Tag: 2008 March Issue
These items have all been tagged with the tag "2008 March Issue", You can see other tags in the Tag CloudConstruction Business Owner, March 2008
Editor’s Note: This is the final of three articles on practical, cost-effective, green building techniques by Jeff Binder of greenbuildingblocks.com.
A few months ago, we set out to identify a few sustainable building techniques that actually save builders’ budgets. We came up with fifteen.
So what is the point—that it costs less to build green? Certainly not. A sustainably-built house will cost between 2 and 6 percent more than a traditionally-built house (but far less than the 15 percent builders assume, from a recent survey*).Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Most CEOs and presidents get a charge from leading. That is how they got to the position in the first place and that skill is a significant contributor to their success. They like the idea of guiding a company or a team of people through difficult challenges and making important decisions, sometimes quickly. Many “see” better than most and that helps them know where to go next when everyone else may be mired in the details or stumbling around in the dark. However, this leadership skill, which serves so well when it comes to men, machinery and markets, will often fall short when dealing with technology direction.
Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Many business owners view accounting as nothing more than an administrative headache. But good accounting systems and practices are powerful tools for managing your business. Accurate and timely financial reports can help you monitor your performance, control costs, improve profitability and manage cash flow.
Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Closing a project should be treated as an integral part of the project plan. The closing process does not begin at the end of the project, but during the planning phase. Each step should be as carefully planned and executed as any other portion of the project. The closure phase will vary depending on the size and complexity of the project, but it should include five basic items:
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Ensure the final project deliverables meet the specifications outlined in the project plan
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Receive customer approval of final project deliverables
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Ensure the proper closure of all project related contractual obligations
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Perform final lessons learned
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Archive project plan for future reference
Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Today the construction industry is in essentially the same place as the U.S. manufacturing industry was in the early 1990s—trapped between the declining margins of a competitive environment and a lack of the efficient processes needed to grow. In the early 1990s, manufacturing used the same basic methods and processes for planning, tracking, producing, shipping and selling products that had been in place since the 1960s. Paper and human reporting were everywhere. Critical data arrived to decision makers desks too late to be useful. Operational control was more black magic than science, and communications was glacially slow.
Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Not complying with current law can be expensive in today’s legal climate and construction employers should review their employee handbooks and employment-related policies to make sure they are up to date. More important, employers should draft their handbooks so their employees actually read them and follow their policies.Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Have you ever spent money on advertising for naught?
You know what I mean. You got nada for your investment. Zilch. Zippo.
At best, your investment brought you a couple of lukewarm leads, a tire kicker or two and a handful of price shoppers who weren’t worth the time you spent talking to them.
Construction Business Owner, March 2008
There are a wide variety of environmental investigation techniques that may be desired or required for new construction and remodeling. Each type of assessment has a different purpose and an ideal time frame to help answer questions without stalling the project. Unfortunately, at present, there is no such thing as a “tri-corder,” a device used in the Star Trek television series that determined types of life forms, genetic structure, chemical makeup and a risk assessment when pointed at any area of interest.
Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Editor’s Note: Following is the second article in our ten-part series called, “Accounting Software Checkup: 10 Ailments That Can Hinder a Health Bottom Line,” by Fred Ode, CEO, chairman and founder of Foundation Software. Each “ailment” will be discussed in detail to help you determine if your seemingly healthy business has an underlying problem.
Nothing takes the wind out of people’s sails like doing repetitive, non-productive work over…and over…and over again.
Construction Business Owner, March 2008
Editor’s Note: This is the third in our 2008 series of “Get Your Business to Work,” written by our regular columnist George Hedley.
The economy is changing faster than most businesses can adjust. Successful companies now need to work harder and more efficiently than ever to break-even. They need to be focused, nimble, fast and lean to produce profitable results. The companies who’ll emerge as leaders in the roller coaster economy will be different, innovative, cutting-edge and always achieve exceptional bottom-line results. They won’t be afraid to quickly abandon old customers, slow markets, poor employees and under-used equipment.
