The Capability and Market Balance (The Chicken or Egg Dichotomy)
D. Brown Management
April 13, 2025
Sustainable growth for contractors requires balancing capabilities and capacity with the available market. Like balancing on the toes of one foot, balance is not a static relaxed state. It requires focus, continuous adjustments, and deliberate practice.
planning strategy talent
Alignment from Strategy to Execution
D. Brown Management
January 18, 2025
Misalignment between how projects are estimated and how they are built creates subpar outcomes at best and sometimes results in catastrophic failure. Alignment is not a task to be completed. It is an ongoing process starting at the top.
accounting estimating management planning strategy
Balancing Exploration and Exploitation
D. Brown Management
January 3, 2025
Exploitation involves choosing the best option based on current knowledge of the system which may be incomplete or misleading. Exploration involves testing new options that could lead to better future outcomes but drawing resources away from exploitation.
execution leadership planning
Capacity Expansion as a Strategic Decision
D. Brown Management
December 1, 2024
"Capacity expansion is one of the most significant strategic decisions faced by firms, measured both in terms of the amount of capital involved and the complexity of the decision-making problem." - Michael Porter (Author of Competitive Strategy)
planning strategy
Strategy, Planning, and Execution Models
D. Brown Management
September 1, 2024
There are many models and tools to help businesses make strategic decisions, develop a plan, and execute. All have strengths and there are many similarities in the underlying principles as well as their origins. None are perfect. How to choose and use...
execution management planning strategy
Tactical and Strategic Question Categories
D. Brown Management
September 1, 2024
When planning, separate the questions you ask yourself into tactical and strategic categories. Answer the strategic ones first, back-checking them against the tactical ones to evaluate the viability of your plans.
management planning strategy
Org Structure Planning (50%)
D. Brown Management
August 25, 2024
Planning for a 50% organizational structure is valuable both for contingency planning and for highlighting growth opportunities. Constraints breed creativity, and there is no greater constraint than talent.
Organizational Development OrgDev planning talent
Return on Equity and Debt Leverage (2023)
D. Brown Management
August 24, 2024
Construction contracting is a risky business that should yield appropriate returns. We did this fun comparison looking at different types of contractor's financial benchmark returns and debt leverage against some selected other companies for 2023.
capital cash finance planning
Cascading Goal Setting and Management (Objectives and Key Results - OKRs)
D. Brown Management
June 25, 2018
Successful outcomes begin with goals being integrated across all parts of a construction business, including multi-company project teams. Management is what ultimately ensures these goals are regularly reviewed and adjusted to stay on track.
execution management planning