Partnership relations audit

We break the information wall in the consortium

In large infrastructure or IT projects where at least three entities work together, communication rarely runs without disruption. Often managers from different companies stop trusting each other after the first two months of cooperation. Our relations audit is a quick cut intended to show at which point information circulation was interrupted. We look for touchpoints that, instead of connecting the parties, become a flashpoint for dispute. We do not assess technical quality of work, but we check why people responsible for project stages stopped communicating constructively.

We close the entire process within 4 business days so as not to distract management from their main tasks. The Chodkiewicz & Partners method is based on facts, not feelings. We analyze communication logs from the last 14 weeks and the decision-making structure written in the consortium agreement. It often turns out that a minor dispute over partial estimates from November 2023 affects current delays in the entire schedule. We build the architecture of compromise, starting by naming problems that everyone knows about, but no one wants to enter into the protocol.

9 conversations that change perspective

Individual interviews are key to a reliable diagnosis. During the audit, Marek Chodkiewicz or one of our 4 experienced mediators typically conducts 9 separate talks with key people in the project. Each meeting lasts exactly 45 minutes and takes place under full discretion. This allows bringing to light issues that are omitted during official construction councils or steering committee meetings. We are sometimes persistent in asking for details, but it is the only way to sift emotions from actual business barriers.

• Verification of message consistency between the consortium leader and partners.
• Identification of 3 main bottlenecks in the cost approval process.
• Analysis of response time to emails and internal inquiries (we study an average sample of 120 messages).
• Pointing out people who block information flow due to personal conflicts.

After finishing the talks and document analysis, we prepare a concrete, 14-page report. You will not find generalities about the need for better cooperation there. Instead, we provide a table with specific facts and a list of 5-6 recommendations to be implemented within the next 10 days. Facts win over emotions, which is why our conclusions are supported by specific situations that took place over the last months. This form of audit allowed us last year to unlock 12 projects that were stuck in a deadlock due to a lack of agreement within the team.

Our 8 years of experience in mediation has taught us that most disputes in consortiums result from understatements at the operational level. A partnership relations audit is a tool for boards that want to know what is really happening on the ground before a conflict goes to court. If first warning signals appear in your project – such as avoiding joint meetings or multiplying letters by lawyers – the audit is the cheapest way to get back on track. Download the audit plan in PDF form to see exactly what our diagnostic sheets look like.