Building knowledge to improve project delivery

INSIDE CSI
Joy Davis, CSI, CCPR
CSI is the only organization exploring the in-between places in construction: how the teams work together, what the documents, drawings, and models mean to each of them, and where the potentially disastrous conflicts are hiding, waiting to delay a project and increase its cost.

The institute will continue to provide inspiring programming to help you navigate these areas this year. Next month, there is CONSTRUCT 2014 & the CSI Annual Convention in Baltimore, along with the CSI Academies in San Francisco, next April. As well, there are the fall and spring certification exams, along with free monthly practice group meetings and webinars. However, there is other notable programming planned for the next 12 months.

Young professionals
Knowledge drain, emerging technologies, and global competition—the changing construction industry has created a unique set of challenges for the next generation of industry professionals. CSI is launching a new series of free webinars to expose participants to aspects of the project delivery cycle they may not otherwise have encountered: the team members, their responsibilities, and how they effectively communicate to get a job done on time and on budget. This curriculum is focused on creating a foundation for successful workforce collaboration.

Young professionals have an important voice, and CSI is ready to help them become leaders and change agents within their firms, and within the industry.

Trusted advisors, not salesmen
The success of product representatives is dictated by what they know, who they know, and personal ethics and integrity. CSI will continue offering programming this year that supports representatives, helping them become trusted advisors. Look for the monthly Product Representative Bulletin, which announces upcoming education for product representatives, including free webinars. CSI is now surveying product representatives to determine what programs to provide in these webinars, as well as at events such as the Product Representatives Academy.

CSI is also developing a new workshop focused on guide specifications, how to construct them, and how to use them. Look for more information about this event in the spring.

Changing role of specifiers
Specifications and the specifier’s role have long been a cornerstone of the construction industry. Coordinating information and sourcing products that fit the needs of a project is an integral part of every project, but how this work is done is changing.

CSI holds monthly Specifying Practice Group webinars geared toward discussing the future of the construction industry and, more specifically, how the role of the specifier may evolve. It also offers the Construction Specifier Academy, and is planning a new workshop focused on helping specifiers envision their futures in the industry.

Contract administration
Without the contract documents, construction does not happen. With monthly webinar discussion points based around the Construction Contract Administration Practice Guide, the Construction Administration Practice Group discusses the real issues facing contract administrators. These topics will also be explored in the Construction Contract Administrator Academy, as well as at CSI’s Real World Application Workshop (November 14, Charlotte, North Carolina), at which participants will learn to recognize critical decision points in the project delivery process and contract administration that can determine potential successes, or crises.

In the loop
To receive notification about these events and webinars, e-mail marketing@csinet.org and ask to be added to the ‘young professionals,’ ‘product representative,’ ‘specifier,’ and/or ‘contract administrator’ contact lists.

Invest in yourself by participating in CSI’s programming this year. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date at www.csinet.org/mycsi to be certain you do not miss a free webinar that could change your perspective.