As I travel around the country and meet DBIA members, DBIA leaders, state and local government leaders, owners, managers, executives, practitioners, legislators and others, I recognize that they are a great bunch of folks and a real testament to the virtues of living up to a slightly out-of-fashion set of principles and values. They pepper their speech with “expletives” not heard frequently today, such as “value,” “teamwork,” “cooperation,” “trust,” “commitment,” and “collaboration.” They speak earnestly about producing a quality product at a reasonable price. They take obvious pride in their companies and communities, often cutting short a business conversation to attend a Boy Scout fundraiser or coach a girl’s soccer team. They form the societal bedrock that makes America a great place to live.
These people also sell themselves short and take themselves for granted. More significantly, they too often allow their communities and government to take them for granted. It’s time for that to stop.
It is not uncommon on my travels to hear laments such as, “We are just a bunch of [fill in the blank: architects, construction folks, construction managers, specialty contractors, manufacturers or suppliers, etc.], and we just don’t have the power to change the way things are done in the design and construction world.” Well, I have news for you. You are members of one of the potentially most powerful groups in the country. You do have the power to change the way things are done.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate the design and construction workforce represents a significant percentage of the overall U.S. workforce. In fact, as a group, it is one of the largest single groups of workers in our country. Literally millions of Americans are employed either directly within the construction workforce or perform related design and construction activities. This clearly illustrates that design and construction is ubiquitous.
Some industries — say, automobile manufacturing — also have a significant workforce, but those jobs tend to be concentrated in certain geographic areas. Not so with design and construction. Every state, every county, and every community includes workers, managers, and executives from design and construction. In political terms, every senator and representative at the national and local level should be concerned about the health of the design and construction industry. In many ways you are the economic engine that drives the U.S. economy, and economic engines will not be taken for granted if they express themselves effectively. You represent jobs. You represent votes. You represent a committed and concerned citizenry that elected officials want to please and want to have on their sides in every election.
Unfortunately, as an industry, we have not effectively communicated some of our important issues. For example, when I talk with members, many are adamant about the need to change the manner in which design and construction contracts are awarded in most states and localities. They would like to compete based on the demonstrated excellence of their companies; they want their past performance of providing superior products and services considered when competing for future work; they would like their high-quality workforce considered; they would like to demonstrate their innovation and creativity in solving a customer’s challenging problems. But they are frustrated when they see contract awards based solely on low bids, with no consideration given to other factors at least as important as bid price. They grow especially impatient when these low-bid projects repeatedly overrun on costs, slip schedules, provide poor quality work, and end up in litigation.
Face it: DBIA is the only organization of its type, which is out there trying to create change in that legislative landscape. It is DBIA that is actively working to convince state and local governments to use modern procedures that give high-
quality designers and constructors an equitable competitive playing field. It is DBIA that has developed a whole new series of owner-oriented educational courses to teach owner organizations how to select design and construction the right way. It is DBIA that provides samples of legislation, which meets with the enlightened legislators, that supports the efforts and drives the process.
DBIA is rapidly growing, but we are still a small organization. Despite our diminutive size we have an impact out of proportion to our numbers and funds. In our efforts to foster change we have a dramatic advantage: Our methods work better, and our process is superior. Now, if we can combine our growing influence with an inspired and activist membership we can create dramatic change in the way the design and construction universe operates.
It’s time to recognize that together we have the power to create change, to improve how design and construction gets accomplished, to move and shake legislation, and to open a new chapter in our industry. Since you represent votes, and you represent money, you have the power to create this new reality.