Situational Awareness - 5D Project Model

5D is not just for BIM!

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

The best project team members have a complex 5-dimensional model of the project in their heads at all times. 

Situational Awareness on a Project. Concept, 3D Model, 4D Schedule, 5D Cost.

They see not only the finished product in 3D but can take that model apart down to the individual components of each building system.  They see the sequence and speed that each of those components must be put in place (4th dimension). They see the cost of each component and the different methods that can be used to put them in place (5th dimension).  

BIM has the power to create a detailed 5D computer model and this technology is a huge help for project teams.  It is however not a substitute for building “Situational Awareness” across the project team.  This is what lean construction tools such as “Pull Planning”  develop in teams. 

Situational Awareness is something critical to survival training, military, construction projects, contracting businesses and life in general.  The US Coast Guard has a great chapter in one of their training manuals on Situational Awareness.


Look up the “Two-Challenge Rule” on page 6 and ask yourself if that is applicable to having effective bid or project review meetings?  




Headcount, Stages of Contractor Growth, and Growth Inflection Points
Every contractor will navigate very predictable stages of growth. Each of these represents about a tripling of headcount and requires different leadership focus, strategies, structures, and systems. Stress and failure points are also very predictable.
Project Actions Required (PAR)
Keep your project teams aligned and your projects on track with a shared Project Actions Required (PAR) list and workflow.
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Few things will enhance performance faster than deliberate practice, a rigorous feedback loop and enough cycles to build the competency. Here are the common challenges many people face.