When it comes to the planning, implementation, and completion of a large-scale construction project, there are a large number of hands that take part in the process. These come in the form of a variety of teams, such as engineers, architects, consultants, general workers, and, well, the list could go on and on. Ultimately, in order for the project to function as well as possible, each of these individual teams as well as the individuals within them, need to co-operate and work as one. It is for this reason that the overall project team could be referred to as a ‘complex system’.
Collaboration Is Complex
A ‘complex system’ can be defined as a system composed of many components which may interact with each other for the greater good of the whole. Other examples of complex systems include businesses, the human brain, anthills, transportation systems, ecosystems, living cells, and of course, the grandest of them all, the entire universe. So when it comes to a construction project, we should look upon each separate team as having a direct influence on every other team and, vice-versa.
One action made by one of these teams could potentially have a knock-on effect on every other member of the whole. Knowing this, you will not be surprised to learn that it is very simple for a project to go awry, which helps illustrate why delays and complications are commonplace within the construction industry. The question is, what is the best way to solve this problem? Well, the answer lies in construction collaboration.
The Power of Interaction
Before we focus directly on the concept of construction collaboration, let’s turn our attention to a story featured in the award-winning book The Power of Habit about how Alcoa’s new CEO, Paul O’Neil, introduced a new safety rule at the company in 1967 that completely transformed its communication culture. The rule was simple, any time an employee suffered an injury, the unit head had to write up an analysis of why it happened and make a plan to prevent it from happening again. As a result of this simple rule, worker safety increased, but so did so much more.
This rule meant that communication channels opened up, allowing for every member of the company to talk to every other member. This eventually led to an increase in profits. As communication improved, new routines and streamlined processes meant that costs came down, quality increased, and productivity went through the roof. This is the true power of interaction.
Collaboration in Construction
When it comes to collaboration in the construction industry, the goal should be to open up communication channels amongst teams within a project. Thanks to new software designed for collaboration in the construction industry, it is now commonplace for construction projects to improve their communication channels via a variety of cloud-based tools.
These tools, including collaborative project management software, file-sharing services, and BIM software, enable every member of the project team to have access to the same information and even virtually construct and analyze the project in real-time in a commonplace. All of these tools help open up and streamline communication between the entire system.
The Bottom Line
It is clear that the construction industry needs to take advantage of construction-specialized tools in order to streamline interaction and improve trust and, ultimately remove the potential for errors throughout the entire construction process.
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