I can’t help but be struck by the fact that the bubble over one guy’s head is seldom the same as the bubble over the next guy’s head. What is each really thinking? Are they aligned? Do they both share the same viewpoint?
Let’s think about this in a project sense; does the fact that two guys see things differently mean that the building won’t get built? Probably not. But, does this scenario serve the best interests of the project? I’d argue definitely not.
One guy focused on one outcome, thinking one way, and the other focused on something else entirely. If they are not aligned, are they both pushing in the same direction? And is that direction aligned with the goals of the project? And what happens when we’re talking about a lot more than just two guys? How can a project process be solvent if the understandings and objectives of the participants are not aligned and working together?
For the past decade, I’ve been involved in complex construction projects that all began with ideas and ended with large buildings. Hundreds of people were involved: project committees, engineers, Boards of Trustees, architects, contractors, sub-contractors. The assumption always was that everyone was thinking the same thoughts when it came to the outcome (the Building) and the way they were going to get there.
After experiencing the good and the not-so-good of the processes followed and observing the drawbacks of the way it has been done, I have become a believer that the entire process of the design and construction of major buildings should be re-thought, and that the ultimate outcome of rethinking the process will make for much better buildings in the future.
When the bubble in one guy’s head says, “I’ve always done it this way and therefore I know just where I’m going” and the bubble in the other guy’s head says, “do I really need all this?” then, the ultimate outcome is at risk… Great “design” that does not function well or costs too much, “low-cost” solutions that don’t perform or have no heart and soul–the landscape is cluttered with missed opportunities from all perspectives.
The biggest issue in this time of increasingly scarce resources is surely: can we continue to afford to utilize a process that is this broken?
These are the questions we all should ask:
1. Are all players on my project aligned in their objectives?
2. Around whose perspective is my project being optimized?
3. Have we included elements or inputs that are not helpful?
And finally; why is this acceptable? Is there a better way?
It’s time to rethink our industry’s thinking on these mission-critical issues…
