Introduction
In today's increasingly competitive corporate environment, contract managers play a crucial role in the procurement or contract management environment. If contract management is not executed properly, it can result in significant losses (Villanova University, 2020). In this respect, Contract Managers are required to have advanced expertise in three main areas: "technical, conceptual, and human relations" (Sunindijo & Zou, 2011). The former is demonstrated by completing the tasks in a technically-competent manner, while the latter relates to the management of people. Conceptual skills relate to how the contract manager(s) sees the contract's organization in terms of its goals. This paper will explore one of these core competencies, namely, technical competence.
Definition of the Topic
One of the core competencies that contract managers ought to have is technical skills. Damooei et al. (2008, as cited by Nasir et al., 2011) define technical skills as "skills that require a combination of specific knowledge and skills of the work done using the body to achieve the target" (8). In other words, technical skills are the skills that make one accomplish a task in a technically-competent manner and monitor it independently and critically. Technical skills are usually tangible, specific, and usually teachable; they can be attained in both formal (academic channels) and non-formal ways (progressive tutorial, electronic, and practical). This means that contract managers can learn these skills and apply them in their work environment.
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Explanation of the Topic
Technical skills are demonstrated by competently performing the tasks required. Contract Managers often prepare bids and proposals and analyze procurement requirements, among other aspects of a contract. Thus, a technically competent Contract Manager tends to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the nature, complexity, and aspects of the contract. This includes the technical specifications of the contract, the terms of reference, the conditions of the contract, and remedies, among many other aspects. A Contract Manager should also know how to read the bill of quantities (BOQs) in conjunction with the technical specifications, the drawings, etc.
My Position about the Topic
In my opinion, a Contract Manager should have an appropriate mix of technical and non-technical skills. The appropriate mix of skills depends on a wide range of factors. Some of these factors include the nature and complexity of the contract, the levels of risks involved in the contract, and the operating environment (World Bank, 2018). According to the World Bank (2018), the typical technical knowledge and experience that a Contract Manager should have include "procurement, project management, legal knowledge, financial management, analytics and reporting, and administrative, record-keeping" (6). Thus, contract managers should have all these skills. They should also have additional skills depending on the type of contract or the complexity of the contract.
Conclusion
Contract Managers are required to have advanced expertise in three main areas: technical, conceptual, and human relations. This paper explored one of these core competencies, namely, technical competence. Contract managers are required to have advanced experience in this area. In particular, they are required to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the nature and aspects of the contract. By acquiring these skills, a Contract Manager will become very competitive in the market. In this way, a Contract Manager would be able to contribute significantly to his or her organization's success and goals. Thus, Contract Managers should acquire technical skills.
References
Nasir, A. N. B. M. D., Ali, D. F., Noordin, M. K. B., & Nordin, M. S. B. (2011, January). Technical skills and non-technical skills: predefinition concept. In Proceedings of the IETEC'11 Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (pp. 01-p17).
Sunindijo, R. Y., & Zou, P. X. (2011). CHPT construct: essential skills for construction project managers. International Journal of Project Organisation and Management , 3 (2), 139-163.
World Bank. (2018). Contract management: Practice. [Online]. Retrieved December 23, 2020, from The World Bank. Available at: http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/277011537214902995/Procurement-Contract-Management-Guidance.pdf
Villanova University. (2020). Effective contract management process guide. [Online]. Retrieved December 23, 2020, from https://www.villanovau.com/resources/contract-management/contract-management-process-guide/
