Premature Optimization

Construction technology innovation has exploded and is continuing to accelerate.

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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.




Levels of Improvement: Start with the Foundation
Every process in your business including field productivity will go through three levels of improvement: From predictable to productive to scalable. Trying to skip levels is the surest way to slow down improvements across the company.
Accountability + Compensation: The Myths and Realities
No amount of accountability or compensation will create the competencies and capabilities required to deliver results. If your results are falling short, make sure that you are diagnosing the root cause correctly so you can design the best solution.
Integrating Metrics and Organizational Structure
Having a high-level scoreboard for a contractor is just the beginning. The much more valuable part is breaking these high-level scores down into specific and prioritized metrics at each level within each functional area of the organization.