Premature Optimization

Construction technology innovation has exploded and is continuing to accelerate.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

The quantity of experienced talent is at a low point and will continue to decline throughout the next 10+ years.

Leadership Tools: Deming Cycle, Plan, Do, Check, Adjust. Quote: Premature Optimization is the roof of all evil. Donald Knuth. Quote: If something is truly worth doing then it's worth getting started now even if it isn't perfect then iteratively improving. David Brown.

There are probably more unknowns than knowns:

  • What is the best software or technology for ________?
  • Will this company provide the support we need or even be in business in 3 years? 
  • What exactly is the best process for managing the preconstruction process?
  • What is the best training program to accelerate the development of ________ ?
  • If I invest in training _______ will they even stay with the company?
  • How specifically do I measure the return on all these investments?  

The truth is that there is no perfect answer to any of these questions.  

If you never take a step forward then you will never “waste” a step.  You will also never move any further down the road - and you can bet that at least one of your competitors is.  

This is why they call it a “Strategic Direction” rather than “Exact Instructions.”  

What is more important is that you start moving forward and put a great PDCA process in place.  Be focused on rigorously adjusting but don’t stop moving forward. 

Learn more:


An unbiased 3rd party can be invaluable in helping you evaluate unknowns.

Not because they have all the answers but because they will bring different perspectives, methods to evaluate the decision and continuous improvement tools.




Advanced Preconstruction Services for Profitable Growth
Preconstruction IS NOT estimating re-branded. Leverage 360 degrees of perspective to improve your preconstruction services with our 7-phase program tailored specifically for your business and market.
DD001 - Locus of Control
Expanding on locus of control, including how it drives decision making at all levels and answering three questions: Decisions from the top, how to improve locus of control, and how it impacts technology selection & use.
Two Restaurants on Saturday Night
Leaders of construction companies have to make many decisions with less than perfect information. Many times we are looking for perfectly formatted data in some sort of a report but there are indicators all over the place.