Common Sense

Common Sense

COMMON SENSE by Brian Lines, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Kansas Construction industry research usually begins with an everyday practical problem brought to a university faculty by construction industry professionals.  Unfortunately, the resulting...
The Bidder Who Makes the Most Mistakes

The Bidder Who Makes the Most Mistakes

SUBJECT: THE HISTORY OF LOW BID “The Bidder Who Makes the Most Mistakes… Gets the Job” If this weren’t true, it wouldn’t be funny. Irony is humor because the underlying truth shouldn’t be so, but it is. Our industry has been enjoying this old joke ever since the...
Beyond “Low Bid” What Now?

Beyond “Low Bid” What Now?

Beyond “Low Bid” What Now?   The idea that always choosing the low bidder on a construction contract would protect budgets and prevent corruption has run its course. It is now almost an axiom of the construction industry that the hidden cost of broken schedules and...
Construction’s “No-Win”

Construction’s “No-Win”

Construction’s “No-Win” Risk Management/Transfer     A survey of 125 construction owners by Engineering News Recordfound that only half would hire the same construction firm again, a third of all projects were over budget, nearly half were completed late, and 13% were...
Risk Minimization

Risk Minimization

Risk Minimization (Part 2)   In last week’s blog, Construction’s No-Win, research data led us to the conclusion that risk cannot be effectively transferred in contract negotiations and that only highly competent contractors can manage risk for all stakeholders. “Risk...