by Simplar | Jan 25, 2024 | Project Selection, Project Selection, Risk Management, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
I have railed against low bid contracting for many years as the root cause of shrinking contractor profit margins and increasing contractor failure. In principle, it is an insane way to do business (selling a product for the lowest price rather than the highest price...
by Simplar | Dec 14, 2023 | Financial Management and Risk, Financial Management and Risk, Risk Management, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
Every bet has a winner and a loser. The bookie always wins a little, but the bettor often loses a lot. What’s the difference? The Recognition and Management of Risk. Risk Recognition Both the bookie and the bettor recognize that every bet has a winner and a loser....
by Simplar | Sep 21, 2023 | Business Failure, Business Failure, Risk Management, Risk Management, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
If you say “contracting” to anyone they immediately think of “construction”. The “building” industry has become identified with the signing of a contract at the point of sale. “Builders” have become “contractors” in the eyes of the public. This misidentification has...
by Simplar | Aug 10, 2023 | Project Selection, Project Selection, Risk Management, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
“Ya Puts Up Ya Money…Ya Takes Yer Cherce” Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. So says Charles Dickens’ racetrack tout in his native cockney accent. This colorful character in Dickens’ 19th century novel describes construction contracting more accurately and concisely than all...
by Simplar | May 4, 2023 | Built Environment, Business of Construction, Business, Strategic and Project Planning, Business, Strategic and Project Planning, Risk Management, Risk Management, Risk Management
Planning the Present Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Managing working capital during this post pandemic disrupted economy has led to many questions from contractors. I have condensed all the questions on how to plan for the future economy into one synthetic question: Syn Q....
by Simplar | Mar 30, 2023 | Leadership, Leadership, Leadership, Risk Management, Risk Management, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
The Haves and Have-Nots Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Unlike rampant inflation, supply chain collapse, or a sudden descent into recession; trends creep up without us noticing. We have already discussed the gradual shortage of skilled labor that is now haunting our...
