The Capability and Market Balance (The Chicken or Egg Dichotomy)
D. Brown Management
April 13, 2025
Sustainable growth for contractors requires balancing capabilities and capacity with the available market. Like balancing on the toes of one foot, balance is not a static relaxed state. It requires focus, continuous adjustments, and deliberate practice.
planning strategy talent
Alignment from Strategy to Execution
D. Brown Management
January 18, 2025
Misalignment between how projects are estimated and how they are built creates subpar outcomes at best and sometimes results in catastrophic failure. Alignment is not a task to be completed. It is an ongoing process starting at the top.
accounting estimating management planning strategy
What Are You Optimizing For?
D. Brown Management
January 3, 2025
Prioritizing is about sequencing. Optimizing is about balance. Both are defined by your values, strategies, and objectives. Both are constrained by your finite resources including talent and capital. Start by knowing what you are optimizing for.
career strategy talent
Capacity Expansion as a Strategic Decision
D. Brown Management
December 1, 2024
"Capacity expansion is one of the most significant strategic decisions faced by firms, measured both in terms of the amount of capital involved and the complexity of the decision-making problem." - Michael Porter (Author of Competitive Strategy)
planning strategy
Market Share and Margins (Economic Theory and Practice)
D. Brown Management
September 8, 2024
When evaluating or deciding on a market strategy, it is helpful for contractors to understand some economic theories and real-world examples of how margins and market share relate to each other.
business development business planning strategy
Strategy, Planning, and Execution Models
D. Brown Management
September 1, 2024
There are many models and tools to help businesses make strategic decisions, develop a plan, and execute. All have strengths and there are many similarities in the underlying principles as well as their origins. None are perfect. How to choose and use...
execution management planning strategy
Tactical and Strategic Question Categories
D. Brown Management
September 1, 2024
When planning, separate the questions you ask yourself into tactical and strategic categories. Answer the strategic ones first, back-checking them against the tactical ones to evaluate the viability of your plans.
management planning strategy
Return on Working Capital (Project Level)
D. Brown Management
August 24, 2024
Reduce risk and increase returns by analyzing opportunities and selecting those that offer the highest return on working capital.
capital cash finance strategy
1 Million Point Evaluation for Contractor Operations
D. Brown Management
June 2, 2024
How effective is your whole system from strategic market choices through project exit? This simple evaluation exercise with your team will help you align then eliminate your key bottlenecks and constraint.
business management strategy Talent
Project Value Stream (PVS) - The Extended View
D. Brown Management
June 2, 2024
The degree to which contractors understand and fully integrate their Project Value Stream (PVS) internally and externally determines their ability to grow sustainably and profitably.
business development business management strategy