About the Book
The construction industry is facing more than $80 billion in business disputes across all sectors, primarily due to project delays and cost overruns. Such disputes not only escalate costs and erode business relationships, but they also squander public or investor resources, elevate stress levels among employees and the workforce, and pass on increased costs to the final consumer, exacerbating economic hardships.
Avoid Construction Disputes identify the root causes of these pervasive issues and offer ten actionable principles to help stakeholders prevent or resolve them. By adopting these principles early, parties can collaborate effectively to manage risks, control changes, and achieve project goals without disputes hindering progress.
Drawing from extensive experience as a dispute and forensic claims consultant, Samuel Bentil developed these ten principles to help project owners and business leaders in the construction sector avoid the detrimental impacts of delays, cost overruns, and disputes.
Key Benefits of Implementing These Principles:
Avoid common pitfalls and lay a strong foundation for project success by eliminating costly disputes.
Shift from a dispute-resolution to a dispute-avoidance mindset, focusing on win-win outcomes.
Manage risks, navigate inevitable changes, and reduce delays and cost overruns.
Gain insight into the core causes of rising disputes in construction.
Highlight the critical importance of collaboration and foster a harmonious working environment among stakeholders.
Achieve project goals confidently, ensuring that disputes are resolved swiftly if they do occur.
"Relationships and bonds developed among contracting parties and team members are equally important, if not more so, than the project's product. A project's inherent quality is directly linked to the strength of these relationships."-Samuel Bentil
About the Author :
Samuel Bentil is a Senior Director of construction disputes and advisory (delay and quantum) at Ankura Consulting Group and the author of the book, Avoid Construction Disputes: Ten Principles to Collaborate Effectively to Achieve On-Time and On-Budget Project Objectives. With eighteen years of experience in the construction industry, Samuel has served as both a project planner and disputes and forensic claims consultant. He has investigated delays and cost overruns on over a hundred projects, gaining deep insights into the root causes of disputes and their impacts on stakeholders.Samuel holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Risk Management Professional (RMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI). His experience spans projects of varying scales across multiple sectors, including a $15 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility, where he helped avoid multiple disputes during construction.In addition to his professional endeavors, Samuel is a minister of the Gospel and an avid dancer. Through his ministry, Revelation by Grace Ministries, Samuel and his wife Elizabeth share the message of the Kingdom of God and promote community and spiritual well-being by teaching worshipful messianic dancing in public parks in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia during the summer.Samuel's career reflects his commitment to fostering collaboration and resolving disputes, which he channels into helping clients achieve harmonious and successful project completions. His book draws on extensive field experience, providing valuable insights to prevent disputes and ensure smoother project execution. "The solutions are within reach-it's time we start using them."
Review :
"Construction disputes can lead to staggering financial costs, with recent studies showing an average of one-hundred million-accounting for 33.6 percent of capital expenditures. In Avoid Construction Disputes, Samuel Kweku Bentil, a seasoned global expert in the construction industry, offers a comprehensive and insightful guide to circumventing these costly pitfalls. His book presents ten masterful principles that extend beyond theory. These are actionable strategies supported by real-world examples, detailing both common missteps and successful practices in the construction field.
More than just a book, this is a call to action. It advocates for enhanced collaboration, proactive conflict resolution, and the development of a more cohesive and harmonious construction industry."
-Brent O'Bannon, President, Strengths Champion Solutions, Master Certified Coach, First Gallup Certified Strengths Coach
"Samuel applies his expertise and experience in significant construction projects to share valuable wisdom on how to successfully manage construction projects and realize the benefits and value anticipated when we undertake these endeavors. His book is filled with practical wisdom and stories that help the reader better understand the impact of actions and decisions that we all face when managing significant projects. I would recommend this to those new to the field or seasoned with years of experience. His ten principles provide something for everyone to apply to their work of successfully leading any project."
-Kevin Cowherd, Senior Managing Director and Practice Leader, Strategy and Performance Ankura Consulting
"Samuel Bentil helped to resolve a construction dispute between two dear friends of mine. He possesses the expertise, experience, and empathy necessary to resolve these relational challenges that arise in the course of construction projects. As Samuel explains in this excellent book, we can prevent these disputes from ever occurring in the first place."
-Darren Shearer, President, Theology of Business Institute
"If you've ever struggled with delays, budget overruns, or disputes in construction, this book is your solution. It provides clear principles to keep projects on track and relationships intact."
-John Adjokatse, FCIArb, RICS Expert Witness, CCi, A Rimkus Company
"The author has used years of experience in project management and dispute resolution and has reflected that experience into a real-life example of a challenging project. There is a lot to learn from his story, not only for those active in the construction industry, but for those who have to deal with and manage conflicts in their day-to-day lives."
-Ali Fard, MRICS, FCIArb, MAE Senior Managing Director, Ankura Consulting Group
