FACILITATOR’S CORNER
Steering Committee: Are you ready to launch?
I
n Partnering we often stress the importance of an active and engaged Executive Team,
Often the only way to resolve slow design reviews or negotiate and solve project adjacencies is by getting people in a room together... to actually influence staff behavior.
whose role it is to steer your construction project or program to success. The metaphor that I like to use is that they serve as a Captain, looking out into the horizon and “steering” the project ship by controlling its rudder. So the Executive Team is looking
way out in front to ensure the crew has an effective route and strategy to arrive at its destination, being mindful that the rear of the ship is fuctioning properly and has not picked up any debris that will cause drag. Looking toward the horizon, the Executive Team deals with strategic issues (i.e. project funding, avoiding political pitfalls, maintaining timely payment and that the project is staffed properly so it can deliver a high quality project safely, within budget and on time). In looking towards the rudder, they’re ensuring that the project team is resolving issues and that team has “gelled” (to avoid personal conflicts from creating drag on the project). The Executive Team can really help each individual project get great outcomes. At the program level, a Steering Committee—made up of members of your Executive Staff and leaders from the architects, engineers, and contractors who design and install your projects—will enable you to really focus on barriers preventing all of your projects from being successful and help your program save thousands if not millions of dollars. But when does it make business sense to launch the Steering Committee? Historically, construction programs have launched Steering Committees when they have secured a new funding source and are looking for opportunities to improve outcomes related to project schedule, budget and/or quality. You do not need to wait for a big bond measure though. If one of these three indicators are happening across multiple projects, it’s time to launch a Steering Committee:
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Partnering Magazine September/October September/October2016 2016
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