ABSTRACT
The role of contracts in validating specifications has been ignored in research, as they are thought of as commercial documents with little value as far as specification validation is concerned. This chapter demonstrates the role of contracts in validating specifications by proposing the elements of a contract that can aid validation. A strategic contract structure encompassing two categories of elements, namely, the validation criteria for entry and the validation criteria for remaining in the business, is proposed. The strategic contract structure can help managers involved in the specification process to structure development projects with suppliers in order to attain planned goals.
