A typical land development project involves a variety of professionals drawing from their respectively diverse bodies of knowledge. Despite this, the outcome sought by you as a developer remains a piece of land or a new building to use or sell.
Achieving this outcome requires unprecedented workflow collaboration, usually under the direction of a lead professional or project manager. Unfortunately, strong professional silos persist that put pressure on the project management triangle of scope, cost and time.
Here are some ideas for breaking down these silo barriers:
- Create a vision
- Define common goals
- Motivate stakeholders
- Measure success
- Share knowledge
Vision
Each professional must not only understand their technical role in the land development process; but also the context within which their work is required. Creating a vision provides this context.
Common goals
Once defined, the vision will bring into focus the unique problems that must be solved to deliver the project. Overcoming these challenges is achieved by identifying shared objectives and prioritising the work to be done.
Motivating stakeholders
But having goals is not enough. The team must also be rowing in the same direction. By aligning economic and professional incentives with the goals, it is possible to leverage collaboration and achieve best practice.
Measure success
Every discipline has a unique body of knowledge against which its performance is measured. Communication between and within each profession is critical for promoting accountability and sustaining momentum.
Share knowledge
Improving communication provides the team with opportunities for creativity and learning. It is through this combination of vision, shared goals, alignment and success that knowledge can truly be shared.
