The ReAlignment Group, Ltd.
P.O. Box 811
La Jolla, CA 92038
Toll Free: 1-877-REALIGN
Direct Dial: 858-454-4354
Please contact us if you need our street address for delivery |
How can we prevent claims?
Claims are often a result of a communication breakdown. But they are often "built into" construction contracts and delivery methods.
- Design-Bid-Build project delivery: when designers and constructors are under separate contracts and their work occurs at different times without collaboration, confusion and miscommunication are inevitable. This is the biggest source of claims.
- SOLUTIONS: Construction Manager constructability review of design documents, Alignment Partnering with ALL the parties from the very beginning of construction, and a robust Issue Resolution process that emphasizes quick resolution at the lowest levels.
- Design-Build project delivery results in far fewer claims because designers and constructors work together on the same team. Team Building and use of Pull Planning is essential for the most efficient communication both during design and construction.
- Integrated Project Delivery ("Alliancing" in Australia) is becoming more widely recognized as a major step toward a claims-free project, because there is no incentive for any of the parties to become antagonists. When combined with Lean and BIM the greatest efficiencies and reduction of waste can occur. We call this the project delivery "Hat Trick".
What's the best way to resolve claims?
Negotiation. At the lowest level. Quickly. And if that isn't possible, get the Executive Team (see Alignment Partnering) involved to move the discussion from "rights" to "interests".
If there are still one or more unresolved issues, take advantage of ReAlignment techniques to call a one-day time out, get the parties ReAligned and bring in a third party neutral to evaluate the claims on both sides and offer a quick (2-6 week), clear evaluation of their merits. If necessary, bring in Mediation and/or Arbitration to knock out specific issue-pockets of residual disagreement.
How about at the end of the project?
UseProject Closeout or Wipe the Slate Clean ("WSC"). At the conclusion of a project, many loose ends often remain. Our Project Closeout uses ReAlignment techniques to finalize construction details and approvals. WSC uses ReAlignment techniques to resolve end of job disputes regarding claims, cost overruns, delays and other budget busters.
We'll also help you tackle Lessons Learned through surveys and a facilitated discussion - so this mess never happens again.
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