Category Archives: Construction Economics

Fierce Competition

on April 2, 2013 by admin in Bidding, Construction Economics, Strategic Management Leave a comment

The competition for construction work is fierce in the U.S. Existing business development paradigms for CMs and GCs simply do not work.

Tagged with business development, CMs, construction work, development paradigms, GCs |

PLG ESTIMATING & PURCHASING > Buyouts on Large Vendor Contracts > 1

on June 17, 2012 by admin in Bidding, Construction Economics, Contracts, Engineering, Equipment, Estimating, General Construction, Infrastructure, Project Management, Purchasing, Specifications Leave a comment

Construction estimating and purchasing executives are aware of the various issues involved with negotiating large equipment purchases. On fixed price contracts, the ability to negotiate purchases on major equipment contracts affects profitability, schedule, project risk and overall project success. The … Continue reading →

Tagged with Ability, acceptance, acceptance criteria, Buyouts, equipment, equipment contracts, equipment purchases, extent, focus, impact costs, initial purchase, installation, Key, mfg reps, negotiating contracts, price contracts, project risk, project success, purchase, risk, Supervision, time, time installation, vendor contracts |

The Role of The Owners Rep. Expands

on August 6, 2011 by admin in Construction Economics, Construction Management, Cost Control, Program Management, Project Consulting, Project Governance & Reporting, Project Leadership, Project Management, Project Quality Management, Project Risk Management, Real Estate Leave a comment

http://newyork.construction.com/opinions/2011/0725-AsStaffsShrinktheRoleOftheOwnersRepGrows.asp With the Poor economy forcing owners to make tough decisions about layoffs and budget cuts, one position they should not consider eliminating is the owner’s representative. That is because this job has become a vital tool in helping the … Continue reading →

Tagged with Auto, budget, budget cuts, decisions, Draft, economy, ENR, job, layoffs, monitoring, need, OWNERS, poor economy, position, quality control, representative, staff, staff sizes, time and money, tool, vital tool |

Supply Chain Integration

on December 21, 2010 by admin in Change Management, Construction Economics, Cost Control, Program Management, Project Consulting, Project Leadership, Project Management Leave a comment

There seems to be a critical change occurring in the construction industry supply chain. Owners, developers, contractors and government agencies are demanding a tighter integration of procurement, coordination, delivery and cost management activities. The industry is completely reinventing itself with … Continue reading →

Tagged with Auto, blog, chain, Change, construction industry, coordination, cost, Cost Management, critical change, discussion, Draft, government agencies, industry supply chain, leading the way, management activities, procurement, range, Supply, supply chain integration, way |

LDs vs. Incentives on Projects

on September 3, 2010 by admin in Construction Economics, Construction Management, Program Management, Project Management, Strategic Management 1 Comment

I have a nagging question which I cannot answer. Why do some Owners (including Government institutions) insist on including LDs (liquidated damages) in contracts? Based on my experience and on informal surveys I have taken, LDs, in general, DO NOT … Continue reading →

Tagged with adversarial relationship, analysis, Auto, Bidders, burden of proof, complex project, Draft, economic interests, economic viewpoint, experience, focus, government institutions, incentive, Incentives, informal surveys, LDs, NOT, position, poten, purpose, rationale, rigor, risk, value |

Construction Consulting > My View

on July 8, 2010 by admin in Construction Economics, Project Consulting, Project Management, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Over the past ten years, I have gained much insight into the construction consulting industry. I’ve learned that big, blue chip clients have become increasingly dissatisfied with the level of service being provided by large advisory firms. The major causes of that dissatisfaction … Continue reading →

Tagged with ACTION, advisory firms, advisory roles, Auto, cause, construction economics, construction lenders, construction supply chain, Consulting, current construction, Draft, effectiveness, equipment, industry, insight, labor productivity, labor trends, level, madison equities, NETWORK, place, process requires that, procurement, productivity data, research providers, Supply, time, View |

Ending the Politics Of Infrastructure…by Benjamin Cheatham

on July 3, 2010 by admin in Construction Economics, Engineering, Project Finance, Strategic Management Leave a comment

The country’s vast network of highways, airports and seaports historically has been a primary source of competitive advantage, but today our vital infrastructure is like a 1976 Chevy—physically and financially outdated. While other countries are exploring new approaches, America’s infrastructure … Continue reading →

Tagged with Auto, co2 emissions, critical challenge, Draft, economic productivity, federal earmarks, infrastructure investments, infrastructure projects, infrastructure strategy, mechanism, need, panel, prioritization, return projects, sector, state, today, urban highways, use, User, vital infrastructure, way |

Sustainability

on June 25, 2010 by admin in Construction Economics, Green Building & Sustainability Leave a comment

Sustainability is more than just delivering efficient buildings and infrastructure. It is a mindset and a commitment to develop projects that minimize the impact on our environment. A large part of this relates to a systemic approach to building … Continue reading →

Tagged with authority, carbon, carbon footprint, Columbia, columbia university, development, development in developing countries, earth institute, evidence, footprint, Impact, leading authority, LEED, mindset, public institutions, Sustainability, systemic approach, University, USGBC |

Questions for Commercial Real Estate Investors

on June 23, 2010 by admin in Construction Economics, Real Estate, Strategic Management Leave a comment

Real estate investors face lucrative opportunities amidst the turmoil that is the wake of the real estate meltdown. While there is no doubt that opportunities do exist, it is clear that for many, these are unchartered waters. Many in the … Continue reading →

Tagged with amidst, analysis, arena, Auto, cash flow analysis, Commercial, commercial real estate, commercial real estate investors, construction economics, Draft, efficiency upgrades, equity, estate, estate arena, free cash flow, free cash flow analysis, investors real estate, land, payback periods, Real, real estate investors, revenue enhancement, risk, turmoil, valuation, value, wake |

The Importance of Gate Reviews in Design and Pre-Construction

on June 22, 2010 by admin in Construction Economics, Construction Management, Cost Control, Engineering, Materials, Program Management, Project Governance & Reporting, Project Leadership, Project Management, Training Leave a comment

Gate reviews are essential to well-managed planning and pre-construction phases of a construction project. The concept is simple in its execution and elegant in its simplicity. I caution industry professionals that simplicity does not mean that they should let their … Continue reading →

Tagged with Auto, concept, construction documents, design decisions, design documents, development, Draft, execution, formality, groupthink, guard, industry, instant gratification, kind, Pre, Project Failure, project leaders, project sponsor, resource availability, root, schematic design, scope, world economics |