National Occupational Standards in
Archaeological Practice

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AJ4 Agree professional services

AJ4.1 Obtain the client's requirements, budget and timetable

Performance Required

This will involve:

1. identifying the client's broad goals, expectations and priorities and establishing sufficient detail about the client and their needs to make a judgement about your own organisation's ability to provide the services required within the timescale
2. identifying project purpose, relevant performance standards and requirements of other stakeholders
3. accurately identifying relevant cultural, archaeological, conservation and environmental factors and constraints likely to influence service delivery
4. accurately identifying client preferences, options for and constraints on project financing and procurement
5. accurately identifying client's and other stakeholders' perceptions of options and constraints on timetable for project development and implementation
6. providing constructive advice on alternative courses of action, where requirements cannot realistically be met by own organisation
7. summarising and accurately recording client requirements for services; agreeing a basis for further action; and confirming this in writing

Occupational Context

1. Client goals, expectations and priorities:
   • project outcomes
   • performance
   • quantity
   • quality
   • cost
   • time
2. Identification of client requirements:
   • client consultation
   • reference to standard documentation
   • comparative field research
   • research with stakeholders
3. Stakeholders (may include):
   • client
   • those directly affected by project activity and outcomes
   • interested organisations and individuals
   • regulatory authorities
   • funding agencies

Knowledge Requirements

You need to know and understand how to:

• Identify client goals, expectations and priorities
• Identify the needs and interests of stakeholders
• Advise the client on options when their requirements and/or expectations are unrealistic
• Recommend other courses of action where the project is beyond your own organisation's capability
• Access information relevant to preparing an initial project
• Evaluate an initial project proposal in terms of:
  • Timescale
  • Physical feasibility and constraints
  • Procurement routes

You need to know about:

Sources of information

• What information it is important to collect at the initial stage (and how to obtain it):

Project feasibility

• Financial feasibility and business risk (for the client and for your own organisation)
• Legal, regulatory and environmental constraints
• Your own organisation's capability

Required Skills

• N/A

Evidence Required

You should provide evidence that you can obtain the client's requirements, budget and timetable

The candidate should be questioned, based upon the documentation provided, to explore how they:

• identified the client's broad goals, expectations and priorities and agreed a basis for further action

Evidence Rules

The candidate should have been involved in agreeing professional services on at least 2 projects.

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Today's date: 31/7/2010
This page last updated: 6/8/2007 11:58