Early Identification as a Trainable Skill

The ability to identify potential changes early is a skill that can be tested, trained, and managed just like a craft skill.

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Early identification of changes and conflicts is the first key to success

Change Management: Early Identification is a Trainable Skill.
  • Find a set of drawings and specifications that have some obvious and not so obvious conflicts or missing information on them. Develop a test and scoring system out of this. Rank your own team then consider which positions to use this for when hiring. 
     
  • Observe the people taking the test and watch for best practices used by the top performers, such as methodically going through the documents, how they mark things, etc. Watch for worst practices by the bottom performers, such as skipping around or not being organized. Use these specific examples for training.  

  • Develop a set of questions that can be asked to guide people toward finding all the issues.  Organize these into checklists and use them to help manage the project.
      
  • Force yourself into deliberate practice on early identification, leveraging best-practices in learning

“Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.”  ― Zig Ziglar


Change Orders
Change orders are a fact of life in construction. Improve profitability, cash flow and customer satisfaction by effectively managing changes. Build a foundation for success with 12 steps to improve pricing and 11 negotiating strategies for the whole project team....

Related Training
Change Orders
Change orders are a fact of life in construction. Improve profitability, cash flow and customer satisfaction by effectively managing changes. Build a foundation for success with 12 steps to improve pricing and 11 negotiating strategies for the whole project team....

Changes - Problem or Fact?
If you perceive that changes are a problem in construction, then you are likely framing them as a point of blaming others. This framing will impact your ability to effectively manage changes.
Changes - Impacts Beyond the Direct Costs
Contractors don't typically see the full negative impact of changes and, therefore, don’t put the right level of resources into their management.
Definition - Training
The process of Increasing the knowledge and skills of someone, typically shorter-term and in the context of being able to perform in their current role at a competency level that meets standards.