2 PROVEN METHODS TO IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MEETINGS
Construction project meetings include stakeholders from many different areas. Meeting participants can range from those with a deep knowledge base like the developer or contractor to individuals from the finance area who are looking at it through a different lens. All perspectives are valuable; however, it can be challenging to effectively facilitate these meetings and ensure that each individual walks away with the information they need to contribute to the project’s success. So, what is the best approach to get everyone aligned regardless of which area of the business they work in? We have two proven methods to get the buy-in you need from everyone involved.
3D Model of a job site
2D vs. 3D
One way to have a better meeting outcome is through the use of a 3D Model. By utilizing a digital mapping service in the conversation, what was once a hypothetical discussion and 2D paper plan has now turned into a tangible, visual 3D Model that everyone can understand and benefit from. This deliberate shift from conceptualization to visualization gives an accurate representation of the site design. As a result, anyone in the meeting can pick up on potential challenges with the design that may not otherwise have been noticed if they were simply utilizing a paper plan. For example, in a recent project, what looked like a typical retaining wall towards the back of the site on a paper plan was quickly identified as what would have been a huge eye sore in reality when looked at through the 3D plan.
Identifying this early on in the planning stages saved the developer time and money as well as some potentially angry neighbors!
Partnerships are key!
Project stakeholders exist at all levels
Entrusting a subject matter expert who knows how to bridge any knowledge gaps that may exist among the meeting participants is another effective strategy. This person not only pulls from their own experiences but they know how to leverage the capabilities of everyone else in the room to drive the conversation towards value engineering. For example, developers typically approach these projects from a pretty high-level viewpoint and contractors pull insights from their field experiences. Both are critically important and necessary perspectives. When coupled together, solutions to potential problems are mitigated early on which leads to cost savings and project clarity – a win-win for all involved! Building these relationships over time often results in strong partnerships and future work which can be fed from the developer to the contractor. Contact ECI to discuss how you can take your project meeting to the next level.