Related Links: Brazilians Say Government Deserves a Good, Swift Kick for Broken World Cup Promises (ENR 6/16/14) Two Years to World Cup Kickoff for Brazilian Stadiums (ENR 8/22/12) Reports are coming in about abusive practices and possible corruption in the World Cup stadium construction projects in Brazil. With fresh memories of angry protests by Brazilians prior to the start of World Cup and Brazil set to host the 2016 Olympics, we have a unique opportunity now to learn.ELLISFor example, a recent government audit reportedly found that the project costs for the state of Brasília's brand-new taxpayer-funded stadium have tripled, to
I'd like to share with you some lessons learned from a long career in the construction business based on conversations with some of the best people I have ever met.LyonsWhether you're an executive, project manager or job superintendent, there is no more important task right now than attracting good people who will remain in your organization. Someone once said “don’t forget to make the good, gooder."Why my focus on leadership and why one must be great?It all started for me when I joined my local volunteer fire company. Nothing is harder than leading volunteers and that’s where I gathered my
Related Links: Managing a Profitable Construction Business Beware the Economic Recovery The end of a recession is the perfect time for contractors to rebuild their organizations using new and sustainable models because growth as a business model doesn't work in a cyclical market. The successful contractor of the future will be organized to go up and down in annual sales to cope with market conditions and avoid chasing inappropriate work just to maintain volume for its own sake. The secret to this strategy is a concept that I call flexible overhead.Since World War II, there have been more growth years
Related Links: Study Finds Big Cost Overruns on Global Dam Megaprojects The 10 Largest-Capacity Hydropower Plants A recent study on global large-dam projects by Oxford University's Saïd Business School says large-dam projects experience cost and time overruns and suffer a very low cost-benefit ratio and concludes that small-dam projects are better. However, in its argument against large dams in favor of small dams, the study provides a rationale for fossil-fuel energy plants. The International Commission on Large Dams finds the results of this study to be deeply flawed. The main weakness is its focus on time and cost overruns without
Above my desk hangs a picture of a woman born in 1869, Alice Hamilton, the mother of industrial hygiene and the ultimate safety professional. I recommend that every safety manager read her autobiography, "Exploring the Dangerous Trades," in which Hamilton details her investigative work in armament factories, mercury mines and lead smelters.In her book, Hamilton recounts a much-needed lesson she learned from a friend: Harmony and peaceful relations with one's adversary are not, in themselves, of value unless they accompany a steady push for what one has been trying to achieve.She had to learn to force herself to say "the
Related Links: Beware the Recover: What History Teaches Prospering in Cyclical Markets In 2000, I wrote that the number of existing general contracting enterprises would be reduced by 20% by 2020. Recently, I started to update my research for the years 2003 to 2012. At first, it looked like I was wrong because, leading up to 2008, mergers and acquisitions slowed. However, the recession brought changes.From 2008 to 2012, the entire construction industry shrank by 19.6%. During the slowdown, larger general contractors held on to more market share than smaller ones. ENR's top 100 contractors declined only 14.5%, and the
Related Links: Construction Industry Learning Goes Borderless Industry Commits to Hire 100,000 Military Veterans We are facing a shortage of skilled workers. We hear that message almost daily. Many reports say the shortages are already here. We have heard the reasons: an aging work force, letting 30% of our people go during the recent downturn, a weak immigration policy, bad industry image and students unaware of construction career opportunities. The time to focus on solutions is now.The shortage must be solved at the local level, but first we need a national strategy. In mid-February, President Barack Obama wrote a letter
Photo courtesy of T.J. Lyons An image of Alice Hamilton (left), alongside a quote from her autobiography, hangs above the author's desk. Above my desk hangs a picture of a woman born in 1869—Alice Hamilton. She is the mother of industrial hygiene and the ultimate safety professional. I recommend that every safety manager read her autobiography, “Exploring the Dangerous Trades,” in which Hamilton details her safety investigations of armament factories in New Jersey, mercury mines in the southwest and lead smelters in Wisconsin. The first poisonings of some good people.In her book Hamilton recounts a conversation with a close friend
CarrAn impending workforce shortfall is a clear trend in the construction industry—as baby boomers retire, fewer U.S. graduate engineers choose an industry career, and an improving economy and energy revolution ramp up demand for skilled workers. Yet despite some recent increase in focus, women still account for less than 10% of the total construction industry workforce, with an even smaller number in professional or managerial positions. Now more than ever, it is critical to take advantage of a highly skilled and diverse talent pool by attracting more women into our workforce and allowing them to develop the same kind of
Related Links: Environmental Review Reform Gains Momentum Transportation's Next Chapter: Maintenance, Mobility, Money Maryland Transportation Chief Picked for Deputy U.S. DOT Post Just when it seems that we have resigned ourselves to the partisan gridlock in Congress, there is a bypass lane for at least one issue that will immediately benefit the U.S. economy. We can rebuild American infrastructure faster, and with better results. And we don’t need Congress to get it done.Over the years, we have shackled our projects with accreted policies and procedures that are not legal requirements and often don’t generate better results.Think of it as the
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