STRATEGY FOR SURVIVAL

This article describes the redrafting of the rules for operating compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) in engineering in the UK. There is a shift from a service-based culture to a business-oriented culture. In preparing for CCT, senior management must explore and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their engineering departments. Decisions made will involve a trade-off between desirability and practicality. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis will be used to focus attention on key aspects of an engineering department's operations. The article lists seven relevant strengths and nine relevant internal weaknesses, together with several external threats, some of which also provide opportunities. CCT will accelerate the process where local authorities are increasingly employing consultants, to create a better balance between resource levels and fluctuating demand. It is important to remember that technology is global, but that its implementation is local. Councils will need more flexible service delivery, and at the same time require their retained staff to be efficient enough to survive in a CCT environment. Local authority engineering services will need to become more business-oriented, by tailoring them to meet customers' perceived needs, costing them accurately, and marketing them effectively.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00396303
• Corporate Authors:

  Hemming Group, Limited

  32 Vauxhall Bridge Road
  London,   United Kingdom  SW1V 2SS
• Authors:
  • PIGG, D
• Publication Date: 1993-11-25

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 10-2
• Serial:
  • SURVEYOR
  • Volume: 180
  • Issue Number: 5269
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Competition; Costs; Legislation; Marketing; Tenders
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 137: Bid; 235: Competition; 224: Cost; 1556: Legislation; 277: Marketing; 137: Tender; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Law; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00663349
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 24 1994 12:00AM