Page 59 - CCD Magazine - Winter-Spring 2019 Issue

the industry adopts new technologies. They are frustrated by the inefficiencies associated with the deeply embedded segregated services model, policies and work flows that are so out dated that some have referred to them as archaic. They are frustrated by the traditional top down management hierarchies, where the attitude remains “my way, or the highway,” leaving some of these individuals with only one choice—hitting the highway. And they are not just leaving individual companies, they are leaving the industry altogether. I realize that there are many impediments beyond our control that have molded our change resistant culture. Change equates to risk and we are, first and foremost, very good at managing risk. But our methodologies for managing risk have outgrowth their effectiveness. We now operate in a VUCA world and many of our projects could be described as VUCA projects— Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. The command and control techniques that had been so successful for us when the world, and circumstances, were more predictable, are no longer effective. As a matter of fact, they tend to do more harm than good. Today’s project environment requires flexibility, transparency, open communication, collaborative interdisciplinary teaming, and integrated thinking. These characteristics DO NOT represent our traditional culture. In fact, our culture is generally characterized as being just the opposite. However, the good news is that we don’t have to be stuck with the way we have always done things. We can actually take steps to begin to morph our cultures in the direction we want them to go. Making a cultural shift isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. When we recognize that not changing, is riskier than changing, we’ll realize we have no choice. *For more information on how you can benchmark your current culture, and begin to identify the changes that would best support your organization, contact Barbara Jackson at Barbara.jackson@du.edu or 303-871-3432. The most advanced education for the Built Environment • Design-Build • Integrated Project Leadership • Design Phase Management • Lean Construction Management THE BURNS SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Offers ONLINE and ON CAMPUS Courses and Degrees for working professionals • Project Delivery • Construction Management • Real Estate www.du.edu/burns 303.871.7629 marie.mcnichol@du.edu Colorado Construction & Design | 59