Project Procurement Management

  ProjectsAtWork  

Earned value champion Quentin Fleming addresses project procurement in new book.

In his new book "Project Procurement Management—Contracting, Subcontracting and Teaming" (FMC Press; 2003), earned value guru Quentin Fleming provides a well rounded and thorough presentation of procurement planning, types of procurements, contracts, procurement risks and procurement relationships.

The book begins by defining a procurement as buying project scope. Chapter 1 closes by defining the six processes involved with project procurements. Since tFleming was the main contributor to the procurement section for the 2000 edition of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), it is not surprising that this book parallels the six procurement processes listed in the PMBOK.

Fleming categorizes procurement into 5 distinct categories: major complexity buys, minor complexity buys, commercial off the shelf, strategic teaming agreements and interdivisional work. Significant time is spent talking about strategic teaming agreements including the types, risks, and some of the legal aspects associated with teaming agreements. This section is sprinkled with real-world examples of teaming arrangements, some of the pitfalls to avoid, as well as some of the requirements necessary for success.

One of the meatier chapters talks about contract types and the various modifying provisions to contracts …

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