analysing the problems of accessing reliable data, information and knowledge about the rapidly ongoing processes of industrial development in Asia and their geopolitical consequences, and providing some of the ways for leaders of industry to circumvent this phenomenon's most negative consequences.
http://www.eiil.net/mambo/images/stories/Course%20Details/coursedetails%20workshop%203.pdf

Knowledge Management and the Sustainable Company - SUS7 - 23rd 24th Feb 2006
In a world where markets, products, technology, competitors, regulations and even societies change rapidly, continuous innovation and the knowledge that enables such innovation have become important sources of sustainable competitive advantage. http://www.eiil.net/mambo/images/stories/Course%20Details/coursedetailssus7.pdf

The Sociotechnical Perspective on European and Asian Industries - TPLWS4 - 27th and 28th Feb 2006
This two-day workshop will explore new ways of working for European industry if it is to cooperate and compete effectively with Asia and other rapidly emergent economies.
http://www.eiil.net/mambo/images/stories/Course%20Details/coursedetails%20workshop%204.pdf

All workshops will be held at the European Institute for Industrial Leadership, Chateau Latour de Freins. The chateau is situated in the forest surroundings of Uccle, about 20 mins from the centre of Brussels. For more information and to register for any of the above events please visit www.eiil.net or contact secretariat@eiil.net

NEW PUBLICATIONS OUT NOW

Managing people on 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.

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.

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.

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.