Читать книгу Contract management with CATS CM® version 4 - Gert-Jan Vlasveld - Страница 13

The contract objectives describe what the organization wants to realize with the contract, and this applies to both purchaser and seller. Contract management following the CATS CM methodology is primarily focused on contract objectives and so it contributes substantially to achieving them. Sometimes, this contribution can be directly demonstrated in monetary terms, but there may also be a qualitative contribution.

A unique category of contract objectives are those related to compliance, meaning that the organization complies with laws and regulations. This is something every organization has to deal with. Even though there are many different areas in which laws and regulations are applied, there are some elements that apply to a broad range of laws and regulations to which good contract management contributes:

■ Adequate documentation is very important.

■ An organization is held responsible for structuring and implementing a quality system that guarantees compliance with laws and regulations.

■ The compliance control measures carried out by the organization must be defined and their execution and conclusions must be visibly documented.

■ Non-compliance has severe consequences (financial, reputation, continuity).

Considering these elements in advance, while the contract is being drafted, ensures that there is adequate focus on the completeness of the documentation, the control measures that must be implemented, and the assessment of these measures as soon as the contract comes into effect. This is even more applicable when some of the documentation or control measures have been outsourced as part of the contract.

Due to the abovementioned reasons, compliance officers and internal audit department staff are increasingly promoting contract management implementation.