The practical problem

Trusted people are not the same as tested authority.

PCO looks at what must keep working when the normal decision-maker is unexpectedly unavailable and unable to give instructions — who steps in, what they may do, which systems they can use, what limits apply and what still depends on a professional, provider or formal approval.

Practice structures

The Diagnostic changes with the way the practice is structured.

01 · Structure

Sole professional

One registered professional carries project and firm-level decisions.

02 · Structure

Partnership / directors

Several professionals share projects and approval rights.

03 · Structure

Multi-project practice

Project teams, candidates, contractors and client systems create broader handovers.

Profession-specific focus

What PCO would examine in a qs & construction pm practice.

Professional registration

Valuations

Cost reports

Variations

Certificates

Contract deadlines

Project records

Client / contractor instructions

Questions that matter

The Diagnostic tests the operating reality, not just whether a document exists.

Examples from the QS & Construction PM pathway:

01If the principal becomes unexpectedly unavailable and cannot give instructions just before a valuation or cost report is due, who can take professional responsibility for the deliverable?

02Can another professional see the current cost plan, variation register, instructions, correspondence and basis of previous valuations?

03Who may issue or recommend a certificate, valuation or cost decision within the applicable appointment and professional role?

04Who controls change instructions and client approvals that affect budget or programme?

05Are candidate staff and junior team members clear on who now reviews their work?

Practice Protection Diagnostic fees

Three structures. A defined entry price for each.

The Diagnostic price reflects the amount of work normally created by the profession and structure. After the Diagnostic, PCO assesses the actual work required and provides one fixed Practice Protection Implementation fee covering the Guided Governance Review and preparation and completion of the Practice Protection Plan.

Sole professional

R5,500

excl. VAT · standard published scope

Profession-specific Practice Protection Diagnostic for this structure.

Partnership / directors

R7,500

excl. VAT · standard published scope

Profession-specific Practice Protection Diagnostic for this structure.

Multi-project practice

R10,500

excl. VAT · standard published scope

Profession-specific Practice Protection Diagnostic for this structure.

Standard published scope: one legal entity and an ordinary small-to-medium professional practice. Multi-entity groups, more than 10 professionals, or more than two operating locations / branches are confirmed by PCO before payment.

The full Diagnostic

Twelve protection areas have to work together.

01Decision responsibilityWho normally decides, who can step in, and where decisions must escalate.

02Professional eligibilityRegistration, scope, competence, supervision or other eligibility required for regulated work.

03Client / patient / matter handoverWhat is live, urgent, incomplete or at risk if the principal stops giving instructions.

04Records & information custodyWho may see records, what must stay confidential, and how access is controlled.

05Systems & authenticationNamed-user access, portals, MFA, recovery routes and single-person credential dependencies.

06Money & payment limitsBanking, payroll, suppliers, refunds, client money where relevant, approval limits and backups.

07Contracts, mandates & approvalsWho may instruct, approve, sign, vary, renew or escalate commitments.

08Providers & third partiesBanks, SARS, regulators, laboratories, insurers, vendors and other external dependencies.

09Deadlines & renewalsFilings, court dates, project milestones, licence renewals, audits and client promises.

10Staff & operating coordinationWhat managers and staff may do, where their limits sit, and what cannot be casually delegated.

11Escalation & prohibited actionsWhat must not be done without the principal or required professional/provider approval.

12Evidence, testing & reviewWhat proves the arrangement exists, who accepted the role, and whether access and fallbacks were tested.

How it works

From free indication to a controlled plan.

01Practice Protection DiagnosticPCO tests the full 12-area pathway and produces findings.

02Practice Protection ImplementationPCO conducts the Guided Governance Review and develops the Practice Protection Plan.

03Your Practice Protection PlanThe completed PPP becomes the controlled operational outcome of the implementation.

04Ongoing Protection / NEXUSKeep the plan current as people, authority, providers, systems and circumstances change.

Important boundary: neither the free assessment nor the Diagnostic verifies that a POA, bank mandate, professional registration, provider permission, system entitlement or other arrangement is legally or operationally effective merely because the client says it exists. PCO identifies and tests the dependency; the relevant adviser, institution, regulator or provider confirms what only they can confirm.

Two useful starting questions

Would the practice know what to do tomorrow?

01If the principal becomes unexpectedly unavailable and cannot give instructions just before a valuation or cost report is due, who can take professional responsibility for the deliverable?

02Can another professional see the current cost plan, variation register, instructions, correspondence and basis of previous valuations?

Start the free assessment Ask PCO privately

Related profession pathways

What happens to a QS or construction project management practice if the principal cannot give instructions?

Trusted people are not the same as tested authority.

The Diagnostic changes with the way the practice is structured.

Sole professional

Partnership / directors

Multi-project practice

What PCO would examine in a qs & construction pm practice.

The Diagnostic tests the operating reality, not just whether a document exists.

Three structures. A defined entry price for each.

Twelve protection areas have to work together.

From free indication to a controlled plan.

Would the practice know what to do tomorrow?

Explore other professional practices.

Explore common authority and key-person questions.