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The Partnering Workshop
Facilitated by:
Stephen Uzelac and The Uzelac Enhancement Team,
Woodville, Ohio and Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania
What is Partnering?
The Partnering concept is not a new way of doing business. Most construction companies
have always conducted themselves in a partnering manner. Partnering is a way of doing
business where a person’s word is his/her bond, where people accept and understand
their responsibilities and what impact their actions will have on the success of this
project. Partnering is not a contract, but a recognition that every contract includes an
implied covenant of good faith.
While the contract establishes the legal relationships, the Partnering process
establishes working relationships among the parties (partners) through a
mutually-developed, formal strategy of commitment and communication. It creates an
environment where trust and teamwork prevents disputes, fosters a cooperative bond to
everyone’s benefit, and facilitates the completion of a successful project.
Objectives:
- To enhance understanding as to why Partnering is the most effective method of doing
business in the construction industry. (An Effective Paradigm)
- To explain how the concepts and tools of Partnering and Total Quality Management work
together to enhance the success of your project team.
- To develop a partnering team charter that explains what, why and how your team will be
successful through cooperation, commitment, communication, and actions.
- To explain what actions are necessary to bring the partnering vision to reality.
Partnering Defined:
Partnering as defined by the Association for General
Contractors is a management concept designed to create positive working relationships
and resolve construction problems in a timely and cost effective manner. Partnering is the
essence of Total Quality Management. Partnering requires that all team players have a
win-win attitude that will enhance relationships. A win-win relationship must be based
upon
- trust,
- commitment to shared goals,
- a willingness to resolve differences in an effective manner and
- to be driven to satisfy each other’s individual expectations.
Benefits:
- Improves quality
- Increases productivity
- Reduces waste
- Provides cost effectiveness
- Develops profitable win-win relationships
- Continuous improvement of quality and services
- Allows contractors to stay in business
- Continues to provide quality jobs for quality people
Partnering benefits for all stakeholders:
For all the partners of a project, Partnering is a high-leveraged effort. It may
require increased staff and management time up front, but the benefits accrue in a more
harmonious, less confrontational process and, at completion, a successful project without
litigation and claims.
The Partnering process empowers the project personnel of all partners with freedom and
authority to accept responsibility - to do their jobs by encouraging decision making and
problem solving at the lowest possible level of authority. It encourages everyone to take
pride in their efforts and tells them it’s OK to get along and trust each other.
Partnering is an opportunity to achieve some of the benefits of closer personal contact
which are possible in negotiated or design-build contracts.
Benefits to the Project Owner:
- Partner Team selection of subcontractors and suppliers.
- A clear understanding of performance of all participants.
- Lower risk of cost overruns and delays because of better time and cost control over
project.
- Better quality product because energies are focused on the ultimate goal and not
misdirected to adversarial concerns.
- Potential to expedite project through efficient implementation of the contract.
- Open communication and un-filtered information allow for more efficient resolution of
problems.
- Lower administrative costs because of elimination of defensive case building.
- Increased opportunity for innovation through open communication and element of trust,
especially in the development of value engineering changes and constructability
improvements.
- Increased opportunity for a financially successful project because of non-adversarial
win/win attitude.
Benefits to the Project Contractor:
- Increased productivity because of elimination of defensive case building.
- Expedited decision making with issue resolution strategies.
- Lower risk of cost overruns and delays because of better time and cost control over
project.
- Increased opportunity for a financially successful project because of non- adversarial
win/win attitude.
Benefits to the Project Architect/Engineer:
- Minimized exposure to liability for document deficiencies through early identification
of problems, continuous evaluation, and cooperative, prompt resolution which can minimize
cost impact.
- Enhanced role in decision-making process, as an active team member in providing
interpretation of design intent and solution to problems.
- Reduced administrative costs because of elimination of defensive case building and
avoidance of claim administration and defense costs.
- Increased opportunity for a financially successful project because of non-adversarial
win/win attitude.
Benefits to the Project Subcontractors and Suppliers:
- Equity involvement in project increases opportunity for innovation and implementation of
value engineering in work.
- Potential to improve cash flow due to fewer disputes and withheld payments.
- Improved decision making avoids costly claims and saves time and money.
- Enhanced role in decision making process as an active team member.
- Increased opportunity for a financially successful project because of non- adversarial
win/win attitude
A New Beginning:
Partnering helps all parties in the construction process to direct their energies and
to focus on the real issues associated with achieving their ultimate objective of
constructing a quality product on time and within budget.
It is time for a change. Partnering is not a panacea. It is a challenging endeavor. The
participants must be committed to change and they must be committed to working in a team
environment that fosters a win/win relationship.
Partnering is a demonstration of integrity and fair dealing to gain the respect of
others. In the long-term, that respect produces a reputation of true value in the
industry. A heightened awareness of the value of fair dealing can be used internally,
externally and in all aspects of business and life.
Partnering has the potential to change the construction industry, one project at time.
According to "The Associated General Contractors of America" many projects have
been successfully partnered. The AGCA encourages you to try partnering all of your
projects, however, keep in mind that partnering requires action. The charter workshop is
not a guarantee for a successful project. The workshop is designed to lay a foundation of
trust and communication. A successful partnering project will require all partners to
commit, communicate and cooperate in the spirit of the charter you have developed here
today.
Need to know more about partnering and how to partner your next
construction project,
then contact The Uzelac Enhancement Team. E-mail us at suzelac@enhancementteam.com or call us at 419/849-3465
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