Communications on a construction project are crucial in the success of a project. Just like good fences make good neighbors, good communications yields good results. Too many projects start with poor communications at the onset of the project. This is when the plans and specifications do not reliably represent the work to be performed. If [...]
Let’s say you were lucky enough to be low bidder and get a job with some profit in it. Okay, pretend this is not a fairy tale. Where does all the profit go when you’re done? You may have started out with 5% profit but you only end up with 1% in the end. It [...]
Pictures are one of the best ways to document the progress of a project. Taking pictures often and of all the work taking place on the job can help you if there is a delay or claim on the project. The pictures can also be a great marketing tool to show future clients the quality [...]
Construction firms are the most optimistic companies in the world. They bid on projects and enter into construction contracts where conflict is inherent and the terms are loaded against them. The commercial terms of the contract can consume page after page of small print. These pages should be reviewed carefully prior to submitting the bid [...]
I was reading an article debating the pros and cons of allowing employees to utilize their personal devices such as smart phones at work. This made me think back to when companies had to worry about an employee “walking off” with their rolodex or photocopies of documents when their employment was terminated. Times have changed [...]
Let’s get things in perspective. No dispute is going to get resolved amicably. The lawyers, judges and arbitrators may know of and respect one another; however the parties in dispute are usually at each other’s throats. Then there are the experts for each side. They are fair game for the other side. By this I [...]
Perhaps the title on this one should be the Competitive Advantage Everyone Needs. In the previous blogs on this subject the responders mentioned innovation and better ideas by the contractors. If they have one, keeping it secret was one option. The thing is, cheating on the specified materials and workmanship is not a competitive advantage. [...]
For some reason, some managers believe that always telling the craft labor the project is losing money is a good way to increase the productivity but I don’t see the logic behind this strategy. I believe being honest to the workers in the field is the one and only way to go. Lying does nothing [...]
My recent blog on The Competitive Advantage Nobody Needs generated some interesting responses on ENR.com. There were some very insightful comments, even from the one responder that thinks everybody is a crook in the construction industry. Bidders that short circuit the specifications are taking something of value from the owner of the project. In the [...]
I just had it reinforced that technology solutions are still dependent upon the nut behind the wheel (user). I recently moved up from a 10 year old vehicle to a new one with interactive computer controls for almost everything imaginable. The same applies to technology solutions in construction – be it in the field or [...]
