ABSTRACT
At the beginning of Chapter 1 we briefly itemized some of the main characteristics which are shared by every contract to differentiate at the outset between a contract and a simple verbal agreement which two friends might reach with each other. In the chapters which follow we shall go more fully into these characteristics, and add others. We introduce factors in respect of them all. These are matters on which a good project manager must satisfy himself before he is able to submit for signature by his Employer any draft contract document that he has been considering. A mistake at this juncture could cost the Employer dearly in extra expenses and undue delays when such a contract comes to be executed later in the project programme. A purported contract must have the following features if it is not to be so vulnerable at a later stage of the project:
• The subject-matter of a contract must be within the law, as must be the actions of the parties to it.
