Relationships can be put under significant strain when key contract management team members move on. Trust has to be rebuilt. Ideally, there should be a period where the successor works closely with the incumbent and the private party counterparty to enable as smooth a transition as possible.
The lengthy contract terms of Partnerships Victoria projects mean that contract management team members are likely to change throughout the project lifecycle. Consequently, forward-thinking succession planning by both parties is important to ensure appropriate relationships and understandings of the project are maintained. Effective succession planning requires well-managed project-role handovers between incoming and outgoing personnel with appropriate induction and exit procedures. Good knowledge management systems and processes can assist to overcome the loss of individual knowledge on each side of the relationship. It is important that advice from outgoing personnel on managing the relationship is documented to assist in this succession process.