"Let's Agree to Disagree." I Don't Agree to That….So what?

The term "agree to disagree" or "agreeing to disagree" is a phrase in English referring to the resolution of a conflict (usually a debate or quarrel) whereby all parties tolerate but do not accept the opposing position(s).

During negotiation with regards to the claims by the Contractor the argumentation can get tiresome. Every parties wanted to win the argument and what most important certain basis need to be adapted. I have experience a lot of this matter the entire project that I were involved.

Against, for me; I also go back to the basic. Always put the principle in the upmost position and any argument could be settled.  Walk through the basis step by step and understand the situation and then only one could make any decision with sound mind.

The best response to this, and here I really don't think I'm guilty of overambitious optimism, is to identify and clarify what the point at issue really is, and to concertedly stay conscious of the fact that people are not their individual beliefs, and that it is alright to have been wrong about facts. If people can manage that, they can have disagreements without conflict. Or, they can achieve the same effect if they simply accept that conflict is not necessarily bad so long as it ends and has a reasonable expectation of getting somewhere.
But most people are not so high-minded. Much of the time, people simply want to bury the hatchet (which is perfectly well admirable, except that a disagreement is really a lot more like a land mine than a hatchet in that regard).

So they resort to the old chestnut of "Why don't we agree to disagree." (I neglect to use a question mark because it is never said with that inflection. It is not really a question, it is a demand, and a cravenly presented one at that. Impolite, really.)

But it's rather anticlimactic, isn't it? I am reminded of a joke: "There are two types of people: those who don't need closure."

In fact, the nature of disagreements, if they are genuine disagreements is that we disagree whether we assent to it or not. To disagree, at least two people must have at least two beliefs, and those beliefs must be incompatible.

Things are incompatible by virtue of their containing a contradiction. Contradictions are endemic to the concepts themselves. If I happen to believe that all school buses are red, and you believe that they are all yellow, our agreeing to disagree affects the facts that we have incompatible views not at all.

Not to be overly literal. I know that people who say this don't think that it really settles the discussion. They want merely to avoid conflict. But it is the height of bad manners to not only interrupt somebody, but also to interrupt them to tell them that they can not and may not go on expressing themselves, lest they offend the holy rules of social grace and the satisfy the insane need of the un-argumentative to "keep everyone happy".

Who, anyway, is the graceless and conflicted one in the situation, he who happens to have an opinion which is conceptually incompatible with someone else's, or he who would rather censor a discussion than be challenged?

The dissonance that goes with disagreement is a tension, sure. But it is certainly better to relieve a tension than to ignore it. At the end, the best would let parties put their case and get the experts to review and be the judge.

Tips on Career Success Abroad – Indonesia Experience

Point 1. Must Have Confidence and Mental Strong

Global careers are not the same as careers in the domestic environment, because the environment you are in area the global arena. Do not equate the nature and attitude of the people there with in Indonesia because it is so much different. Therefore you need a lot of adapting to new things and mental strength needed to survive. Understand the human relation aspects of the local vis-à-vis the local culture, rules and regulations.

Point 2. Do not Be A Tourist

You need to remember, living and working abroad is not the same as fooling around spending time to travel to the country. There are demands and different responsibilities if you are working in a foreign country. You have to be smart and agile in order to make progress quickly. If you like it, then your boss or co-worker you will see your abilities and of course they will give a reward after what you do well.

Point 3. Equation Degrees

Abroad someone older or senior does not automatically earn respect. For example, in the office to call the boss enough to use her first name only. If the boss name Yanto Agus, Pak Agus enough not to add Mr. or become Mr. Agus. Respect is earned, not given = respect comes from a positive contribution instead of rank or age alone.

If you have questions or concerns please do not ashamed to say it, even if you are young or junior. That seniors will not feel threatened by a proactive attitude, they actually appreciate your bold attitude.

Point 4. Do not Doubt Make Decisions

If you recruited on foreign companies, of course, they really appreciate the skills and experience you. For that, it is natural if the company wants to offer a productive and contributing to the company. Therefore, take decisions and set priorities company quickly and precisely. You have to work more productively and do not delay - postpone the work, automatically your career abroad will shine quickly.

Points 5. Follow Training

Do not rely on the capabilities that you already have today. Global careers means you must continue to hone skills, innovate and keep abreast of the industry in which you work. Follow the training activities or seminars are always held every month. Continue to strengthen the competence of self in order to compete globally.

Points 6. Develop Yourself and Honest If Not Know

Feel free to continue to learn anything that can develop yourselves, and do not be afraid says the answer "I do not know". Even those well-to honestly admit their limitations without a sense of doubt or shame. For that, you can learn the local language or words to make it easier to know about different cultures, procedures and learn cross-cultural management.

Honesty about his own limitations actually admired people there. If you do not have an answer please respond with "I do not know, I'll find the answer for you" or when in doubt, answer "I think the reason is this, but this is all just my speculation only".

Points 7. Obey Rules

In some foreign countries, they have a very good database or otherwise even very bad. Both require accuracy to draw up personal documents such as, immigration, taxes and permits live well. Lest they do not abide by the rules, work permits revoked simply because the company was forced to issue a document that is trivial.

The nature of such rules of law, which must be adhered to and, if broken, then there will be sanctions applicable. For that, no matter where you work overseas especially comply with existing rules.

Points 8. Organize Teams With Meticulously

So start the first day in a global company, it's okay if you feel excited. But not necessarily the same for colleagues others. For them, it will be just another day. Your team is the people who will work most closely with you in a professional, as well as helping to adapt the work environment. Make sure you know all the members of the team well.

Indonesian is famous for its hospitality. If you have the opportunity to work in a global company do not eliminate the habit of Indonesian people who are friendly to anyone. With you always smile will give positive energy to the person you have just met, especially your coworkers.

Among the diverse cultures that exist in the world there is no absolute culture better than the others. While living and working abroad, open horizons by studying the local culture and apply the plus side. Do not forget to not forget and also maintain a positive culture of Indonesia.

Contractor takes all ground condition risk?

The following clause was included in the Specification for one of the Project that were being managed by me.

As per the Appendix CC of the 1st Supplemental Agreement described:-

“13. Sub-Clause 1.1.5.5A – Lump Sum Works – means the items of work and good, meterials and services to be supplied hereunder as shown in the Drawings and/or described by the Specification and/or in the Schedule of Prices which are not to re-measured.”


“S4.02 (1)          Soil Information

Any information of the properties of the soil that may be shown on the Drawings or obtained by the Contractor as a result of discussion with the Engineer shall alone not be considered as a sufficient basis for the Contractor's Bid Prices.

The Contractor is responsible for his interpretation of information supplied by the Employer and shall visit the Site and possible Borrow Pits prior to making his Bid and shall ascertain the nature of the soil, its quantity, locations, and suitability to meet the specified requirements.

He shall base his Bid estimates on the Employer's soil data supplemented by his own soil investigations.”

This would mean that the Contractor shall be deemed prior to submitting the Tender to have inspected and examined the Site and/or satisfied itself as to the nature of the ground and subsoil. No claim by the Contractor for additional payment or any extension of time shall be allowed on the ground of misunderstanding or misapprehension of these matters.

There was understandable concern from the contracting community when the first contracts containing this clause were issued for tender.

There are two particular difficulties with this approach:

1. the allocation of risk can be less a reflection that the parties have carried out thorough investigations and are comfortable with what they might encounter (and could price for it accordingly), than of the overriding desire by employers to have fixed prices and certain completion dates, and perhaps of unequal bargaining power; and

2. the bidders are unable to price for the risk with any certainty; any contingency would be guesswork. Ultimately, if the risk does not eventuate the contingency is wasted, and if it did, there would be no certainty that the contingency would be enough, resulting in costs to the project elsewhere (even if simply in legal fees).

This gives a gloss on the truism about allocation of risk, that a project which goes off the rails benefits no one. If your project is going to be late, rights in contract aren’t necessarily going to help; much like Neville Chamberlain returning from Munich in 1938, there is little practical benefit in holding up a piece of paper. Once a project has become a loss maker, most contractors will understandably look for ways to reduce that loss, rather than complete the project as well as the employer might have hoped. A right to sue won’t necessarily help anyone other than the lawyers.

Conversely, where there is considerable, high quality geotechnical information available, the contractor has the skill and the resources to deal with what they might find and all parties are comfortable with what will actually be encountered, this can be a very effective allocation of risk.