How to Control Cost, Risk and Programme Before Problems Grow

THE MARIS METHODOLOGY:

THE THREE DIRECTIVES OF CONTROL

At Maris we do not wait for uncertainty to manifest on site. We neutralise it during the planning phase using our Triple-Lock Control Framework. This methodology enforces three strict directives across your project.

Directive 1: Baseline Every Penny
To enforce commercial control we utilise the RICS New Rules of Measurement Volume 1 (NRM 1). By breaking the budget down into distinct elemental groups we baseline every single cost. If a trade contractor submits a manipulated scope of work offering subtle material downgrades, our project managers use their technical knowledge to reject these false savings immediately.

Directive 2: Force the Decision
For programme control we refuse to rely on static baseline plans. We treat the programme as a dynamic mechanism to force timely decision-making. We establish a crystal-clear sequence of operations and actively manage long-lead items such as specialised network hardware to prevent the entire project from grinding to a halt. We also meticulously track third-party approvals to secure landlord Licence to Alter agreements well in advance.

Directive 3: Expose the Unknowns
Drawing inspiration from the collaborative principles of the NEC4 contract suite, we operate a continuous early warning register. We ask difficult questions about site constraints, evaluate subcontractor stability and identify design clashes before construction begins. If a variable poses a threat we escalate the issue to the project sponsor immediately alongside a fully costed mitigation strategy.

THE CFO’S CORNER:

THE THREE RULES OF CAPITAL PROTECTION

For financial directors, unmanaged uncertainty is the ultimate enemy of capital investment. To protect the corporate balance sheet during a volatile construction phase, the C-Suite must enforce three non-negotiable rules of governance:

• Rule 1: Never Accept a False Saving
  Sub-economic fee bids inevitably lead to severe downstream budget inflation. Your project manager must interrogate every cost assumption using the RICS NRM 1 elemental framework to lock down a highly predictable financial baseline.
• Rule 2: Integrate Time and Cost
  A construction schedule is a dynamic tool for managing decisions. By forcing early approvals on long-lead items such as network hardware, you prevent the catastrophic requirement for expedited labour.
• Rule 3: Enforce Proactive Escalation
  Hidden assumptions must be dragged into the light. When unknown variables pose a threat to the budget, your project manager must escalate the issue immediately alongside a fully costed mitigation strategy.

MARIS TOOLS:

• The Elemental Cost Plan (NRM 1): A structured financial framework we use to allocate the project budget across standardised functional elements, allowing our project managers to track, reconcile and control costs as the design evolves.
• The Early Warning Register: A proactive risk management tool used to identify potential hazards, design clashes and schedule delays, enabling the project team to discuss mitigation actions before the project is negatively impacted.
• The Dynamic Decision Programme: A sophisticated scheduling tool that goes beyond a standard timeline by mapping out exact dates for critical client approvals, long-lead procurement orders and statutory consents.
• The Works Pack Audit: A comprehensive documentation review process we deploy to ensure that all necessary drawings, method statements, structural calculations and contractor insurances are fully assembled to secure landlord consent rapidly.