Several interviewees emphasise the importance of relationship continuity in terms of valuable knowledge that is built up over time and used by employees to successfully discharge their responsibilities under the contract. This not only relates to historical project and technical knowledge (see 'Employee capability and expertise' above) but also to understanding people and their personalities (PT01). The latter can be useful for exerting personal influence for resolving issues without having to resort to more formal means. Moreover, understanding people can provide context as to why certain decisions are taken and how they impact on future outcomes e.g. why a clause is negotiated in a certain way (PT06). However, this type of information is not always sufficiently documented for future reference, particularly for the benefit of new staff. This is an area that PT06 identifies for better management by the public partner. In discussing the consequence of relationship (and hence) knowledge discontinuity, PT14 states:
"It worries me that over a 25 year deal, inevitably, you're going to have the original people drop away and get new people, where the deal may suddenly shift and you may not get the best value from the project".