I begin this column knowing I may offend some people in project management, because my contention is that project management of engineering projects isn’t that complicated. Project management relies on common sense we all use every day in our lives (with…
ReEngineering the Engineer: Patience Is a Virtue
My dad passed away about a year and a half ago. Being the oldest of three children, it was my task to help put together the eulogy for the service. I…
Legal Issues: When (and How) Should a Mediator Evaluate a Case?
Construction is a rewarding business, but it’s also challenging and risky. Most larger projects involve dozens of companies, complex design and construction…
Project Management Insights: When Everyone Is a PM, No One Is a PM
About 10 years ago, the #lifegoal in the industry was to become a Principal within one’s engineering or architecture firm. With that position came prestige, owner perks, financial and professional security, and decision-making authority on strategic matters.…
Executive Corner: Is It Time for a Shareholders’ Agreement Tune-Up?
A well-crafted shareholders’ agreement is the foundation of any professional service firm’s ownership transition plan. In privately held firms (which make up the vast majority of firms in the A/E industry), this is the document that governs how ownership…
Code Update: A Seismic Monitoring Systems Snapshot for Building Code Compliance in California
California is most associated with earthquake risk, but the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) points out that while all U.S. states have some potential for earthquakes, 42 of the 50 states “have a reasonable chance of experiencing damaging ground shaking from…
Infrastructure Outlook: We Need 21st Century Solutions for America’s Infrastructure
Americans know how bad the country’s infrastructure has become, particularly our roads and bridges. The growing U.S. population, currently at 328 million people and rapidly approaching 400 million, puts a tremendous strain on our already taxed infrastructure.…
From the Editor: Managing a $10 Trillion Construction Industry
Several years ago, the trillion-dollar global construction industry (projected to hit $10 trillion by 2020) caught the eyes of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Much has been written (including in this column) about the industry’s inefficiencies, and there’s…
Final Thoughts: Which Costumes Have You Worn Throughout Your Engineering Career?
It’s Halloween season: the time of year when we get to dress up and act like a different person or character for a day. We can take on another role, different from the role we play at home or at work. I asked my young neighbor what he was going to be for…
ReEngineering the Engineer: Teaching IPD: Integrated Project Dharma
In 2016, Fitzpatrick Engineering Group was invited to be a signatory for a true Integrated (Lean) Project Delivery (ILPD) project for a regional hospital system. Most of the design team (everyone but the architect) as well as the general contractor and his…
