In the commercial construction industry, teamwork is a non-negotiable component for successful construction projects.

Usually, any general contractor can complete a project – they may even complete it close to schedule or near the budget amount, but there is more that distinguishes a successful construction project than meeting the basic time and money requirements of project management.

At DBG, we aim above and beyond the elemental construction of a project; we aim to build an effective, dependable team of subcontractors, architects, engineers, city officials, and – most importantly – our clients.

The Bigger Picture

Remind team members of the bigger picture. A project team achieves high performance when they are motivated by the same goal.

As a general contractor, one of our key ingredients to project approach is incorporating the client into our team. Their vision becomes our vision.

We recognize the challenges and hurdles of the client’s project and communicate them with our subcontractors. Then we develop lasting business relationships with subcontractors so they work to achieve this vision with a sense of pride and ownership. This is also a reason to consider integrating pre-construction management for your project.

Pre-construction opens a forum for brainstorming, discussion, and determining milestones and goals. One of DBG’s hallmark projects was so successful in achieving its overall vision, that the building has merited multiple awards and recognition for its artistic and community-based space. Check out our blog on pre-construction for Dunlap Codding Law Firm.

Clear System for Communication

Have a clear system for communication that includes everyone. Communicating the goals and vision of a project needs to happen more than once.

According to Forbes’ article Five Ways to Build a High-Performance Team, good leadership needs to “be a broken record and help team members to be focused on the vision. High-performance team leaders stay on message, they constantly communicate and keep people focused on the vision and mission to accomplish.”

Implementing communication processes that support day-to-day and even hour-to-hour updates is critical to achieving each milestone.

At DBG, we use Procore Construction Management software comprehensively for each project.

If you have a commercial construction project, consider working with a general contractor that utilizes a robust management software that keeps them accountable and keeps communicating the vision every step of the way.

You can also check out our blog on Communication: Setting up Projects for Success to read our story on effective and comprehensive communication systems.

For more information about our commercial construction firm and our project management, please contact us today.

When a new construction project begins, it is usually an exciting time for the teams involved — ideas take shape, goals and milestones are established, and everyone is eager to get started.

In order for that project to reach those goals, or sometimes, to reach completion at all, it is absolutely necessary for everyone to recognize the importance of teamwork while working on the project.

Who is on the team?

If you take a quick glance at a commercial construction project, you may think that the team consists only of the construction crew, the general contractor, and maybe an architect. Depending on the size and type of project, there may be city officials required for permitting, zoning officials, engineers, utility companies, a team of architects, and, of course, the client.

How does a project management team master teamwork?

In a word – communication. With so many individuals, trades, and responsibilities, commitment to communication is essential. For example, DBG utilizes Procore Construction Management software to track and log critical deadlines and project information. They can keep everyone’s calendars synced and up-to-date, plus they can also make sure that everyone is sent any changes or updates to deadlines or budget information.

Project management and teamwork go hand in hand.

We recently completed a project for Pizza Studios that required an extra emphasis on teamwork and communication. Prior to the start of the project, we communicated thoroughly with the team of architects, so we knew from the outset that we would be working with a tight timeline.The client needed to work with a general contractor that could achieve milestones quickly and open Pizza Studio’s doors on time.

As a local general contractor that has operated in the commercial construction industry for ten years, we rely on our good working relationships with subcontractors and city officials.

The project started in November, so we already faced challenges with potential weather delays and holidays. Our client needed permits expedited and customers walking through their doors as soon as possible. Our project team had to expand, and our sense of teamwork and effort to communicate along with it.

Pizza Studio has since opened its doors, reaching substantial completion in just under 6 weeks. We owe a lot to our team of subcontractors and superintendents who stayed on-site during the holidays to see the project through to completion. It is one of those projects that reminds us that communication, proper management, and teamwork are critical to success.

Have more questions about how to help your team work together and communicate well? Feel free to contact us and ask. We will be happy to help any way we can!

We understand why so many individuals seeking construction services place a premium on estimated cost, reputation, and time-frames for project delivery. What we don’t understand is why so many clients settle for a construction firm that doesn’t advocate and provide transparent communication.

Many construction teams win a competitive bid, receive a list of instructions, and then commence work with little-to-no forecast of future communication. Not only does this lack of communication increase the odds of mistakes, but it also generates a space of silence and unknowns that increases stress and tension between the contractor and the client. The client is left wondering just how well (or how poorly) things are going and whether the project is scheduled to be completed on time and on budget.

DBG firmly believes in establishing a clear framework of consistent, forthright communication. Routine communication with the client not only eases their concerns, but also improves the overall management and organization of the project.

When facilitated correctly, communication brings cohesion to all of the project’s different participants: the client, the architect, the contractor, and the subcontractors. Every single person knows what portions of the project are proceeding according to schedule, and what needs to be moved along more quickly.

Since transparent communication works both ways, it’s important that our client knows what we have completed and also what we are struggling to complete.

Importance of Regular, Direct Communication

Studies indicate that the most effective form of communication during construction is direct communication or, when dealing with routine matters or regular updates, written communication.

The reason direct communication plays such a critical role in a contractor’s performance is because it allows people with technical experience to generate a forum for questions and answers. It is not uncommon for this dialogue to evolve into a brainstorming session that provokes new ideas, new strategies and solutions.

So how does communication ensure a project is completed in a timely and cost-effective manner?

DBG relies on its proprietary weekly meeting packets which are distributed during routine meetings of a project’s key personnel. These regular meetings facilitate direct communication and generate an expectation of teamwork and transparency. DBG’s project packets supplement these meetings with written communication, providing detailed progress reports and up-to-date photographs of the construction site.

DBG especially relies on these documents during particularly challenging projects. For example, DBG was awarded a contract to complete two extensive restaurant renovations in just under 70 days.

Weekly meetings with the architect and the client were essential to monitoring progress, identifying lead items, and determining contingencies to make sure the deadline was met. To add additional pressure, opening dates are non-negotiable for restaurants: they either open on time, or they begin to lose money before the first customer even walks through the door.

DBG beat the deadline and our quality performance brought two new Chick-Fil-As to the University’s campus before the Fall semester had started.

As a general contractor that strives to set new benchmarks of service and project management, DBG is proud that our strong communication strategy results in happy clients and new businesses that enrich and contribute to our community.

Considering opening up a new location for your business? Contact us today to find out how DBG’s services can help you open up on time and in budget.