Aspects of QS Professional Practice: Tendering, financial control and reporting, and professional conduct.

1. Task summary 

This assignment requires you to produce a piece of written work, no longer than 3,000 words, on three aspects of QS Professional Practice: Tendering, financial control and reporting, and professional conduct. 

See MyBeckett for the deadline dates 

2. How to approach the assignment task The following is an extract from a report in The Independent. (last accessed 24/01/2019) ‘The cost of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project, intended to increase capacity between London, the Midlands and the north of England, is under fresh scrutiny.In a BBC Panorama programme, a former HS2 executive has claimed that early estimates of the value of properties along the route that needed to be bought were “enormously wrong”. Doug Thornton, former land and property director, said the figures underestimated the amount HS2 would have to pay, and that “thousands” more properties had not been budgeted for at all. Using this headline, produce a report that analyses the key failings in the management of the project from a QS viewpoint.  

In terms of content you must cover the following elements: 

• Theoretical approaches to QS professional practice in the selected areas • A brief discussion of each subject • Key features • Illustrate your work using the HS2 project as a reference point, and your work experience • A critical evaluation of the arguments presented 

Your work should include a short introduction to signpost what your work will address and its key arguments. It should end with a summary and conclusion that does not introduce new material or points. You should provide in-text citations and include a reference list or bibliography at the end in the Harvard style. Further guidance on academic writing is provided in the Skills for Learning web pages (available from your student portal via Library Online or at www.skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk) 

3. Learning outcomes 

This assignment assesses module learning outcomes (LO) 2, 3 and 4 

LO1: Measure and describe a range of complex construction and design work in accordance with current rules of measurement for the quantification and costing of construction works 

LO2: Research and evaluate professional advice for the application of Quantity Surveying contract practice and procedures 

LO3: To identify and apply techniques for project financial control and reporting 

LO4: Understand and apply conduct rules, ethics and professional practice 

4. Tasks 

4.1 Tendering • Explain how as a private quantity surveyor you would assess tender submission risks  

4.2 Financial control and reporting • Identify and explain those elements that need to be considered when assessing the final estimate of cost Include a checklist of items which you would expect to include. Your answer should take into account the HS2 appointment arrangements. 

• Critically analyse the key problems that exist and propose an appropriate post- contract cost control system to address/mitigate the issues the project faces 

4.3 Professional conduct 

• Critically evaluate the value of professional codes of ethics to construction