Your team is at odds over permit conditions. How can you find common ground and move forward effectively?

Make it clear that other people's opinions don't matter. You're right and they're wrong. Ignore their viewpoints and arguments.

This is such an intricate and complex situation, which every Project Manager faces once at least and many times as his / her experience increases. The dilemma is to choose the common, sustainable (cost effective) approach which should suffice to the desired parameters. Though there are so many intrinsic conditions attached to any permit; especially which directly affect environment; yet there are options which one should go through while applying for any license. In any case getting the license is a must and one should not consider missing out on the compulsory obligations. However, the supplementary obligations need to be taken care of thoroughly to maintain budget in line.

To find common ground on permit conditions, start by identifying shared goals among the team, such as project success and regulatory compliance. Listen to everyone's concerns and try to find compromises that address those issues. If needed, consult an expert for a neutral opinion. Make sure to document any agreements and keep open communication to ensure everyone stays aligned.

Is it about negotiating permit conditions, how to meet permit conditions, or whether or not they plan to meet permit conditions? If it is the last, then there is no debate or discussion. Permit conditions must be met. Inform those who disagree as to the penalties associated with noncompliance, particularly willful noncompliance. Keep a record of such discussions. If it is about negotiating permit conditions, then discussions about alternative ways of achieving equal or better results are appropriate. The selected alternative and its basis can then be discussed with the regulator. If it is about HOW permit conditions can be met, then document, proceduralize, and train personnel. Keep those records with your permit compliance records.

Assessing impact is a visible way to learn the lost or gain. It doesn't have to be always quantitative measurements. It can also come from impacted community feedbacks or workers' opinions.

Write down every argument and make all your team members feel heard and addressed. Time-bar a dialogue and try to indulge all members in debate. Use elimination method and funnel down to the last solutions left. Apply them until it's completely disastrous. As, the team lead, you always have some information that the team lacks. Use that as an upper hand to drive the discussion but be careful, do not manipulate!

A comunica??o aberta e a transparência s?o fundamentais para encontrar solu??es que mantenham todas as orienta??es e avancem o projeto de maneira eficiente.

é essencial que todas as partes envolvidas trabalhem juntas, com uma escuta ativa, diálogo aberto, transparente e compartilhando suas perspectivas e preocupa??es. A partir daí, podemos desenvolver solu??es técnicas viáveis que atendam as exigências da licen?a e, ao mesmo tempo, sejam viáveis para o projeto.

Com uma equipe multidisciplinar a comunica??o é fundamental para se chegar a uma conclus?o mais acertiva levando em conta os diversos pontos de vista.

Essa, eu diria, é uma das etapas mais importantes. A constru??o de condicionantes se baseia no tipo de empreendimento, no seu potencial poluidor, nos critérios locacionais e seu porte. Só por aí já é possível vislumbrar uma série de condicionantes imprescindíveis. Mas quanto há divergência entre as escolhas - normalmente, aquelas condicionantes mais específicas, é imprescindível que a equipe fa?a uma reuni?o de alinhamento, onde cada um exponha sua vis?o e embasamento para tal (seja legal, doutrinária ou intuitiva). Principalmente em equipes diversas, a chance de opini?es distintas será maior, e isso é um ponto extremamente rico para o processo!

Sometimes, insisting on a argument -to some extent- will elaborate the consistency of value that you preserve. As long as we can identify commonsense and plausible reason, arguing will be always constructive. Being impassioned might ruin your problem-solving process

I think to win an argument about your plan. You can do this by looking at other companies' references. And show that they have already done what your company is planning to do.

When faced with stringent permit conditions, exploring alternative approaches is crucial. Innovative solutions can bridge the gap between regulatory requirements and project goals. This might involve: Technological advancements: Incorporating new technologies to reduce environmental impact or enhance project efficiency. Design modifications: Adapting project plans to better align with permit conditions while maintaining project viability. Negotiation: Engaging in constructive dialogue with regulatory bodies to seek flexibility or alternative compliance options. Cost-benefit analysis: Evaluating the trade-offs of different alternatives to make informed decisions.

As mentioned in the response provided in #2. The utilization of New technology such as BIM and Navis Simulation such goals are achievable.

In times like this it’s important for a team to have a shared set of priorities in these situations. But should a disagreement still ensue, then if it’s important for everyone to express their opinion and talk about if they take precedence in the situation. The team’s goal should be the highest priority.

Com base na experiência na coordena??o de fiscaliza??o ambiental, aprendi que alinhar as condi??es de licen?a com os objetivos gerais do projeto é fundamental. Em projetos anteriores, sempre destaquei como o cumprimento das condi??es de licen?a n?o apenas garantem a conformidade legal, mas também fortalece o compromisso com a prote??o ambiental, a seguran?a da comunidade e a sustentabilidade. Ao integrar esses requisitos aos objetivos do projeto, minha equipe e eu conseguimos obter uma perspectiva mais clara sobre a importancia dessas condi??es e como elas s?o protegidas para práticas de responsáveis pela área ambiental.

When our team faced strict wastewater treatment permit conditions for a recycling plant, morale was initially low. To shift the perspective, we emphasized the project's core goals: reducing environmental impact, creating local jobs, and promoting a circular economy. We directly linked these goals to the permit requirements, showing how rigorous wastewater treatment aligned with our commitment to sustainability. By demonstrating the positive environmental and societal impacts, we rallied the team around these constraints, transforming them from obstacles into opportunities."

And the warranty and insurance significance. Quality is not achieved by cutting corners or by dismissing any building officials. They have the ability to approve and reject any and all work. So ensuring environmental and other standards are met while still satisfying the codes and officials is crucial. If the official is incorrect or mis-guided then proper steps must be taken and clearly announced prior to moving forward. Future litigation shall clean up the situation and be the cost of the officiating organization.

A focus on the culture of employees is a challenging undertaking. It is difficult to advance from the fundamental aspects of environmental stewardship and workplace safety. However, with incremental and consistent effort, progress can be achieved. By establishing a foundation and utilising a KPI measurement system, organisations can effectively build a path towards improvement.

Por fim, algo que sempre digo: se todo as condicionantes-base foram postuladas, considerando o tipo de empreendimento, no seu potencial poluidor, nos critérios locacionais e seu porte, a defini??o final daquelas que ficaram em dúvida será feita pelo embasamento técnico e interpreta??o comum.

(Português) Estabelecer metodologias de tomada de decis?o é crucial para melhorar sua gest?o de tempo e eliminar ruídos que afetam seu julgamento. Ter um bom time e flexibilidade para ouvir conselhos e aprimorar suas opini?es e decis?es também irá promover n?o só boas escolhas, mas também um bom trabalho em equipe! ----------------------------- (English) Establishing decision-making methodologies is crucial for improving your time management and eliminating noise that affects your judgment. Having a good team and the flexibility to listen to advice and refine your opinions and decisions will also promote not just good choices, but also strong teamwork!

During a recent wetland restoration project, our team faced stiff opposition to permit conditions limiting construction activities. To bridge the divide, we crafted a narrative around the project's ecological significance. By sharing stories of the local ecosystem's unique biodiversity and the project's role in preserving it, we were able to connect with community members on a personal level. When they understood that the permit conditions were essential to protecting the very environment they cherished, their resistance softened. This experience underscored the power of storytelling in fostering a shared understanding and building support for environmental regulations.

True. There should always be such precautions ready. What to do with the unexpected is what concerns me. Why is it unexpected? What should have been noted prior to submittals? What to do to make all parties that have jurisdiction (AHJ) satisfied and accepting of the decision.

It seems prudent to adopt an approach whereby the relatively straightforward fruits are selected initially. It is often the case that relatively minor alterations can have a significant impact, without the necessity for substantial investment.

It is important to start exploring the nature and extent of the permit issue. Is it related to the environmental, design standards/codes, and/or construction impacts/requirements? Then to assemble team member/ functional group responsible to resolve that. The team needs to propose solutions from minimum changes to the current project package or extensive revisions depending the extent of non conformance exercising sound engineering creativities, cost and schedule. For example for a special situation of problem with offshore project impact on fish and wildlife , it could be resolved changing foundation type or considering construction technique to reduce/eliminate impacts, etc depending on the expertise available, cost and schedule.

Effective implementation is crucial for turning agreed-upon solutions into reality. Clear communication, role definition, and ongoing monitoring are essential. Establish a robust tracking system to measure progress and identify potential challenges. Regular check-ins and adjustments ensure the plan remains aligned with project goals and regulatory requirements. By fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration, teams can successfully navigate the permit process and achieve project objectives.

It is of the utmost importance to ensure that the plan is presented in a clear and comprehensible manner. Otherwise, it will be challenging to garner support for the idea and secure the necessary funding.

After the implementation of the changes, don't forget to review and adjust them if it's needed. There is no one solution to every case. Things can change again down the track.