You don't need to steal "the Scrawny Project Playbook"
The construction industry needs a Playbook to minimize the bad behavior that occurs on projects. Since when did we accept that going over budget and delivering projects late is acceptable. There is a better way, life is too short and at 60, I no longer want to work with dysfunctional teams.
That is why I am writing a Project Playbook on how to win at the construction game. I was going to call it "the Lean Project Playbook" except for the fact the in my house and for lots of people, LEAN is a bad word. So why not "the Scrawny Project Playbook? I kinda like the idea of scrawny as there would be no waste on them bones or in the amount of pages that I will use to describe how to deliver exceptional projects using brilliant systems.
The Playbook will include practices that promote good behavior, improve team fitness and drastically improve value creation. When all of the plays are executed in proper sequence, the team will be rewarded with Nirvana, a dream project. The Playbook will be written in a no kaka format just like one of my favorite business books REWORK. Forget what you learned in MBA school, just do this and the you will be successful as these practices have been tested on highly successful projects by teams striving for excellence.
The Playbook will be destined to sit on the top shelf of project delivery practitioners that do not subscribe to the notion that we can only have 2 out of 3 success criteria (Quality, On Time, On Budget). With this playbook we get all three +++ because these practices blow traditional low tender price team performances out of the ball park. Achieving the dream project on time, at less cost will become standard practice.
We already know this is possible as 60% of current work effort is considered waste and construction work flow masters have already demonstrated that 40% cost savings are achievable. Wow how much more profit or building performance will that be? Hmmmm!
Just think of "the Playbook" as a recipe for creating a winning team called the "MoneyBall Constructors." A low salary cap team capable of delivering an amazing performance.
First we need to turn the procurement process on it's head as It’s All about the TEAM
Early in the playbook we learn that it needs to be an all in approach for the system to work. First we need buy-in from the Owner to turn the low tender process on it's head and procure a team based upon value creation qualifications. You don't get to take home any prizes but a headache when you hire a low tender price team. I once got an offer from a General Contractor " I should pay you to Shut up" as change orders and contingency are how we make our money in the traditional construction game.
This week I will be working on a pre-qualification document that will be used to select Owner, Contractors and Designers as life is too short to waste time with people that are not willing to challenge the status quo. We need a difference set of the rules of engagement, processes and organizational structure to create exceptional work flow. The process includes:
Early procurement of "the TEAM" using a unique one pager process
Send the team to boot camp to get them on the SAME PAGE as to what GOOD BEHAVIOR looks like
Get COMMITMENT to delivering the project with DISCIPLINE and efficient systems that drastically improve WORK FLOW
Create Work Flow ... This pays for the DREAM
A top priority in the playbook is implement strategies enabling efficient constraint free work flow. This is achieved by breaking the project down into manageable PHASES, and PLANNING the work by the people doing the work. The planning process needs to begin with the end in mind, and PULLING the work from the end goal in the right sequence backwards so that the plan is fully coordinated to HIT SCHEDULE. . This requires a collaborative plan by all key stakeholders with the people doing the work, committing to delivering the promised work on the exact day outlined in the WEEKLY WORK PLAN.
Remember, Going over budget and delivering projects late is NOT ACCEPTABLE .
No more working in SILOS
Old habits die hard, which is why the project coach is going to have to drag the team out of their SILOS and make it mandatory to jump into the ring to mix it up. At regular sessions we need to encourage all team players to spell out what bugs them the most about projects and have some tough conversations about why, how and what is needed to fix practices that suck. We need to get beyond working in silos in a hierarchical structure and play by a new set of rules. Trust... Collaboration ... and keeping Commitments
This is achieved by getting the team performing in as short a time period as possible. This requires regular practice and focused work periods to get some serious integration, production, value creation and innovation work done. This does not work if the team goes back to working in SILOS.
The Playbook will include a Tool Box on how to make better decisions, solve problems, improve productivity, integrate designs, minimize waste and enhance collaboration.
What is the status of the Playbook?
The Scrawny Project Playbook is currently under construction with some of the content being posted as LinkedIn articles. These articles will be supplemented with templates, systems and check sheets to ensure that YOU have all of the plays and tools needed to win at the construction game. Connect with Murray mguy@i-designs.ca to reserve a free copy!