Articles
Welcome to recent news from the project and procurement sectors. You are welcome to share the articles for internal knowledge. Each month articles are shared on The Pro Forum Community LinkedIn page to encourage discussions so do follow https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-proforum
In these articles we cover:
- Expert subject Matter
- Legislative Updates that may impact the way you work
- Member Spotlights
- Alternative and critical thinking approaches to the delivery of projects and procurement.
What is the difference between a contract renewal and extension?
A contract renewal and an extension both involve the continuation of a contract beyond its original term, but there are some key differences between them.
Mental Health in the Australian Workplace
The Australian government has invested heavily in mental health services and support, with a focus on early intervention and prevention.
The Treasury Laws Amendment
The new law applies to standard form contracts entered into or renewed on or after 9 November 2023, where one party is a small business and the other party is a larger business or government agency.
2022 – Reflections on a tumultuous year
2022 is definitely the year when the world changed, when we are constantly reminded of our destructive nature, our vulnerability, and our reason to live.
Mental Health Awareness Month
We all talk about mental health and what to look out for in the people around us, but what about us? What are you doing when it comes to your own mental health?
What is a Business Case, and do I need one?
A business case provides the ‘why’ for the project, why are we doing this, why now, and why is the success of this project so important?
Is a four-day working week a good idea?
Who wouldn't want to work less and have more free time, but is moving to a four-day working week as good as it sounds?
What should Australia look like post-QEII?
With the sad announcement that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at Balmoral, discussions about moving Australia to a republic is likely to happen in due course.
The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) have changed, again!
Disregard the last version of the CPRs, this version is the current one.
Why Naidoc is Important
Celebrating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during NAIDOC week is the first step towards building a unified country.
Brink of Wellbeing Recession
What exactly are standard hours these days? It is not surprising that the next generation is concerned about their wellbeing and feeling overworked.
The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) are changing!
Written by: Brett Lyndon – The Pro Forum Community of Practice The current version of the CPRs came into effect in December 2020. That was in the middle of the pandemic! As we’re now starting to [...]
Now that the Election is over…
Written by: Jacqui Sealy – The Pro Forum Community of Practice As the Federal election is now over, and the new Government is sworn in, many changes will happen in the coming weeks with changes to [...]
Acknowledgement of Country – NRW 2022
Written by: Jacqui Sealy – The Pro Forum Community of Practice The ProForum acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. An Acknowledgement of Country is [...]
Stress testing Procurement & Projects!
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Often thought of as an engineering process to test functions or usage, a stress test is used to diagnose just what it might take to [...]
Revisiting Contracts and Force Majure 2 years into the pandemic
Its impossible to make sense of a particular contract without reading it first, but here are few guidelines to help those of you dealing with force majeure clauses, or contracts that don’t have them.
Flexible working arrangements
Written by: Brett Lyndon – The Pro Forum Community of Practice The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) provides the following information regarding Flexible working arrangements. Flexible working arrangements Employers and employees can agree to change standard [...]
The WFH vs BTO Debate
Written by: Brett Lyndon – The Pro Forum Community of Practice The recent CoVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes in both our professional and working lives. From hand sanitizer galore and QR Codes, to artful [...]
Car parks, sports grants or is it a Conflict of Interest?
Written by: Phil Sealy – The Pro Forum Community of Practice In Section 6.4.6 of the APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice1, states “If an APS employee has a significant role in a political [...]
Why on earth does it continue to go wrong!
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice A story that wouldn’t normally get much traction made headlines recently – it involves two areas that procurement and project professionals must consider: Stakeholder engagement [...]
Lobbying influence – The good and the bad!
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice The definition of a Lobby Group1 is a body formed to influence legislation on a particular issue. Lobby groups are important and a legitimate activity. [...]
Why is training treated differently to annual leave?
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice When employees schedule annual leave, processes are generally implemented that allows for another employee or temp staff to undertake the duties of the employee on [...]
What Social Procurement really looks like.
Written by: Brett Lyndon – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Successful social procurement is built on: Context & catalysts: how social procurement is relevant to the procurement and the reason for inclusion and consideration; Culture [...]
Socially Responsible Procurement – SRP
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Socially Responsible Procurement is a framework of measurable corporate policies and procedures and resulting behaviour designed to benefit the workplace, and by extension the individual [...]
Transitioning between the Public & Private Sectors
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Few of us start work as school leavers and remain in the same job or role until we retire. There was a time when this [...]
Stakeholder engagement goes wrong…again!
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Stakeholder Engagement: Touted as a fundamental skill of any project, procurement, and contract manager – the ability to truly communicate and incorporate a wide variety [...]
Probity Challenges us all sooner or later!
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice If Probity is simply the evidence of ethical behaviour – why do, we keep getting it wrong? It doesn’t matter whether you are in the [...]
Current issues impacting Procurement & Project professionals
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice The last year has seen unmitigated stress placed on supply chains throughout the world which in turn has made procurements far more complicated than they [...]
Do you know where procurement can take you?
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice When it comes to procurement there are many different roles and titles, none of which are necessarily obvious to know exactly what they entail. However, [...]
Modern Slavery Action – What is being done (Part2)
Written by Brett Lyndon, General Manager Training Pro Leaders Academy, a leading trainer in procurement and ethical behaviour. In its COMMONWEALTH MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT 2019 –20 “The (Australian) Government recognises that responding to modern slavery risks [...]
The shame of Modern Slavery – What is the relevance (Part 1)
Written by Brett Lyndon, General Manager Training Pro Leaders Academy, a leading trainer in procurement and ethical behaviour. The Pro Forum held an event recently discussing Prioritising the Eradication of Modern Slavery . Following that event, [...]
Procurement or purchasing fraud doesn’t just hurt the bottom line – it damages reputations.
Written by Donna Kirk, General Manager Business Pro Leaders Academy. Whether it’s a person, a business or government department, when fraud is exposed, the repercussions are real and serious. Despite process, policy and legislation it still [...]
The challenges of procurement from both sides
Written by: Tara Palmer – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Tender evaluations can be a long and arduous process. Questions, clarity, an unenviable amount of information and deadlines can create considerable stress for all parties. [...]
The Procurement Process
Written by: Tara Palmer – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Why is it that so many people think that procurement is such a simple process. I have heard it asked many time, “so you buy [...]
Budgets from a Government Perspective
Written by: Tara Palmer – The Pro Forum Community of Practice At the Commonwealth level, the Government is guided throughout the budget process by the The Charter of Budget Honesty Act 1998 which details the principles [...]
How to ensure your supply chain is sustainable
Written by: Tara Palmer – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Having a sustainable supply chain has many benefits for business financially and from a public relations point of view. Some benefits include a reduction in [...]
Sustainability within Procurement
Written by: Tara Palmer – The Pro Forum Community of Practice We often discuss the challenges of sustainability in regard to the physical environment, however there seems to be less focus on the practical and pragmatic [...]
Procuring Sustainable Clothing
What would it take for you to change your buying habits? Written by: Tara Palmer – The Pro Forum Community of Practice We often talk about global warming and the need to change but what exactly [...]
Procurement skills in a strategic world- why what you know now isn’t enough
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Project Management as a discipline has evolved from a Cost| Quality| Time methodology to a less rigid approach that incorporates those non-technical skills of [...]
MIA – the missing steps in procurement
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice MIA – the missing steps in procurement Toshihiro Nishiguchi, defined the key steps to continuous strategic sourcing as: Assessment of a company's current spending (what [...]
Strategic Procurement – was Covid the catalyst for Change?
Written by: Donna Kirk – The Pro Forum Community of Practice Did you know there is no official definition for Strategic Procurement? There are a range of descriptions and methodologies that have evolved from an early [...]
How to empower yourself with responsibility.
Written by: Karen Fischbach – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Each workday we take ourselves to our place of work. Many of us are on autopilot. The question is, do we take responsibility for what [...]
Debriefing – more than just for the military
Written by: Karen Fischbach – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Debriefing originated in the military as a live, situational learning tool. Teams in the field could literally learn on the spot what mistakes were made [...]
Succession and Future Leaders
Written by: Karen Fischbach – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Many articles are written about future proofing your business by the succession planning of the workforce – but what about the leadership talent? It sometimes [...]
Creating Unenforceable contracts – are you doing it without realising?
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd We all know we must read the fine print – but when it comes down to it, we don’t. We skim. We can be forgiven [...]
Are purpose-led tenders the way of the future?
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Evaluating tenders is what leads to a contract in government. Developing the tender requirements prior to determining the tender criteria is more important as it [...]
Procurement Management or Project Management
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd John Donne famously wrote, “No man is an island.” He could have been talking about a project because projects cannot be completed without drawing from resources [...]
An Ethical Australia with Ethical Behaviour
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd An ethical Australia with ethical behaviour is what we believe to be our current state in general. However on Monday 26 October Q&A aired a [...]
Part 3 – What must and should be done about a Conflict of interest?
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd In this final of our 3-part series we look forward to what must be done after a Conflict of Interest is disclosed. It is reasonably [...]
It’s all about the Value!
Written by: Jacqui Sealy – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Value for Money – it is a term that we don’t often think about automatically when we consider buying goods and services for ourselves. When [...]
A caretaker government – is it Business as Usual?
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Australia is a representative democracy. In this political system, eligible people vote for candidates to carry out the business of governing on their behalf. The democratic [...]
Part 2 – Why is a Conflict of Interest perceived as a negative?
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd In the first part of this article, published in August we looked at what a Conflict of interest is. In this, Part Two of our [...]
Client Requirements – the Art of Gathering Meaningful Detail
Written by: Karen Fischbach – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Everyone wants something different in their vision of a solution outcome. So what will it take to get the clear and right details from them [...]
ABC describes a COVER UP in Coronavirus Hotel Quarantine Contract.
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd As a lay person reading a recent article from the ABC, one could get a little rattled at what seems to be a complete and [...]
Part 1 Your Conflict of Interest (COI) – Brett Lyndon
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Pro Leaders Academy Facilitator, Brett Lyndon will take you through a 3-part series looking deeper into the area of Conflict of Interest, its implications and [...]
Understanding Project Requirements – Tips for the Road to Clarity
Written by: Karen Fischbach – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Requirements are a key stability and focus element of a Project. Scope is the starting point for understanding what is included in and excluded from [...]
The Devil is surely in the detail – working from (WFH) does not escape notice
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Regardless of where you work, an Employer has a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for staff. If this is not provided and [...]
What makes a good team mentor?
Written by: Karen Fischbach – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Mentoring and guiding play a crucial role in staff development and long-term retention. This is because mentors are usually members of the organisation and are [...]
What do ‘Value-for-Money’ and ‘Broader Economic Benefits’ mean in procurement?
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Value-for-money is a term that is regularly used in Government procurement when deciding which potential vendor to purchase from. It is the primary principle for [...]
How Procurement & Projects Collide!
Written by: Phil Sealy – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd We talk Value for Money and yet consistently see coverage in the media of yet another publicly funded project with cost overruns and delays and [...]
How to Ethically Negotiate Contract Price
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd As a facilitator teaching Government employees procurement and contract management, I am regularly questioned about Government’s ability to negotiate the price of a contract. In [...]
Business Continuity Plan – why every business needs one
Written by: Karen Fischbach – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd The last few years have taught us that we must be prepared for anything. Australia can be a harsh land with wild bushfires and flash [...]
Fraud and Corruption in the COVID-19 Environment
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd The impact of COVID-19 is significant across every sector of society, none more so than how we buy and sell products and services. Social Distancing [...]
Why assumptions are damaging
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd The world is discussing supply chains in a manner that has not been seen before, detailing ad nauseam the uncertain outcomes and global social and [...]
Scrutiny of contracts
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Awarding contracts is a straightforward task and yet is often fraught with challenges. The awarding of contracts or choosing suppliers is standard practise in both [...]
Force Majeure in contracts
Written by: Jeanette Jifkins – Onyx Legal, 10 April 2020 For a lot of people, it is like the world has gone crazy in a few short weeks and it would be a relief to [...]
Procurement within disrupted supply chains
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd No matter how much preparation goes into contingency scenarios, companies, organisations and governments can still be faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges when disaster strikes. The [...]
Probity, getting it right!!
Written by: Phil Sealy – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd If we look at probity as being the evidence of ethical behaviour, then does ethical behaviour automatically make me get it right? As a probity [...]
Public Procurement from a global standpoint
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd In 2015 the United Nations formulated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States, of [...]
The importance of lessons learned and audits
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd A recent Australian National Auditors Office (ANAO) audit of Western Sydney Airport Company (WSA Co) a wholly owned Australian Government Business Enterprise (GBE), and therefore [...]
Clarity around Transparency
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd As a project or procurement manager working with funds that are tax or ratepayer derived, you have specific accountability that are bounded by procurement rules. [...]
Procurement Relationships
Written by: Jeanette Jifkins – Principal Lawyer at Onyx Legal A business coach I work with has recommended we grade our clients. So, as part of our client segmentation for marketing, we’ve identified five core [...]
Anti-corruption: Why Australia is out of the top 10
Written by: Donna Kirk – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd Anti-corruption, how knowing the basics can help every project manager avoid being challenged. Since 1995, countries around the world have been assessed and surveyed on [...]
The Black Economy Procurement Connected Policy (PCP)
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd What is the Black Economy? The Australian Tax Office (ATO) describes Black Economy as: “dishonest and criminal activities that take place outside of, or involves misuse [...]
Judicial Review Legislation
Written by: Brett Lyndon – Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd The Australian Government’s new Judicial Review legislation is now an active legislative component that all government procurement professionals must adhere to, but what is the [...]
Slavery still exists in Australia
Written by: Phil Sealy - Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd The Federal Government introduced a tough new regime designed to stamp out modern slavery late last year, which compelled corporations to do more to end the [...]