The Big Room can fundamentally change how projects operate. The reality, however, looks different. Walk onto almost any major capital project, and you’ll find no shortage of meetings because communication is rarely designed as a system. There are executive steering committees, design coordination sessions, owner updates, trade partner workshops and […]
The Big Room: Where Capital Certainty Is Built READ MORE
One of the most expensive myths in healthcare construction is that the lowest bid produces the lowest cost. It doesn’t. In fact, some of the most significant cost overruns, schedule delays, and operational compromises can be traced back to a procurement mindset that treats critical trade partners as interchangeable vendors
From Vendors to Partners: Why Healthcare Projects Need an A-Team, Not a Bid List READ MORE
In capital delivery, schedules often create a dangerous illusion of certainty. A beautifully formatted Critical Path Method (CPM) program may look convincing in the boardroom, yet still conceal unresolved constraints, fragmented communication, and unreliable commitments on the ground. The result is painfully familiar across the construction industry: delays, rework, escalating
From Optimistic Scheduling to Production Reliability READ MORE
In this article, we explore why decision velocity is the hidden metric behind capital project performance. In capital delivery, an enormous amount of time is lost in meeting rooms. Major construction projects rarely fail because teams lack technical expertise. Architects, engineers, and contractors are highly skilled professionals. More often, projects
Decision Velocity: The Hidden Metric Behind Capital Project Performance READ MORE
Many capital projects in construction fail because the commercial system rewards the wrong behaviour. Across major capital programs, conservative estimates suggest that roughly 5% of total project value is lost to commercial and administrative friction and systemic waste generated by fragmented commercial structures, rather than to design mistakes or scope
How Commercial Architecture Shapes Capital Project Outcomes READ MORE
Efficient onboarding is crucial for any construction team, especially when adopting lean principles. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) offers a collaborative approach that emphasizes teamwork and shared goals. To expedite the onboarding process and ensure team members understand IPD principles, leveraging online resources, such as the IPD Introduction course, is a
Efficient Onboarding in Construction Projects with the IPD Introduction Online Course READ MORE
Managing change orders in large construction projects is one area where Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) differentiates itself from other delivery models. The scope of allowed change orders in an IPD agreement is much more limited than in a Guaranteed Maximum Price Construction Manager at Risk or lump sum type agreement.
Managing Change Orders in IPD Projects for Uninterrupted Workflow and Timely Delivery READ MORE
A few years ago, the University of Berkeley invited me to give a presentation to a group from Norway that was interested in learning more about IPD. I was one of several presenters and will never forget what one of the Norwegian visitors said to me after my presentation. He
How I Implemented the First IPD Project in Norway READ MORE
In the fast-evolving landscape of design and construction project management, the Last Planner System stands out as a shining example of efficiency. As a collaborative approach, it enhances communication, streamlines workflows, and cultivates teamwork, all while magnifying productivity. When implementing lean in the design and construction of a commercial
The Advantages of the Last Planner System for Commercial Design and Construction Projects READ MORE
As the Founder of Inertia Systems, my focus is on the development of intelligent construction documents to help diverse project teams retrieve critical information onsite, on their mobile devices, to make informed decisions in the field. In my previous article What Project Owners Should Know About Intelligent Construction Drawings, I
The Future of Construction Design READ MORE
As industries evolve and commercial construction projects become increasingly complex, traditional project management methods often fall short of fostering the seamless coordination and synergy required for success. This is where Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) steps in as a game-changer. Our online course Introduction to IPD, designed by LeanIPD and IPDA
Why Consider the IPD Introduction Online Course? READ MORE
In this article, I am going to dive into the risk and reward plan negotiations in IPD contracts, one of the things that sets Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) apart from other construction delivery models. How do we set up a risk and reward plan? There are several steps to consider
How to Negotiate Risk Reward Plans in IPD Contracts READ MORE
One of the biggest challenges project owners, contractors and design firms have is negotiating a contract price and setting a contingency in lean IPD contracts. In a lump sum project, that’s not an issue, as the owner usually chooses the lowest bid for a contract without having any transparency into
Why thinking holistically is important when setting contingencies in IPD contracts READ MORE
In a traditional construction contract, whether it’s lump sum, guaranteed maximum price, CM at risk or design bill, the general contractor in the major trades usually has their profit held. Even if they go over budget, they are not putting their profit at risk. In this article, I am going
Profit at Risk with an IPD Framework READ MORE
The cost structure of IPD contracts is a common question for construction project owners in the early project phase when they are negotiating the value of the contract and at the end of the project. These are some questions to answer: How do we calculate the final cost? Is there
The cost structure of IPD projects READ MORE