Contractor Business Strategy

Parties Settle in Flawed Maryland Transit Hub Suit

June 6, 2017

A May 30 settlement in a convoluted legal dispute over an array of project issues on a much-delayed and overbudget bus-rail hub in a Washington, D.C. suburb, has brought parties less than they hoped for.

Applying a Lean Construction Mind-Set to Beef Up Jobsite Safety

Jim Parsons

June 6, 2017

One Comment

Contractors that embrace lean construction principles in the name of reducing waste and enhancing value often discover other facets of their operations that are ripe for improvement.

Construction Management

A New Survey Charts the Unfulfilled Expectations of Prefabrication

Off-site fabrication doesn’t always provide results contractors seek

Jim Parsons

May 3, 2017

Many of us have experienced that proverbial “lightbulb moment,” a flash of insight when the complexities of a new or challenging concept finally make sense.

Is It OK To Fingerprint Your Employees?

The use of biometric technology for timekeeping in the construction industry brings with it some labor and legal pitfalls

Clare M. Gallagher

May 3, 2017

Biometric technology measures genetic characteristics, such as fingerprints, iris or retina patterns, facial characteristics and hand geometry and can provide companies with a new way to ensure that individuals are who they say they are.

Cities Aim Penalties at Border Wall Bidders

With the design competition closed, San Francisco is among those seeking to bar contracts to bidding firms.

Debra K. Rubin JT Long

March 29, 2017

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San Francisco is latest political entity seeking to bar contracts to bidding firms.

Smart Cities Offer New Ideas for Connectivity

Integrated elements designed and constructed through innovative partnerships offer the keys to success for future-looking communities

Jennifer Seward

March 29, 2017

2 Comments

Innovative, technology-driven communities are being designed and constructed for the next generation—and beyond.

Communication and Recruitment

Construction Firms Learn To Avoid Pitfalls of Social Media

Companies learn to manage the use and hazards of Twitter, Facebook and other platforms

Scott Dailey

March 28, 2017

No Comments

Social media are transforming the way firms communicate with the public and the construction industry and how they recruit new talent.

Viewpoint

Precise Contract Language Is the Key to Avoiding Liquidated Damages

An owner’s termination for convenience does not preclude entitlement to liquidated damages

Audrey K. Kwak

March 8, 2017

One Comment

A contractor’s risk of being assessed liquidated damages for delayed performance looms large on any public or private contract.

First Tradeswoman Documentary Gets Industry Boost

March 7, 2017

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“Hard Hatted Woman,” the first feature-length documentary about construction tradeswomen on jobsites, is closer to completion, with recent donations of $25,000 each from contractors Turner Construction, Dragados USA Inc. and Structure Tone, says its director-producer Lorien Barlow.

Experts See No Easy Fixes for Flawed Employee Review Processes

To provide employees with more meaningful performance feedback, contractors are revamping their conventional management reviews

Jim Parsons

March 7, 2017

One Comment

In today’s information-driven economy, when even a backhoe’s idling time can be tracked and analyzed, many contractors may be surprised to discover just how little they know about the performance of their most important resource—their employees.