You're knee-deep in construction modifications. How can you avoid communication breakdowns and confusion?

Be Clear and Concise, express your thoughts clearly and avoid ambiguity. Use simple language and get straight to the point. Active listening in paying close attention to what the other person is saying. Show that you're listening through verbal acknowledgments and non-verbal cues like nodding.Ask Questions, If something is unclear, ask for clarification. This helps prevent misunderstandings. Provide and ask for feedback to ensure the message has been understood as intended. Be mindful of body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions, as they can significantly impact the message. When writing, ensure your message is well-structured and free of errors. Avoid Assumptions: Don’t assume the other person knows

To avoid communication breakdowns and confusion during construction modifications, consider the following strategies: 1. Clear project scope and goals. 2. Defined communication channels. 3. Collaborative project management. 4. Regular meetings and updates 5. Standardized documentation. 6. Designated point of contact. 7. Active listening and clarification. 8. Visual aids and site visits. 9. Change management process. 10. Training and onboarding

The first step is to set a clear communication channel defining communication charter or protocols. schedule meetings with stake holders to discusss progress, changes and challenges. implement formal process for requesting, approving and implementing changes. punish stakeholders who are mandated to approve changes or documents if they do not make decisions in a timely manner. As a saying goes, measure twice before cutting. this is a better way to avoid mistakes in the implementation process. always double check and understand changes before implementation.

Cuando trabajamos con un equipo de profesionales de la construcción, hay que tener muy claro cuales son los roles de cada uno. Uno de los principales problemas al establecer metas, por muy claras que estas sean, es definir: ?quién o quienes serán los responsables?. La responsabilidad la debe tener el rol o los roles que por su experiencia pueda sacar adelante las metas encomendadas. Si no es así, fallaran. Así que antes de ponerte a dar gritos y sombrerazos revisa si tu equipo tiene claros sus roles, si no, pídele a tu área de recursos humanos que elabore perfiles de puestos y revise si el talento que tienes se debe capacitar o remplazar. Antes de meterte a cualquier cuestión técnica debes estar seguro que tu equipo es el adecuado.

Ultimately, the owner contract typically outlines the process for addressing field modifications and it is important to follow that process because the contract holds all stake holders accountable, and in fact is the driving force behind bringing everyone together to work towards a solution. A common tool that is frequently used to notify all stakeholders is the ASI (Architectural Supplemental Information) and the RFI (Request for Information) process. Both establishes the time of the modification/or need of modification to the design. These modifications sometimes require additional follow up to the directives provided which can simply be addressed through modern meeting approaches such as Teams or similar.

Una excelente comunicación es un componente critico de exito de un proyecto, el dialogo abierto entre todos los involucrados del proyecto debe de darse para cumplir con los obejtivos del mismo, si no se utilizan los canales de comunicación adecuados, se vuelve mas compelja la ejecución.

Discuss in detail and identify the pros and cons before confirming the process of the project. In no way alter the project during the process.

One thing I found ideal way to avoid communication breakdowns and confusion is that, Project Leads should closely coordinate with concerns Engineers and Planning Engineers. PERT-CPM (Project Evaluation Review Techniques AND Critical Path Method) platforms could also be an aid to achieve sound decisions and it should be properly implemented to ensure that it would still align with the contract/s.

Los problemas de comunicaciones entre grupos de trabajo son un riesgo para cualquier negocio, y en el sector de la construcción significa mucho dinero perdido. Es muy importante que haya documentos donde queden asentados los acuerdos o solicitudes, no debe ser nada complicado, un formato simple de minuta para una reunión sirve para dejar firmado en papel (sobre todo en obra) las indicaciones. Por supuesto que se alienta a todos a utilizar la tecnología con las muchas soluciones que hay para gestionar proyectos, pero la realidad de los profesionales de la construcción es que muchos acuerdos se hacen en campo, y como decimos en México: ?Papelito habla!.

A detailed construction plan is the foundation of any successful project. It should include schedules, resource allocations, technical specifications, and clear communication protocols. For example, establishing clear milestones in the schedule lets all teams know what is expected and when. A study by McKinsey & Company found that projects with well-defined plans are 30% more likely to be on time and budget.

De acuerdo a las vivencias obtenidas, el plan de trabajo asi como los obejtivos del proyecto son el punto de partida para cualquier proyecto, uno de los aspectos mas importantes es ir retroalimentando y actualizando la documentación tecnica (planos y documentos) con un buen control de revisiones de lo efectuado.

Certainly, the benefits that Agile Methods have been offering in the Construction Industry through: the generation of work lots, reduction of losses through the search for optimization of resources and the incremental delivery of products with value are now hardly debatable. . Which makes it more necessary, if applied correctly. In the same way, it is also undeniable to take into account: the logical dependency relationships between activities, as well as the needs that the owners demand (due to the demands of the market they serve), to be able to count on a high degree of predictability in their projects; which is included in the work contracts.

Implementing a continuous feedback system allows early identification of problems. According to McKinsey, organizations that encourage regular feedback have 25% fewer project errors. Weekly feedback meetings allow for adjusting strategies and resolving conflicts before they become major problems.

Effective Communication is Key to Project Success Open and consistent communication is paramount for project efficiency. By establishing clear communication guidelines through a single point of accountability and utilizing technology for real-time updates, we can proactively address challenges and prevent costly delays. Designating a single point of contact ensures that information is disseminated effectively to all stakeholders. This centralized approach streamlines decision-making and maintains project momentum.

Ongoing training is essential to keep everyone up to date with project changes. Implement monthly training sessions on new techniques or changes in procedures. For example, on a hospital remodeling project, training sessions on safety protocols reduced incidents by 70%. Use simulations and hands-on exercises to improve information retention. According to studies, workers who receive regular training are 50% more efficient and make 60% fewer mistakes.

The evolution that time has given me in 30 years as a professional, participating directly in almost 40 projects, has contributed to the development of capabilities to lead teams. The members, collaborators, colleagues or "daughters and sons" mostly reinforce their relationship and commitment when you give them and share your experiences, keeping your "feet on the ground" so as not to feel like "super engineers." We all learn in each project.

Modern technology tools can significantly improve communication on the construction site. Implement a cloud-based project management platform such as Procore or PlanGrid to centralize all information. This allows real-time access to plans, change orders, and schedules from any device. For example, on a high-rise construction project, using these tools reduced response time to inquiries by 75% and increased information accuracy by 90%.

What is the effect of communication in the construction industry? Very huge, it is the flow of that ever changing conditions that happened between the design team, and the condition on any given construction site. It includes what is shared, how it is shared, and through which channel. The communication must be precise, clear, relevant, within the scope of work, and be frequent. These could be delivered via phone call, email, meeting, written document, or formal presentation. It must be recognized as a life cycle of a project milestones.

Podemos criar grupos de discuss?o, comunidades virtuais, softwares de colabora??o, videochamadas e muito mais. Esses recursos integrados facilitam o acesso a novos conhecimentos e ideias, o que nos permite assimilar diferentes maneiras de pensar e interagir com outras pessoas.

It’s always a best practice to have an easily accessible form for changes to a project. It’s even more important to train those using it to do it quickly and with precision, and to train those who need the info to go looking there first.

When working on Brownfields inside Production facilities it is imperative to carry all TA, Line heads and Supervisors involved in your project along right from the stage of generating your ETQ/ CTQ. If this is not adhered too, one faces a lot of challenges when trying to implement mods from stakeholders not carried along from the onset.

As per my experience, construction in brown field & green field, changes or modifications in scope (scope creep) are common as per site conditions and stake holder’s requirements. Project Leader needs to handle scope creep effectively to prevent any conflict on later stage. Conduct and lead daily progress meeting with planning, execution, quality, procurement, safety etc. Evaluate the scope, plan and progress. Address the challenges with better options and path forward. Any deviations from the scope, highlight to stakeholders for (Management of Change) and impact of the additional cost and time. If the approval of additional cost and time is not feasible from client , then we may have to work on original scope in best possible way.