Consulting and Project Planning: asking all those difficult questions
Updated: 3 days ago
With the pandemic going on, construction firms and competitors we are talking to are often wondering about the strength of their pipeline. When this problem has been solved (we have very successful competitors, creating a healthy business activity), another question comes quickly in mind: will the project remain on budget despite social distancing, covid related protocols, personnel safety requirements, etc.
The ability to position an operational team for success (and safety!) should be our common, highest priority as an industry. However, many owners and customers want to skip or bypass the preconstruction phase of their project. This is not what we recommend. We believe the initial preconstruction expense will end up being a great investment to control costs, scope and risks.
Communication with the Owner about their needs for foundation, framing, land survey, or ADA compliance is critical to ensure future success. We compiled a list of questions to help preconstruction managers cover their grounds:
Do we have an operational standard for preconstruction?
How will you approach project roadblocks?
Is our preconstruction process established?
How will you address budget shortfalls?
What innovative construction methods will this project use?
What is the project’s greatest risk and how will that risk be addressed?
How will this customer become a promoter for the firm?
What crew blend maximizes utilization, productivity, efficiency, quality, etc.?
How will you increase profit margins during the project?
What project aspect provides the most cause for concern?
How will the team develop itself internally?
These questions are most useful when they're asked early and revisited often, not just once at kickoff. A preconstruction consulting process that documents the answers, assigns owners to each risk area, and checks back in as the project evolves turns a list of good intentions into an actual plan the team can be held accountable to.
It also helps to involve the people who will actually execute the work, not just leadership, when working through these questions. Superintendents and project managers on the ground often surface roadblocks and crew utilization issues that don't show up in a high-level budget review, and getting their input early reduces the chance of costly surprises mid-project.
We hope this list will get you started!
