Collaboration in Construction Matters

Collaboration in construction matters as shown by mulitple case studies.

For example, a GSA study conducted by the University of Minnesota on eleven construction projects noted the importance of collaboration in construction as  the key to successful outcomes.

On a more general note Google’s “Project Aristotle” specifically looked at the level of innovation among project teams.   Oddly there was no statistical correlation to team success base upon seniority , expertise, or any characteristic other than “psychological safety”.    Psychological safety can be simply described as “mutual trust and respect”.    The most successful teams were found to be those that “self-correct” and continuously improve.

It is the  level of collaboration in construction that determines overall innovation and performance.

Collaboration in Construction
Collaboration in Construction

The follow characteristics are the core foundation of Collaboration in Construction  and  LEAN construction delivery methods such as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), for major new construction, and OPEN Job Order Contracting (JOC) for repair, renovation and minor new construction.

  • Required collaboration among all participants
  • Common data environment (CDE), including locally researched detailed line item construction cost data organized by CSI Masterformat(TM).
  • Mutual respect and trust
  • Shared risk/reward
  • Written Operations/Execution Manuals
  • Best value procurement
  • LEAN processes
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  • Mandatory initial and ongoing training for all participants
  • Supporting collaborative technology embedding LEAN workflows

When properly implemented and supported, LEAN collaborative construction delivery consistently delivers 90% + of building repair, renovation, and new construction on-time, on-budget,  and to everyone’s satisfaction.   Compare those numbers to the  AECOO (architecture, engineering, construction, operations, and owner) average of 70-72% of project over budget and over schedule!

Leave design-bid-build and even design-build behind if you truly want to maximize your limited facilities management resource to the betterment of your organization.

Significantly improving facility life-cycle repair, renovation, and new construction outcomes is both possible, and easily implemented IF owner leadership and competency are present.   Written implementation and operation manuals are available for both IPD and JOC, as are supporting standardized terms, definitions, data sets, training, and enabling technology.

Are you interested in improving your life-cycle facilities management outcomes?