Observe, Hypothesize, and Experiment

Contractors would run much better including improved field productivity if they applied the simple lesson we all learned around middle-school science class:

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
D. Brown Management
January 21, 2019 1 minute read
Share
Quote: Stop debating and start experimenting. Because if you don't run experiments you can't learn. Adam Grant from Power Moves.

The Scientific Method:  

  1. Make an observation
      
  2. Ask questions about the observation and gather information

  3. Form a hypothesis about what created the outcome and make predictions about the future state based on the hypothesis

  4. Test the hypothesis in an experiment that can be reproduced

  5. Analyze the data from the experiments that either validates or invalidates the hypothesis

  6. Reproduce the experiment until there are no discrepancies between observed results and theory

Experiments are hard to run in complex environments like a construction company.  That does not mean that you should not attempt to make the best observation, hypothesis, and experiments you can for a given situation.  

Adam Grant talks with the CEO of Goldman Sachs in the book Power Moves about experimentation in what works best for recruiting and retention. 

Progressive Levels of Business Development
The most important first step for a contractor is to find a customer who will pay for a project. With continued growth, the process of business development becomes progressively more complex including how it is integrated with strategy and operations.
Related Article
Change and Improvement (Expectations vs Reality)
Leadership at the company, team, and individual level starts with setting the direction, trajectory, and milestone goals. With that said, more failures occur due to failed execution rather than bad goals or strategy.
Related Article
Project Delivery - Lease Leaseback
Project Owners typically manage the financing of the project. In certain circumstances this does not always make sense, which is where Lease-Leaseback or Build-to-Suit project delivery methods come in.
Related Article