In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino sits down with fellow Oxford’s Saïd Business School alumnus, Shawn Modar, to discuss why mega projects go wrong and what can be done contractually to avoid failure. The pair delve into the role psychological contracts play in the Iron Triangle. Plus, Shawn shares his Oxford dissertation findings, including a prenuptial agreement analogy you don’t want to miss. 

“One of the interesting realizations that I had during this process is: Why would somebody intentionally not comply with their contract, knowing all those legal risks that are out there? And what I realized is when they're not complying with that written contract, they're actually complying with their psychological contract.” –  Shawn Modar

Shawn Modar has more than 23 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry, with the majority of that time being focused on construction claim analysis and dispute resolution. His primary focus is assisting clients in their efforts to substantiate or defend against claims for the recovery of time and additional costs, to avoid formal disputes, and to make informed decisions that result in equitable resolutions. 

Key Takeaways:

• The risk of acting like something you’re not: Relational contracts versus traditional contracts
• The truth behind intentional noncompliance in megaprojects
• The benefits and downfalls of psychological contracts

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Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.