As a design-build subcontractor, you have already established the structures and practice that closely align with the performance paradigm. As the rest of the industry transitions toward integration and innovation, there will be greater opportunities for you build your performance capacity and impact in the industry.
The continued overall stagnation and even decline in construction productivity is no longer tenable. Neither is the industry’s failure to innovate. The current industry continues to be frustrated under an industrial era paradigm — with its structures and practices that cannot meet the mounting political and social pressures to develop low cost, high performance “green” buildings. The answer is for construction to adopt a performance paradigm — one characterized by computational science and systems thinking and management approaches
You are invited to discuss and study the performance paradigm through research articles (aka white papers) and a Performance Building Blog . The introductory paper, "Performance Building" describes the strategies, structures and practices behind the five key transitions pushing the industry towards the performance paradigm:(1) Performance standards and measures, (2) Function-based computing, (3) Completed operating building focus, (4) Integrated innovation, and finally (5) Integrated optimization. The result of these transitions is a transformation from conventional “gray” and “green” buildings to high performance “green” buildings.
If you chose to engage in the performance paradigm, then a deliberate education, training and planning process would follow. This process would involve a transition that would not place your current business at risk, and in fact may help your current business — both in operations and in business development. One way to prepare is by instituting a High Performance Strategic Plan for your practice. The following outline could serve as a guide:
Organization Leadership — identification of leaders with the motivational and organizational skills to guide the organization or leadership team through the planning process, beginning with establishing a clear culture of improvement and purpose.
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Organizational Goals and Strategies — the clear statement of goals is the beginning of all good planning initiatives, this planning included. This step would include an evaluation of where your priorities are when considering the high performance paradigm — including assessment of market sectors, likely building team partners, delivery methods, customer needs, competitor influences, product manufacturer relationships, etc. It may also include planning related to mergers or acquisitions or internal expansion into other specialty areas.
Education and Training — because the performance paradigm is founded on computational science and systems thinking, education and training in these areas is important. The “Links” section of this website provides resources for consideration.
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Performance Standards and Measures — the white paper, “Performance Standards and Measures” describes how quantitative performance proceeds from the completed operating building and also the building process. Your success under the performance paradigm will be tied to the development of those standards and measures based on key, industry recognized values; but those unique to your business may be applicable as well.
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Innovation Strategies — the white paper, “Integrated Innovation” describes how innovation proceeds from the performance paradigm. The sections that are particularly relevant to the building producer include:
- Cyber Discovery Initiatives
- Prototyping and Compositing
- Product and System Production and Pre-fabrication
- Cloud Innovation – for developing and adopting innovation
- Optimization Strategies — the white paper, “Integrated Optimization” describes how optimization proceeds from the performance paradigm. The sections that are particularly relevant to the building producer include:
- Organizational Integration
- Lean Design and Construction
- Production Quality
- Process Integration and Automation
- Completed Operating Building Optimization
- Project Delivery Model — establishment of a model and guideline for project delivery teams to use in adopting the Performance Building Process
- Equip & Empower leaders to pursue this and also the performance building plan. Financing and other resources will need to be appropriated to engage in the performance paradigm.
- Implementation Plan — a short term (1 year) action plan for implementing the high performance strategic plan
The Performance Building Institute presents a comprehensive set of technologies and strategies for accomplishing construction's transition into the performance paradigm. If this interests you, please contact the Institute by email info@performancebuilding.org.