November 2002

1

THINKING OUT LOUD

Some Thoughts and Comments on the Organization, Role, and Future of

Knowledge in Commercial Construction

November, 2002(with very slight editing in 2012)

November 2002 © 201\2 2

CONTEXT AND OVERVIEW

FULL SCALE PROTOYPERS GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME HIGH COMPLEXITY AND HIGH RISK

DEGREE OF REPETITION VARIES ONE END: MASS PRODUCED HOUSING OTHER END: EXTREME ONE-OFF’S

November 2002 © 201\2 3

MANAGING RISK OF ERROR

CRITICAL COMPETENCY IN A/E/C

TWO BASIC APPROACHES

SHIFT THE RISK • = EXPERTISE IN CONTRACTS

GET IT RIGHT • = EXPERTISE IN CONSTRUCTION ITSELF

November 2002 © 201\2 4

THE NEW MILLENIUM

20th CENTURY WAS SEA CHANGE

A SINGLE HUMAN CAN NO LONGER BE THE MASTER BUILDER COMPLEXITY OF SYSTEMS PACE OF CHANGE

• REQUIREMENTS (OWNER + EXTERNAL)

• MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS

• TOOLS (DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION)

November 2002 © 201\2 5

THE OPPOSITE OF SEAMLESS DESIGN FRAGMENTED KNOWLEDGE FRAGMENTED RESPONSIBILITIES HOSTILE INFORMATION HAND-OFFS

KEEP RE-INVENTING THE WHEEL NO SYSTEMATIC KNOWLEDGE CAPTURE

CURRENT INEFFICIENCIES

November 2002 © 201\2 6

THE DESIGN CHALLENGE

INTERFACES AND INTERACTIONS EXTRAORDINARILY COMPLEX NUMBERS ARE LARGE (FACTORIAL!) FAILURES TYPICALLY OCCUR THERE

FULL MODULARITY UNACHIEVABLE CAN DO IN SUB SYSTEM (Pipes, Wires, etc.) CAN DO WITH INFORMATION CANNOT DO WITH BUILDINGS

• COMBINES DIFFERING MATERIALS

November 2002 © 201\2 7

WHERE’S THE INFO TODAY?

WIDELY DISBURSED

NEEDED BY MANY PLAYERS

NEEDED AT MANY MOMENTS

“SKIN OF TEETH” IS TYPICAL SMALL ERRORS ARE COMMON

• USUALLY OF LIMITED CONSEQUENCE

• ADDS UP, OFTEN DETECTED LATER

November 2002 © 201\2 8

A SOLUTION

CENTRAL REPOSITORY OF PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

SHARED INPUT AND USAGE ALL TIERS AND ROLES

CONSISTENT WAY TO REPRESENT KNOWLEDGE AND PRODUCT INFO

November 2002 © 201\2 9

POSSIBLE SPONSOR(S)

INFORMATION COMPANIES McGraw or CMD

NIBS (Natl. Inst. Of Building Sciences)

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

LARGE MANUFACTURERS

November 2002 © 201\2 10

AN APPROACH

START SMALL, BOTTOM UP SPECIFIC PRODUCTS

• POINTS OF PAIN AND RISK• KNOWN CUSTOMER

UTILIZE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS NO ACTION WITHOUT A SPONSOR

• INVESTED IN THE CONCEPT• DESIGNER/BUYER/SUPPLIER/MFR• INCLUDE SUBS• INCLUDE TRADE ASSOCATIONS, ETC.

November 2002 © 201\2 11

REVENUE AND FINANCING

CAPITAL COMES FROM INDUSTRY MOSTLY EXISTING COMPANIES

• MINIMUM BASED ON SIZE?

• VC’s ARM OF AN OPERATING CO.

MIXED REVENUE MODEL ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEES USAGE FEES

• INCENTIVES FOR PUTTING INTO BASE

November 2002 © 201\2 12

NOTES

SELECTIVE USE ON PER KNUGGET BASIS COMBOS OF SPONSORS EXAMPLE WITHIN CONCRETE (full slide w

SPONSORS AND NOTES) WHY (BASIC MATERIAL AND I KNOW IT)

NOT TECHNO DRIVEN

November 2002 © 201\2 13

MORE NOTES

DEEP EXAMPLE IN CONCRETECLARIFY THE LEVELS OF ISSUE

OVERALL APPROACH TECHNICAL STUFF ORGANIZATION STUFF

MANY WAYS TO DO, THIS IS TO STIMULATE DISCUSSION, FIND SPONSORS