The simplest definition of conglomerate is – a number of different things or parts that are put or grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities. What a perfect description of a construction company! As I have said so often in the past, each...
Capital capacity is just a fancy way of saying having enough cash around to finance projects ongoing plus projects under consideration. The construction industry is grossly undercapitalized. This, I believe, is the primary risk factor that contractors deal with daily...
Tony the Temper Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Contractors and their senior executives don’t pull wire, pour concrete, drive nails, or dig holes. They don’t do the estimating, scheduling, or accounting for ongoing work. Once a contract is signed and a project is underway,...
Experts Make Money Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Because too many construction projects are priced through a low-bid auction process, contractors have only minimal control over their selling price. Expense inflation over the extended life of a project is hard to control....
Firing Up the Team Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Successful construction professionals build a team in four successive steps: 1. Recruit 2. Train 3. Motivate 4. Retain. This week we’ll take a closer look at motivation. Many in our industry are tough, hands-on personality...
It Takes a Team Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Even with a visionary founder or CEO firmly in control, a professional team is necessary to execute the founder’s or CEO’s vision of success. As I referenced in last week’s message, day to day management of construction work...
