INGENIEUR
Figure 6: The hierarchy of controls.
Fully effective teamwork is the key
Since construction is a team-based activity, it
is worth looking at how high performing teams
function elsewhere. For this, we can look at sport
for inspiration. In sport we cannot be successful
unless we operate as an effective team, and so
how should managers go about building a team
for a new campaign or project? The starting
point is to assemble the squad at the beginning
and work to build consensus and ownership of
the goals and objectives. This includes taking
stock of the skills and capabilities of the team
members and determining who is best for which
position.
They strategise how to function as a team in
specific situations and interactions. This might
include practising both within the team and in
pre-season or on-tour friendlies, fine-tuning, so
everybody knows what he is expected to do at any
time. Besides the playing squad, there is also a
management team that includes coaches, doctors
and physios, plus the owners or sponsors who will
have a set of expectations to satisfy. Not everyone
who may be required will be roped in right from the
onset, but all those who form the broader support
network will join when necessary.
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Once the team has performed, they review
what they actually achieved and the mistakes
they made. Through in-depth analysis, they
seek to understand what happened and improve
and retrain to iron out misunderstandings and
systematically optimise performance. It may
also be necessary to change or add team
members, because different skills are required
or new techniques are to be adopted. When
they add personnel, they work hard to ensure
the playing culture and methods are shared and
understood.
Similarly, in any construction project, the
client must assemble people of the right skills,
knowledge and experience to fill every position.
Appointments must be made at the right time
and each team member must understand his
role, function and responsibility. Sufficient
time, budget and other resources must be
allocated for each activity in every phase of the
project. Effective mechanisms for co-operation
and communication must also be established
to ensure that incompatibilities between
designs and work sequences are identified and
resolved as early as possible, and that the right
information is provided. Co-operation can be
encouraged by: