In this presentation, William Doyle MRICS—founder of Sima (now part of Think Project Group), NEC tutor since 2007, and contributor to the drafting of NEC4—explains why NEC4 contracts demand rigorous practice and how proper execution positively influences project outcomes. He identifies three essential elements for successful NEC contracting: a healthy culture that avoids fact‑based arguments and preserves trust, deep knowledge of on‑site activities to inform decisions, and disciplined processes that prevent gaps and errors. Central to these elements is robust record‑keeping, which he describes as the "oxygen" of NEC4 processes. Doyle argues that with the right digital tools and modern data insights, maintaining healthy records becomes simple, enabling better decision‑making today and providing valuable intelligence for future projects. Investing in strong records, he concludes, makes the broader NEC framework easier to manage and leads to healthier project results.
