Building a Systems Development Team - Mistakes

While there are many benefits to contractors starting their own internal Systems Development teams, there are also many risks.

Steve Jost Profile Picture
Share
Contributors Chris Hodge Profile PictureChris Hodge David Brown Profile PictureDavid Brown
  • First of all, it wasn’t the best fit as previously discussed. 
  • Underestimating the cultural mismatch between developers and other team members that were brought in from outside the construction industry.
  • Not funding the development team properly, including funding of individual roles. Just like the field, many times the cheapest labor is not the most productive per dollar.
  • Not putting the right amount of resources into the management of the team. Managing software engineers and developers is very different than managing a field workforce or project managers. A hands-off “hope” style or a micromanaging style are both typical mistakes.
  • Not sequencing the projects properly, so a return is seen for the investment across the organization.
  • Over-building when a “Minimum Viable Product” or MVP is what you really need. This will impact returns as much as not sequencing properly.
  • Not planning for and managing the roll-out, training, continuous improvement, and support aspects of an internally developed tool.

This is Part 16 of an 18-Part Series


Topics Covered in the Series Include:

  • Workflow
  • Management
  • Balance
  • Risk
  • Outsourcing

All relationships start with a simple conversation. Let’s schedule some time to talk about your specific challenges and opportunities.


Building a Systems Development Team - Mistakes
Construction technology innovation is accelerating and the contractors that learn how to effectively integrate technology into every aspect of their business will dominate tomorrow. ...

Building a Systems Development Team - Mistakes
Construction technology innovation is accelerating and the contractors that learn how to effectively integrate technology into every aspect of their business will dominate tomorrow. ...

Succession and Choosing 3rd Party Advisors
Most contractors have gone through the succession process zero times. Choosing the right team of advisors will help you effectively explore options and refine the details of your specific succession.
Winning Projects - The Funnel
Winning projects in construction is a process that evolves with growth. The process can be managed as rigorously as any other part of operations if you have clearly defined stages from networking through leads, opportunities, sales strategy, and proposal.
Resource - Gottman and the Science of Relationships
There is no relationship more intimate than that of life partners. Executive-level relationships, including business partnerships, share many similarities. The Gottmans have dedicated their lives to studying relationships, trust, and conflict resolution.