Masonry Magazine August 2005 Page. 46
Full Contact Project Management
The Scourge of 'Scope Creep'
Gary Micheloni
Everybody's got an opinion of what you are supposed to be doing. This started early in life. First, your family had expectations of you, then it was your friends, all the way to your spouse and kids. So we're not surprised then that, from general contractors to customers, everybody seems to know what you should be doing on your job site. And if you let them, they'll tell you.
The problem is, what they think you should be doing isn't always what you should have to be doing. For instance, every once in a while, there are problems on the job site. And not only would they like it if you'd solve these problems, but they'd also really appreciate it if you would solve them for free. Ah... the life of the mason contractor!
Most of the time it comes down to this: the scope of work. Not knowing our scope of work allows for "scope creep." Not a good thing! So, what the heck is our scope of work?
Several answers can explain the scope of work:
* What does the signed contract say it is?
* How about the contract's own specs?
* Wait a minute! Is that what the plans show?
* Isn't there a code somewhere about this?
But there are more:
* The owner/general contractor/construction manager have expectations.
* The architect/engineer knows what he meant to include.
* Your estimator has certain understandings, many of which may have been gathered from pre-bid conversations with these same people.
* You signed a contract based upon your own understanding of all of the above.
So, where does that leave us? If a company is to succeed over the long run, then it must have a vested interest in seeing that its own stance on scope prevails. Unfortunately, this doesn't always make the project owner, architect, engineer or construction manager happy. But you are Not knowing our scope of work allows for "scope creep."
also the only person that can make scope creep go away.
While we're on the subject... ever wonder why contract documents aren't more complete, with better details and more specific information? My personal theory is that everyone else who is involved in the
Guest PM Coach
"Know Your Opponent"
DAN FAUCHIER
Construction is a lot like sports. Today's winning sports franchises and best managed projects succeed because of teamwork. Project Manager teams are not just the PMs from the general contractor (GC) and subcontractors. The PM team also includes PMs from the owner, designer and construction manager (CM).
The designer has documented the owner's vision into plans and specs, then handed the ball off to the constructors. Because a project's PM team is composed of diverse people with different personalities, different backgrounds and different agendas, it often feels like 'the opponent" is one of the team members: the designer, the CM, the owner, even a sub.
And while it's true that sometimes we encounter conflict with other strong personalities, we need to keep in mind the other teammates are definitely not the opponent. We're just experiencing a "Shaq-Kobe moment.
So who's the opponent?
It's the project itself! The project is the thing that sits there lifeless at mobilization. The project presents all the demands and all the constraints tight schedule, tight budget, delayed inspections, differing site conditions and burdensome but vital safety procedures. The project wants to take too long. The project wants to duck, dive, turn and throw right past you. It wants to make you look bad and make the team look bad. The project wants to waste the owner's money and the project can be the enemy of cash flow for the subs and GC.
The PM team needs a coach to help draw up plays, adapt to new offenses and defenses the opponent throws at you and to encourage everyone on the team to keep working together to overcome that pesky project every day untill victory.
Contact Coach Fauchier through his web site at www.danZpage.com for more information about good coaching and building a winning team.
Copyright ©2005 Dan Fauchier
Masonry
August 2005
www.masoncontractors.org