What Is Contract Management?
What is contract management? A simple question with a simple and a complex answer at the same time. Simply put ...
contract management is the administration of contracts between a company and its vendors.
7 Fundamental Criteria to Contract Management
- Creation:
Whilst many companies work from standard contracts, they do have to be created in the first place and they often need to be changed as negotiations progress.
- Negotiation:
Of the contracts to ensure that, the best possible contract is available to both parties.
- Adherence:
To the contracts and all of its sections and aims.
- Service Level Agreements:
(SLA) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are set to manage the day-to-day performance of the vendor.
- Managing Changes:
that may be required as the relationship changes and problems arise.
- Documenting:
Any changes that may have been agreed.
- Analyzing:
The benefits that accrue or may be available from the contract.
To really understand contract management and administration, get the "Quick Guide to Contract Management & Administration", where you will discover the contract management process from start to the end.
Why manage a contract?
The answer to this question is that contracts need to be methodically managed in order to ensure that financial and operational risk is minimized and vendor performance maximized.
3 Distinct Areas of Vendor Relations:
You need to look at three distinct areas of vendor relationship:
- Contract Administration:
This is the formal “nuts
and bolts”, small print management of the physical contract and the
adherence to the sections and aim of the contract.
- Service Delivery:
This is the management of the delivery of the products by the vendor. It ensures that they meet the service performance and quality that is required. Service delivery is managed by adherence to several Service Level Agreements that are defined during contract negotiation.
- Relationship Management:
This ensures that the relationship between the company and vendor is mutually constructive and problem free.
How do you manage the contract?
Once the contract is fairly negotiated and signed by both companies you need to set up a number of Service Level Agreements that measure service performance and let the vendor know what is expected of them.
Most procurement software programs allow you to manage the financial aspects and relationship management. Contract management can be managed by your legal team when problems arise or performance dips.
So what is contract management after all?
The answer is ...
A suite of management activities that ensure your vendor relationships are effective, efficient and profitable.
Return from what is contract management services to Contract Management Adminstration
Return from contract management services to Purchasing Procurement Center Homepage
