JARGONFREE Compass for Sustainable Contracting

Exercises > Diagnostic exercise: Are requirements realistic and feasible?

This exercise refers to the content of "Problem 4: Unfeasible or unrealistic requirements"; please refer to that page for context and to learn more (part of Module III. Why contracts fail).

Diagnostic exercise: Are requirements realistic and feasible?

Take one sustainability-related requirement from your contract.

Ask:

  • Is the requirement realistic, feasible, and actionable?
  • How do pricing, payment terms, and lead times affect implementation?
  • Are both parties expected to contribute to achieving sustainability outcomes?
  • Does the contract include mechanisms that support implementation and continuous improvement, rather than relying primarily on sanctions?
  • Does the contract include processes for monitoring, continuous improvement, and problem-solving?

If these questions are difficult to answer, the requirement may not be realistic, feasible, or sufficiently supportive of implementation.