Background
New or renovated facilities represent one of an organization's most significant capital investments, and the cost of that facility or renovation is forever embedded in the price of products or services rendered. A complex construction project brings together a host of characters such as architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors, suppliers, sometimes craft unions, and, of course, the owner.

Intense competition for engineering and construction work frequently results in razor-thin profit margins, requiring the participants to exercise highly effective management principles and strategies. Construction projects tend to be one-of-a-kind work, and unknowns appear frequently. Design changes and construction delays create havoc for everyone, chipping away at those already thin profit margins.

In this environment, litigation is rampant and commonplace. Participants enter the project with skepticism and mistrust, and cooperation and true collaboration are difficult. For this reason, direct team building known as "partnering" has grown in popularity in the construction industry and is used today by insightful owners and construction managers to create better conditions for true cooperation and collaboration.
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What is Partnering?
Partnering begins as soon as the primary parties are selected, and is kicked off with a half-day or full-day partnering session. Subsequent partnering re-connect meetings occur over the life of the project to stay on track. The purpose of the partnering session is to help participants know each other better, develop a shared approach to the project, and commit to working together as a true project team.

As part of the session, participants will:

• Build rapport and communication between key project personnel

• Create greater alignment between all parties

• Identify needs, expectations, and roles

• Establish mutually agreed upon goals and guidelines

Our Experience
Teambuilding, Inc. experience with team building in construction dates back to 1980 when its founder, Peter B. Grazier, was asked to lead a unique and ground-breaking performance improvement program as part of his duties as Project Engineer of a $40mm silicon wafer manufacturing renovation project. The program resulted in unexpected success and was highlighted in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, Civil Engineering magazine, Engineering News-Record magazine, and AFL-CIO publications.

Our construction partnering expert is the best in the industry. Dr. Ray Dupont has facilitated over 850 construction partnering sessions in the past 14 years, varying in size from $.5M to $213M projects, in numbers of participants from 7 to 110, and in project types from Federal Courthouses to street paving. Dr. Dupont has done over 250 Partnering Sessions for the US Army Corps of Engineers (one of the strongest partnering advocates) in 26 of their 31 Districts. He has also facilitated sessions for more than 35 US Courthouses.

Length of Session - Half-day, Full-day
Follow-up Sessions - 4 hours each as needed
Participants - Leaders assigned to the project representing the major organizations involved

Construction Partnering News

CALTRANS I-40 Westbound Emergency Bridge Replacement
Due to structural difficulties, 6 bridges along I40 were completely demolished and replaced in a period of 5 months- Dr. Dupont facilitated 4 sessions during those 5 months, keeping the team focused on their overall objectives and helping them to resolve issues quickly. The project was awarded the AGC's 2007 Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering, one of the construction industries highest awards for partnering.

"With Ray being our skillful & tactful pilot, steering us into a world of common goals & understanding among all of us, we all finally achieved our ultimate goals…"- CALTRANS Project Manager

Herbert C. Hoover Building Renovation
Just recently, Dr. Dupont began the partnering work on the $925M Herbert C. Hoover Building Systems Renovation project. The building, housing the Commerce Dept. in Washington, DC., will involve several sessions over the next 10 years. The session began with a helpful evaluation of the design phase, shared organizational expectations for the work and formulated common objectives for the lengthy project.

NY/ NJ Harbor Deepening projects
During 2008, Dr. Dupont facilitated 3 sessions for projects that will deepen sections of the harbors of New York City and New Jersey. Complicated by the presence of many stakeholders and work in high navigational traffic areas, a working team was formed by representatives of the Port Authorities, US Army Corps of Engineers, designers and contractors.

Construction Partnering for New Pickering Elementary School Project
Teambuilding, Inc.'s Peter Grazier recently conducted an all-day partnering session with the project construction team of the Downingtown Area School District's new Pickering Elementary School. The day was intended to bring together all the primary parties---owner, architect, construction manager, engineers, and contractors---to help them develop their team more quickly. Construction Partnering has grown over the years to enhance teamwork and collaboration and reduce conflict and litigation that characterizes construction work. According to Lee Snyder, Principle of consulting engineers Snyder Hoffman Associates, "Teambuilding, Inc. did an excellent job and the project will be better for it."

Construction Partnering for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska Sewer Projects
Teambuilding, Inc.'s Peter Grazier conducted two back-to-back partnering sessions for two projects that comprise the City of Lincoln's sewer upgrades. In addition to the project team of engineers, architects, and contractors, the City included various other stakeholder groups affected by the projects. For example, environmental groups concerned with the trunk line running through the City's Wilderness Park were invited, and provided insights that contributed to the goal-setting process. The goals established for both sessions were focused on providing win-win scenarios for everyone concerned.

The theme that runs through each partnering session is that there is power in teamwork and collaboration that benefits everyone involved. Construction projects are complex processes that involve a myriad of participants that need to work in a highly coordinated fashion to truly maximize the benefits to all stakeholders. The partnering process adds value by raising awareness of issues such as communication, collaboration, team problem solving and innovation, and relationship building.

The stakeholders of these two City of Lincoln projects dedicated themselves to completing these projects in a manner that would be recognized for excellence in execution, cooperation, awareness of the community, and environmental consciousness.

Our thanks to the representatives of the City of Lincoln and Olssen Associates for allowing us to conduct these sessions.  

Springton Manor Elementary School Project
Teambuilding, Inc. recently conducted a partnering session with the project construction team of the Downingtown Area School District's new Springton Manor Elementary School. The session was attended by about 30 project personnel including officials of the School District. Participants enjoyed and benefited from the team development activities, this time incorporating our Jungle Escape exercise to demonstrate the learned tendency of people in separate teams to compete rather than collaborate. The participants did, however, an excellent job in completing the exercise and breaking down barriers to cross-team collaboration. High marks were received for the session's content and delivery.

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