Professional and Career Topics

• Assumption: The cost to address the question is markedly less the earlier in the project's life it is initiated.

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William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
Buffalo, N.Y.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
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John M. Lowe, Jr., P.E.

1. Verify that design staff has access to contract scope of services.
2. Determine if work beyond the contract scope of services has been performed.
3. If answer to 2 above is yes, insist that design staff not work beyond the contract scope of services on remainder of project. Verify on a frequent basis.
4. If answer to 2 above is yes, determine if work beyond the contract scope of services was requested by client.  If yes, request change order from client increasing the contract amount and schedule commensurate with the additional services.
5. Compare hours spent by staff category with those used in negotiating fee to determine which staff category may be responsible for the overrun.
6. Meet with design staff to inform them of the problem and to discuss how the design may be brought back into budget and schedule.  This may include realignment of staff for a more efficient mix of categories or the addition of resources.
7. Monitor progress compared to budget on a weekly basis. 
8. Notify client of efforts being made to get the project back on schedule.

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John Lowe P.E., M.ASCE
Owner
Happy Valley OR
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Thanks for your contribution John!

When reading your list of steps, I visualize a process flow diagram.

Do you or anyone else in the community have one to share?

Stay Healthy!
Cheers,
Bill

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William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
Buffalo, N.Y.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2021 01:17 PM
From: John Lowe
Subject: Q. When your project's progress at the 30% Phase Gate indicates you are over budget and behind schedule, what do you do to get back onto plan?

John M. Lowe, Jr., P.E.

1. Verify that design staff has access to contract scope of services.
2. Determine if work beyond the contract scope of services has been performed.
3. If answer to 2 above is yes, insist that design staff not work beyond the contract scope of services on remainder of project. Verify on a frequent basis.
4. If answer to 2 above is yes, determine if work beyond the contract scope of services was requested by client.  If yes, request change order from client increasing the contract amount and schedule commensurate with the additional services.
5. Compare hours spent by staff category with those used in negotiating fee to determine which staff category may be responsible for the overrun.
6. Meet with design staff to inform them of the problem and to discuss how the design may be brought back into budget and schedule.  This may include realignment of staff for a more efficient mix of categories or the addition of resources.
7. Monitor progress compared to budget on a weekly basis.
8. Notify client of efforts being made to get the project back on schedule.

------------------------------
John Lowe P.E., M.ASCE
Owner
Happy Valley OR
------------------------------

A flow diagram is a great suggestion.  Hopefully someone will add their suggestions and create the flow diagram.

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John Lowe P.E., M.ASCE
Owner
Happy Valley OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2021 11:36 AM
From: William Hayden
Subject: Q. When your project's progress at the 30% Phase Gate indicates you are over budget and behind schedule, what do you do to get back onto plan?

Thanks for your contribution John!

When reading your list of steps, I visualize a process flow diagram.

Do you or anyone else in the community have one to share?

Stay Healthy!
Cheers,
Bill

------------------------------
William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
Buffalo, N.Y.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2021 01:17 PM
From: John Lowe
Subject: Q. When your project's progress at the 30% Phase Gate indicates you are over budget and behind schedule, what do you do to get back onto plan?

John M. Lowe, Jr., P.E.

1. Verify that design staff has access to contract scope of services.
2. Determine if work beyond the contract scope of services has been performed.
3. If answer to 2 above is yes, insist that design staff not work beyond the contract scope of services on remainder of project. Verify on a frequent basis.
4. If answer to 2 above is yes, determine if work beyond the contract scope of services was requested by client.  If yes, request change order from client increasing the contract amount and schedule commensurate with the additional services.
5. Compare hours spent by staff category with those used in negotiating fee to determine which staff category may be responsible for the overrun.
6. Meet with design staff to inform them of the problem and to discuss how the design may be brought back into budget and schedule.  This may include realignment of staff for a more efficient mix of categories or the addition of resources.
7. Monitor progress compared to budget on a weekly basis.
8. Notify client of efforts being made to get the project back on schedule.

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John Lowe P.E., M.ASCE
Owner
Happy Valley OR

Vito Rotondi, ARCH, SE, PE, ASCE
Illinois

Ok, so you should know that you are trending to an overbudget over schedule situation way before the gate milestone. Budgets and schedules should be continuously monitored and discussed with the team as part of the project goals and objectives. All team members must be involved and analysis of the negative trend needs to be ongoing. A recovery plan must be developed to get back on track

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Vito Rotondi P.E., M.ASCE
Westmont IL
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