While we are all aware of the high levels of financial and environmental waste associated with the construction and sustainment of the built environment, very little has been done to address the issue at the root cause level. .
What are the sources of most project cost overruns, delays, and overall dissatisfaction with outcomes?
- The failure to use standard terms, definitions, and data architectures as well as objective local market data.
- Reliance upon traditional and flawed techniques of planning, procurement, and project delivery methods.
- Archaic cost estimation methods such as the use of historical data, lump sum subcontractor quotes, and/or national average cost data and location factors, area cost factors, and/or economic factors.
What’s needed to improve construction cost estimating?
- A detailed, well-communicated Scope of Work is critical to the success of any project whether repair, renovation, maintenance, or new construction and the associated use of commonly understood, standardized terms, definitions, and data architectures (expanded CSI Masterformat, UNIFORMAT…).
- Early and ongoing communication and collaboration among owners and design/builders during the planning, procurement, and project delivery phases based upon a robust integrated framework.
- Development of a shared detailed Scope of Work
- A detail quantity take off and associated objective current, locally researched line item construction cost database.
- Owner leadership, capacity, and accountability.
Maximize available project budget via informed decisions made by shared, current, and objective information.
Reduce the number of surprises, disruptions, and change orders.
Join the converstation and make a difference!
