Understanding and Surviving Project Complexity
The article Complexity is Often the Culprit in Cost Overruns and Delays was published last year in the MDCAdvisor® (March, 2014) and garnered much feedback. In today’s article we will revisit the Complexity and Systems Thinking topics and foster additional discussion of how andwhy project failures are driven by complexity. Complexity often arises to frustrate even the best efforts of Architects, Engineers and Contractors working to complete projects on time and budget.
Risk, Risk Management and Reward in Project Execution
Robert C. McCue, P.E. MDCSystems® Consulting Engineer Risk and risk sharing means different things to different people. It may not be possible to eliminate all risk in undertaking capital projects. Owners will attempt to shift risk onto contractors through contract...
Construction Manager at Risk Held to Assume the Risk of Design Changes on Massachusetts Public Construction Project
Written by James D. Hollyday, Partner, Pepper Hamilton, LLC
Republished with permission. This article was originally published in the May 2015 issue of AGC Law in Brief.
“Construction management at risk” or “Construction management at risk services” or “Construction management at risk delivery method,” a construction method wherein a construction management at risk firm provides a range of preconstruction services and construction management services which may include cost estimation and consultation regarding the design of the building project, the preparation and coordination of bid packages, scheduling, cost control, and value engineering, acting as the general contractor during the construction, detailing the trade contractor scope of work, holding the trade contracts and other subcontracts, prequalifying and evaluating trade contractors and subcontractors, and providing management and construction services, all at a guaranteed maximum price, which shall represent the maximum amount to be paid by the public agency for the building project, including the cost of the work, the general conditions and the fee payable to the construction management at risk firm.
Is the Solution to our “Fracking Mess” Dilution or Concentration?
(Waste Reduction and Pollution Minimization) The Problem The recovery of natural gas from tight rock formations, such as shale, has presented the oil and gas industry with serious environmental challenges. Quite possibly the most significant issue is the use and...
Discovery – It’s Not All in the Documents
Document discovery is to be anticipated and disliked on every construction litigation effort. By their nature, construction projects are paper and electronic data generation machines. How can the litigation team quickly and efficiently navigate through the voluminous and redundant files while collecting the most important documents?
MDC Engineers Testify at Philadelphia City Council
Julian Toneatto, Ph.D., PE and E. Mitchell Swann, P.E. testified on 1 August 2013 at a City of Philadelphia City Cophilabldgcollapseuncil hearing looking into techniques, technologies and guidelines to improve building demolition practices within the city. [Background: On 5 June 2013, a building under demolition experienced an uncontrolled collapse which fell onto an adjacent retail property which was occupied at the time. There were 6 fatalities and 14 injuries, several of them critical.
Protecting Against Corruption In Construction and Renovation: Corporate Counsel’s Essential Role In Making Integrity Pay
John E. Osborn
Originally printed by The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Inc., Volume 8
Design–Build In Name Only
Owners and Contractors should ask the following questions and carefully consider the answers before identifying a new project as Design-Build. It seems that almost every undertaking is now labeled as Design–Build.
The Benefits of CPM Scheduling
What is the purpose of critical path method (CPM) scheduling and how is it useful for construction projects? Though CPM scheduling is widely used, many project managers choose to work and supervise without it. Why should you adopt CPM software on your next project? These are the advantages that CPM schedule consultants can offer you. How will CPM make your project run more smoothly and according to your projections?
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
The Importance of Systems Thinking and Integration in Project Delivery
Recently the global marketplace has been buffeted about by news of the recall of children’s toys by several major manufacturers and by the collapse of the subprime lending market including its investment derivatives and related impacts on credit and capital markets worldwide. These items might seem completely unrelated to each other, not your typical project management or construction topic. Try this; think about each scenario as a portrait of a system and consider the impact on a project if the system components are misaligned.