thevirtualpmo limited’s Post

The productivity catch In the construction industry we talk so much about skills – or the shortage thereof. We talk about productivity – and the lack thereof. And we talk about technology and the snail’s pace at which it has been adopted. The problem is that despite all of this talk and plans, not a lot is changing, and certainly not as fast as it needs to in order to make an impact. Could it be that construction is trying to use the same fix that they have for decades? In order to improve margins, the default is to cut costs. Instead of investing in hiring people who think differently and can make an impact, companies are being cautious and hiring people that fit in and who they can afford. Just to keep things ticking along. They say that the definition of lunacy is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. So many things have changed in business and the built environment. To just keep going is not enough. To ignore the changes and try mitigate the impacts after the fact is only going get companies in more trouble. Take for instance legislation regarding waste, emissions, materials. Yes, construction companies may face fines if they’re found to be non-compliant. But if that’s all that motivating them, then they’re missing out on the greater opportunities. In a recent article the new CEO for Construction at Mace, highlighted how the company is generating gains in productivity. Interestingly, it is not in how many hours have been put in on site, rather it has been through getting smarter about managing the supply chain. They reduced deliveries to site, reduced embodied carbon and, most importantly, managed to cut back on programme time. The point is, that companies need people that not only understand productivity and compliance requirements, but who are also able to look beyond that to find the business opportunities. We know that productivity is achieved through hundreds of small steps, but occasionally they can be achieved in much bigger steps if the focus is on the right opportunities. Senior professionals who have this level of knowledge and who are able to lead change are rare and in demand. But what they can achieve for a company is well worth the investment. Companies that want to improve productivity can benefit from investing in top talent, who can drive the right kind of change

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