Guest Speaker Cole Orndorff

It was very interesting to hear how technologies deployed in the construction business can enable cost savings for contractors and their clients. Adoption of new technologies in the building industry have traditionally been associated with high costs, often making use or implementation out of reach for customers and thus for design and building professionals. For example, many innovative sustainable building technologies have lagged in market adoption as a result of the high end-user costs. In the case of sustainable building technologies, it is often difficult to get customers to pay higher upfront costs for technologies and building systems that promise costs savings down the line (ie. lower energy bills for use of photovoltaic panels).

In terms of advanced building information modelling technologies, as discussed by Orndorff, these systems come at a very high cost to businesses. As well, they lack support across the building industry supply or value chain. In the case of the software used for the Disney Concert Hall, that Orndorff referenced, the architecture firm used Catia, a modelling software developed for and used by the the aeronautics industry. Therefore, at the time there is little familiarity within the building industry in using such software. Contractors, subcontractors, engineers, all had to become familiar with learning how to read such models. The costs of purchasing the software and educating builders, engineers and designers are high. Furthermore, these challenge industry standards of using AutoCad and prints of 2-d drawings. Many contractors and subcontractors do not know how to read 3-d models and use 2-d drafting programs and are used to reading traditional "blueprints."

In my experience practicing architecture, our firm used BIM software and worked to model structural, mechanical and electrical designs developed by our consultants to forsee and prevent conflicts that Orndorff mentioned. Unfortuneately, our design fees did not often cover the costs the taking 2-d drawings from consultants and rendering this information 3 dimensionally. Clients don't want to pay upfront to prevent errors. Though such errors, are incredibly difficult to predict given conventional tools. Furthermore, few engineers used such systems, so we could not simply "drop" these systems into our models. Finally, for the liability issues that Orndorff mentioned, architects provided dated, stamped and signed drawings that have been pre-approved by the city to contractors. These are legal documents and the legal issues of building from "working" model are many.

While industry changes are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of such technologies, I think these technologies are incredibly valuable for the industry - for both cost controls and design innovation. I think it is great to see that large building firms are using these technologies and hopefully this trend will continue.

Class on 1/29

I found the discussion of knowledge management in Thursday's class very interesting.  Certainly, reducing redundancy in an organization with technologies that facilitate improved institutional knowledge management has many advantages.  Advantage include efficiencies which allow members of an organization to accomplish more and to spend time in more productive ways.  While this, in turn, potentially drives improved profitability, it can inadvertently stifle innovation.  

For example, when working in architecture I met with a commercially successful firm that deploys design strategies that maximize efficiency, thus maximizing margins on the firm's professional services.  This is accomplished through building a digital library of "standard" designs and detail.  This library is then used by architects when working on new projects.  Rather than developing a new design detail for a residential stair, for example, the designer selects a stair in the firm's library and inputs this design into the plans for a new house.  There are incredible efficiencies in this approach - time saved developing and drawing a new stair as well as the firm's knowledge and experience in building something they have built before.  As such, the designer and firm know what is required to execute construction of this design and can predict the costs of building this component.  

This approach, however, lacks innovation.  It does not allow for the development of new solutions, use of new materials or new approaches to building.  If designers simply rely on their firms' knowledge management systems when executing new products, the opportunity to generate alternative, more cost effective or more valuable solutions is limited.  I feel this is therefore important that firms acknowledge the potential trade-offs when developing and adopting knowledge management systems.

Outsourcing and webcasting

I found the example of "outsourcing" from slide 22 in the presentation on Thursday very interesting. When we think of business outsourcing it is generally from the perspective of the business - going outside headquarters to contract specific business functions. The example of seeking medical treatments abroad considers outsourcing from the client perspective. Here it is about consumers sourcing the globe for the most cost effective solutions. This has becoming even more critical and relevant in this unprecedented economy. Individuals may be more willing risk the safety and security to conserve costs.

As many large corporations are now streamlining spending and allocation of funds, outsourcing and technology can play a critical role in budget and strategy decisions. For example, rather than having live monthly department meetings off-site, a friend of mine who works for a large local company mentioned that her firm will now conduct these meetings the webcasts. Technogoly can really play key role reducing costs.

Session 2 (1/22)

I really enjoyed the introductory slides in Thursday's lecture.  the rapid escalation of digital devices, the impactive of technology on the global transformation of systems from healthcare to security is framed very in an incredibly compelling way in these slides. I also found our discussion of leadership to be very interesting.  I would have been interested in a discussion that make a direct connection between these two concepts (technology and leadership) and the role we can play as leaders in this environment.  

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Wow.  Never thought I would be a blogger, but I am enjoying it so far it.  I am excited about interactive, immediate format of the class.  It is nice to actually engage with technology in a new way while learning about how tech and business drive innovation.  I am looking forward to the next seven weeks...