Premature Optimization

Construction technology innovation has exploded and is continuing to accelerate.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

The quantity of experienced talent is at a low point and will continue to decline throughout the next 10+ years.

Leadership Tools: Deming Cycle, Plan, Do, Check, Adjust. Quote: Premature Optimization is the roof of all evil. Donald Knuth. Quote: If something is truly worth doing then it's worth getting started now even if it isn't perfect then iteratively improving. David Brown.

There are probably more unknowns than knowns:

  • What is the best software or technology for ________?
  • Will this company provide the support we need or even be in business in 3 years? 
  • What exactly is the best process for managing the preconstruction process?
  • What is the best training program to accelerate the development of ________ ?
  • If I invest in training _______ will they even stay with the company?
  • How specifically do I measure the return on all these investments?  

The truth is that there is no perfect answer to any of these questions.  

If you never take a step forward then you will never “waste” a step.  You will also never move any further down the road - and you can bet that at least one of your competitors is.  

This is why they call it a “Strategic Direction” rather than “Exact Instructions.”  

What is more important is that you start moving forward and put a great PDCA process in place.  Be focused on rigorously adjusting but don’t stop moving forward. 

Learn more:


An unbiased 3rd party can be invaluable in helping you evaluate unknowns.

Not because they have all the answers but because they will bring different perspectives, methods to evaluate the decision and continuous improvement tools.




Planning for the Continued Decline of the Deep Expertise Age Band in Construction
Strategies and tactics for contractors to thrive despite the 25% decline in the "Deep Expertise" age band between 2015 and 2030. There are no magic bullets but there are proven processes that have been used before.
Talent: 9 Processes to Master
Contractors who master talent will be the winners tomorrow as the shortage of critical talent will continue to impact all industries.
Always Do the Math and Build Your Own Models
You will learn more in the process of building and refining your own models than you will in just reading 1,000 headlines. How much time do you spend developing your own models as a mechanism to learn?