Corporate construction decision makers are too often stuck with the disappointing resolution that their contractors have left them over budget and behind schedule.
This is the distressing norm.
Construction teams are unable to attain goals due to a sharp disconnect in their contractor relationships. Before assuming fault on either side, let’s worry about what is within control – qualification and quality vendor selection. There needs to be more attention paid to what is considered desirable in the vetting process. Through establishing key criteria and requiring a consistent standard of excellence, there is little room for error.
Here’s how to get there.
Successful construction managers onboard general contractors that uphold traits important to their team, and disregard qualities that are considered important from someone else’s perspective. With a defined goal involving agreed upon traits, a firm can achieve actionable, performance measurement that remains consistent across all vendors. This way of looking at things not only delves into financial performance, but also the human components that determine efficiency.
Some of these important qualities to seek in a general contractor’s performance include:
– Financial stability
– Strong internal processes
– Relationship management
– Attention toward staff development
– Project management skills
– Strong experience portfolio
In application, inquire what the general contractor would do in certain instances that are distinctly positioned toward the qualities that are the best fit. See if the responses align with your desirable outcome.
An example of this in practice:
Desirable GC Quality: Anticipates issues to come before they happen so resolution planning occurs ahead of time.
Potential questions around this parameter:
– What does complete responsibility for project outcomes mean to you?
– Describe an instance in which you acted preventatively for a client to realize above average results.
– When a project requirement is deemed “out of scope,” what is your typical response?
– What are your means, methods, and procedures for raising project issues with a client and resolving them?
Bottom line—don’t allow your firm to end up in a negative relationship due to a hasty qualification process. The same way people get to know each other before growing close in a relationship, the same goes for business relationships with an unsure fit. A well-defined qualification process paves the way for the strongest rapport potential.