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Recognizing Contract Risk and Opportunities

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Recognizing Contract Risk and Opportunities

A contract has been written, negotiated, and agreed upon by Spam Systems and Citizen Schwarz AG for the delivery and implementation of a banking software program. Span Systems (SS) is a highly reputable software company and Citizen Schwarz AG (C-S) is a large German bank. Harold Anteau is the project manager for Span Systems. He is backed by the Director Kevin Grant, and the company attorney Harold Smith. Leon Ther is the chief negotiator for C-S, and he is assigned to oversee the project for C-S. Eight months into the contract problems arise between the two companies pertaining to the terms of the contract. Leon Ther threatens to rescind the contract because of poor quality and not meeting agreed upon timelines. Harold Anteau and Harold Smith review the contract to determine SS’s standing. Three legal issues arise under the contract clause of breach of contract. They are substantial performance of contract, requirements change, and communications and reporting. Breach of contract is a common defense raised to elicit negotiations (Cheeseman, 2010). It is only effective against an ordinary holder of the contract (Cheeseman, 2010). Under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) [UCC 2-301], tender of delivery is the most basic obligation. It requires the seller to transfer or deliver goods to the buyer in accordance to the terms of the contract (Cheeseman, 2010). Leon Ther is right when he states the product is low quality and not delivered in the timeline agreed upon. The problem with timeline and quality is not the total fault of SS. Since C-S replaced the project manager in September there has been a communication breakdown. It has resulted in changes in software requirements beyond the scope of the contract and the reason for the delay in timeline. Because SS is trying hard to make

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