Dyer Straights Archives by Year

2006

Dear Sue: I have been a project manager for over twenty years and worked on dozens of projects. I am never sure at the start of a project if it will succeed. This is frustrating. What can I do to help assure that my projects come in on time, on budget, and with the quality designed? Success is My Goal

January - Where Prices are Going this Year

Dear Sue: I keep hearing about prices escalating and I’m not sure how to bid projects at this time. What increases are expected during 2006? Up, Up, and Away

2005

November - Root Causes of Poor Communication

Dear Sue: I am working on a project where we just can’t communicate. I know that communication is important. What can I do to improve our communication so I don’t lose my shirt of this project? I Like My Shirt

September - Your Future as a Union Contractor (or as a Union)

Dear Sue: I recently heard about a split in the AFL-CIO that included the Teamsters and Laborers unions. What does this mean to me as a union contractor and to the future of unions? Curious Contractor

May - Positive Interactions - the Magic Ratio

Dear Sue: I am an engineering contractor. I am fed up with hiring a bunch of whiners. No one seems to want to work anymore. I seem to be surrounded by a bunch of punks! Fighting Mad

April - Projects are Paradoxical - The Chinese Finger Puzzle

Dear Sue: As an owner, I just hate it when contractors look for and use loopholes in the project plans and specs. I know they’re never perfect - why don’t they? Please help me know how to deal with this? Thrown for a loop

2004

December - Getting Paid on Time

Dear Sue: I am a subcontractor who works for many general contractors. We have seen a growing trend of delays in payment for extra work and changes. What steps can we take to ensure we get paid in the same 30 day cycle as the contract work? Cash is King

November - Adjustments for Escalating Materials Costs

Dear Sue: I lost $2 million on a Navy project that I bid eight months ago because of escalating costs for cement and steel. I can’t absorb such a loss again. Is this going to end soon? Slammed by Shortages

October - Reverse Auctions - Good Idea?

Dear Sue: I am a mid-sized contractor. I’ve been asked to participate in a “reverse auction.” I don’t know what the heck this is. Can you give me a clue and your opinion on whether or not I should participate? Clueless in San Jose

September - Mega Project Success Factors

Dear Sue:I am the head of Capital Projects for a moderate sized county in California. We are just about to go out for bid on the largest project in the County’s history. I’ve heard that many large projects fail. What advise can you offer to help our project succeed? Looking for Success

April - Act as If - and It Will Happen

Dear Sue: I am the resident engineer on a fairly large public works project. My boss told me to "partner" with the contractor. I have worked on many projects and I’ve never met a contractor I could trust. How can I possibly "partner" with those people? Stop the Craziness

January - What's This Thing Called Deflation?

Dear Sue: I keep hearing about deflation in the news. I vaguely recall that you did a column on deflation a while back - can you run it again? Play It Again Sue

2003

Sue Dyer is the creator of the Construction Scorecard, a monthly measurement system that allows project leaders to assure that project risks and issues are fleshed out before they become problems and disputes. She is the first woman in the U.S. to head a major collective bargaining unit for the construction industry. Author of the award winning book Partner Your Project, Sue is a pioneer in the partnering movement. She is president of ORG·METRICS, a consulting firm specializing in non-adversarial approaches to preventing and resolving disputes. Please visit www.ConstructionScorecard.com for more information.