Your team is struggling to meet project deadlines. How can you use creativity to improve productivity?

Meeting project deadlines is crucial for any construction team, but sometimes it can be challenging to keep up with the pace and quality of work. How can you use creativity to improve productivity and deliver results on time? Here are some tips to help you and your team think outside the box and overcome common obstacles in construction.

1 Identify the root causes

The first step to solving any problem is to understand what is causing it. Is it a lack of resources, skills, communication, or planning? Is it a technical issue, a human error, or a change in scope? Analyze the situation and gather feedback from your team members, clients, and stakeholders. Find out what is working well and what needs improvement. Use tools like SWOT analysis, fishbone diagrams, or brainstorming sessions to identify the root causes of your delays and prioritize the most urgent and important ones.

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Martin James W.

ððžð¬ð©ð¨ð¤ðž ðˆð§ððžð«ð§ðšð¥ & ð…ð¢ð«ðž ðƒð¨ð¨ð« ðŒðšð§ð®ðŸðšðœðð®ð«ðžð«ð¬ / ðˆð§ð¬ððšð¥ð¥ðžð«ð¬ . Working with main contractors, architects & designers, manufacturing and installing internal & fire doors.
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In my experience in the construction sector, particularly in London, I've found that delays often stem from a combination of factors such as miscommunication, inadequate planning, and unanticipated changes in project scope. Tools like SWOT analysis and fishbone diagrams are indeed effective in identifying these root causes. However, it's also crucial to consider project-specific factors. For instance, the availability and timely delivery of specific specialist items like interior doors, fire doors, or other joinery and carpentry elements can significantly impact timelines and are often overlooked in terms of details.

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Mostafa Yahya ,(PMP)ðŸš€

Project manager | Contractor | Founder of Athorya | PMP | GPMC | Agile | Scrum | Construction | I help organizations realize 100% ROI | Entrepreneur
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You can't help if you couldn't figure out what's going on! So you need to analyze the situation to have a good understanding to the problem and what makes it problem. That's happening in first place

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2 Generate alternative solutions

Once you have a clear picture of the problem, you can start looking for creative ways to solve it. Don't limit yourself to the obvious or conventional solutions. Try to think of different angles, perspectives, and possibilities. Use techniques like SCAMPER, reverse brainstorming, or mind mapping to generate alternative solutions. SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Rearrange. It helps you to modify existing ideas or create new ones by asking questions like: What can you substitute? How can you combine different elements? How can you adapt to the situation? How can you modify or improve the idea? How can you use the idea in a different way? What can you eliminate or simplify? How can you rearrange or reorganize the idea?

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Mostafa Yahya ,(PMP)ðŸš€

Project manager | Contractor | Founder of Athorya | PMP | GPMC | Agile | Scrum | Construction | I help organizations realize 100% ROI | Entrepreneur
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If you could understand the cause of your problems, it makes it easier to handle the situation. Now you have to bring out the little creative inside you in order to develop a set of creative solutions that the world will then learn from.

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3 Evaluate and select the best options

Not all creative ideas are feasible or effective. You need to evaluate and select the best options based on your criteria and constraints. Consider the pros and cons of each option, the resources and time required, the risks and benefits, and the impact on the project objectives and quality. Use tools like decision matrices, cost-benefit analysis, or feasibility studies to compare and rank the options. Choose the ones that are most likely to solve the problem, meet the deadline, and satisfy the client and the team.

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Mostafa Yahya ,(PMP)ðŸš€

Project manager | Contractor | Founder of Athorya | PMP | GPMC | Agile | Scrum | Construction | I help organizations realize 100% ROI | Entrepreneur
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Criteria, criteria, criteria. This kind of reminds me of the first moments of any project. Pro tip: You do not want to show your team that you are having difficulty choosing the appropriate solution or are hesitating a lot at this stage. You must be aware of the situation in the previous steps in order to choose the magic solution better.

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4 Implement and monitor the results

The final step is to implement your creative solutions and monitor the results. Communicate your plan clearly and effectively to your team members, clients, and stakeholders. Assign roles and responsibilities, set milestones and deadlines, and allocate resources and budget. Track the progress and performance of your solutions and measure the outcomes. Use tools like Gantt charts, dashboards, or KPIs to monitor the results. Adjust your plan as needed and celebrate your achievements.

Creativity is not only a skill, but also a mindset. It can help you and your team overcome challenges, improve productivity, and meet project deadlines in construction. By following these steps, you can unleash your creative potential and deliver innovative and quality work.

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5 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that donâ€™t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Your team is struggling to meet project deadlines. How can you use creativity to improve productivity?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Identify the root causes

2 Generate alternative solutions

3 Evaluate and select the best options

4 Implement and monitor the results

5 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

Construction

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Directory

Your team is struggling to meet project deadlines. How can you use creativity to improve productivity?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Identify the root causes

2 Generate alternative solutions

3 Evaluate and select the best options

4 Implement and monitor the results

5 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

Construction

Rate this article

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