Recent Articles

  • 3 in Sports History Biggest Blunders (and Construction Management)

    Submitted by cdp-inc on November 1, 2011 - 8:30am

    Construction Management BlundersIf you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably witnessed some dramatic mistakes and missteps on the playing field. These blunders occur when players don’t have (or don’t pay attention to) vital information. They occur when team members disregard teamwork, or when players forget that success can depend on factors beyond the level of an individual or team.

    Construction companies share a lot in common with sports teams in this regard. When things go wrong, it’s usually not for lack of good intentions or professional experience. It’s because information isn’t available, communication isn’t fast or accurate, or close and effective collaboration with partners isn’t happening.

    We’ve reached into the annals of sports history to find examples of what happens when professional players and teams drop the ball--literally and figuratively. We hope you enjoy the stories and manage to avoid similar situations.  

    Blunder #1: Not Knowing Where You Stand

    “Excessive” touchdown celebrations are officiallyfrowned upon in the NFL. Despite this, most scoring players manage to indulge in a little merriment without repercussion. However, one player’s embarrassing gaffe in the end zone proved the importance of knowing where you stand in any situation.

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  • Turning Information Into Action: How intelligent reporting leads to equipment management savings

    Submitted by cdp-inc on October 3, 2011 - 9:15am

    By John Chaney, co-founder, Dexter + Chaney

    As a contractor, if you have even a modest investment in heavy equipment, then you have a significant stake in making sure that you are realizing a return on that investment. However, knowing your true costs and returns on construction equipment is not as simple a task as it appears on the surface. The good news is that there are reporting methods and tools available that help you drill down into the details of equipment management and provide you with information that drives money saving decisions.

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  • Beyond Virtualization - Moving from Remote Access to True Collaboration

    Submitted by cdp-inc on September 8, 2011 - 3:18pm

    By John Chaney, co-founder, Dexter + Chaney

    Once collaboration becomes reality, construction productivity will significantly improve, as project information will be easily available to all participants.

    Two things can be said of economic downturns in the construction industry. First, a recovery that follows has roughly the same duration as the downturn itself, and brings the industry close to the level of growth it experienced prior to the downturn.

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  • 3 Keys To Contractor Cash Flow

    Submitted by cdp-inc on August 22, 2011 - 3:05pm

    How the right tools and processes create positive cash flow in your business.

    By John Chaney, co-founder, Dexter + Chaney

    It’s an old saying: “Cash is king.” More than ever, this saying is relevant to contractors as margins continue to tighten and the amount of work generated by new construction continues to remain relatively flat. Negative cash flow is the No. 1 reason why contractor businesses become insolvent, and so a primary business objective must be to keep operations in the black.

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  • Business Management Software

    Submitted by cdp-inc on August 22, 2011 - 2:56pm

    By John Chaney, co-founder, Dexter + Chaney

    Business management software is one of the most difficult investments to make for your business. Difficult because it's hard to know when it makes financial sense to upgrade to more capable-and likely more expensive-systems. Difficult because implementing new software requires a commitment to change. And difficult because your business expertise is probably not in software-it's in construction and service contracting.

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  • Rising from the Ashes - FMI/CMAA Owners Survey Results

    Submitted by cdp-inc on August 4, 2011 - 8:00am

    FMI/CMAA Owners Survey ResultsThe FMI/CMAA 11th Annual Owners Survey was conducted in an atmosphere of considerable disagreement over whether the national economy is recovering and if so, how quickly. A major federal infusion of stimulus funding in 2009-2010 was meant to soften the impact of the recession, as well as accelerate the recovery through investment in infrastructure and other resources.

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  • Dexter + Chaney Case Study: SME Inc of Seattle Eliminates Excess Paperwork and Streamlines Project Management

    Submitted by cdp-inc on July 14, 2011 - 12:05pm

    Challenge

    Find accounting software that can be implemented quickly, facilitates project management processes and increases efficiency of key accounting processes.

    Solution

    Implemented Spectrum® Construction Software with fully integrated Document Imaging across Accounts Payable and Project Management modules.

    Result

    Elimination of paper files and increased control over project management with the ability to track change orders and job costs.

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  • Ground Rules for Daily Reports on a Construction Project

    Submitted by cdp-inc on July 7, 2011 - 5:32pm

    This article was submitted by Tom Frisby of The Frisby Group.

    As a dispute resolution consultant (www.frisbygroup.org), I have found that effective daily reports have been more important than, to tell you the truth, after the fact forensic schedules and expert witnesses.  Daily reports are done in "real time" and if properly done, carry real credibility - I call daily documentation a Living, Unimpeachable Witness.  To be properly done:

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