The ten most frequently asked questions |
No. |
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Question |
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Answer |
1 |
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What is Integration and what is the Integration Toolkit? |
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Quite simply, integration means the introduction of working practices,
methods and behaviours that create a culture in which individuals
and organisations are able to work together efficiently and effectively.
That means putting aside the fragmentation, duplication and advisarialism
that has characterised the industry and replacing it with cooperation,
collaboration and mutual support. This will enable the industry
to focus on shared goals and objectives, leading to mutual benefit
for individuals, organisations and society, but without undermining
the ability to advance and compete by differentiation of skills,
products and services. This integration is defined in two inclusive
ways. Firstly the assembly of chains of suppliers who rely on each
others skills, products and capabilities to satisfy their own needs
and those of their clients and secondly the application of these
Integrated Supply Chains in the project environment as part of
Integrated Project Teams; teams so well aligned they appear as
if they were a single entity.
The
Integration Toolkit is a pan-industry guide describing how to assemble
these Integrated Supply Chains and how to achieve superior value
through applying Integrated Project Team delivery. The Toolkit
provides an introduction into the principles of integration. It
helps individuals and organisations to gauge their cultural maturity,
provides guidance and insight into how to change and offers pointers
and signposts to tools and techniques successfully used by leading
practitioners. It is an agenda and framework for change, but it
is not a step-by-step instruction manual. |
2 |
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Why
do we need the Integration Toolkit? Surely we have enough initiatives
already? |
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Yes
we do and in a sense that is precisely why we need the Integration
Toolkit. Each initiative is a reflection of a different organisation's
desire to promote and support change. These initiatives are individually
branded because people need to see there is ownership and leadership
of the agenda for change at the highest levels. Unfortunately,
this gives the impression that everyone is promoting and supporting
something different. What the Toolkit does is to identify and
explain the common principles underpinning many of those initiatives
focussed on achieving integration and collaborative working,
demonstrating that much of industry actually has a unified change
agenda and clarifying what that agenda is. |
3 |
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How
will the Strategic Forum for Construction make a difference? |
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The
Strategic Forum for Construction is a cross-sector body that
speaks on behalf of the whole industry without vested interest.
Acting as custodians of the principles of integration as embodied
in the Toolkit, it is able to freely share the best practice
of everyone in the industry, for the benefit of all. By assembling
and sharing best practice rapidly in this way, it is expected
that genuinely sustained improvement can be achieved at all levels. |
4 |
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Where
did the Integration Toolkit come from and who developed it? |
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The
inspiration behind the Integration Toolkit initially stemmed
from the positive findings of a number of leading industry programmes
including Building Down Barriers (MOD), FUSION (Glaxo Wellcome),
Heathrow Express (BAA), Pavement Programme (BAA), Procure 21
trials (NHS) and a number of M4i demonstration projects. The
Integration Toolkit was subsequently conceived by a small group
of leading edge practitioners seeking a way of joining up these
experiences. Initially the group was drawn from M4i, BDB, FUSION
and Be, latterly joined by COMPASS. As the Integration Toolkit
developed, the knowledge and experience of others was sought
through consultation and involvement until, at its peak, more
than 60 individuals were actively involved in drafting and editing
the content. All these people have willingly given their time
and experience and have made their content and material freely
available ensuring that the Strategic Forum for Construction
can continue to hold the Toolkit in trust on behalf of us all. |
5 |
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With
so much excellent content how do we decide where to begin? |
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In
order to decide how to move forward you really need to understand
where you are starting from. Assuming you have already looked
at the introductory material, have run the audiovisual presentation
and are aware of the differences between Integrated Supply Chains
and Integrated Project Teams, it is recommended that that you
undertake the "Maturity Assessment". The Maturity Assessment
is a tool which identifies key attributes of industry attitudes,
behaviours, culture and organisation and illustrates how these
change as the model of the industry evolves. Moving from the
Historic (traditional), through a Transitional phase to the Aspirational,
the Maturity Assessment shows what is needed to deliver the vision
of a fully integrated world-class industry of the future. By
undertaking the Assessment, you are able to identify key areas
to incorporate into your own action plan for change, and establish
your areas of focus for using the Integration Toolkit. |
6 |
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We
are not regular players in the construction industry and find some
of the content difficult to relate to, where can we go for help? |
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Many
people fail to recognise just how complex and specialised construction
activity can be. They wrongly assume that expertise in their
own fields will easily translate to the construction environment.
This often results in inappropriate methods and approaches being
adopted or, worse still, partially adopted, leading to misunderstandings,
poor outcomes, frustration and dissatisfaction. Entering the
construction arena without a full understanding of the principles,
attitudes and behaviours is always a high-risk enterprise. To
do so now, as new concepts and methods are being introduced,
only amplifies the risks. It is strongly recommended that assistance
should be sought from professional advisors who are fully aware
of the new ways and are appropriately trained and supported;
assistance is available from Constructing
Excellence Regional Centres and Best Practice Advisors
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7 |
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We
fully support the principles outlined in the Integration Toolkit
and are keen to become involved, what should we do? |
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The
best way to get involved is to commit to taking part in a demonstration
of one or more elements of the Integration Toolkit. This will
provide your team with access to guidance and support from Constructing
Excellence Best Practice Advisors who are familiar with the concepts,
tools and techniques. Your Regional Centre can advise you about
Best Practice Clubs and support networks, where you can meet
and share experiences with like minded organisations and individuals.
You can also seek training, coaching and mentoring by contacting
the CITB National Construction College (Helpline 08457 336666)
who have access to a nation wide list of organisations, groups
and individuals able to offer these services. If you are a manufacturer/supplier
of construction products you might want to attend a COMPASS Regional
Forum where you will meet like-minded organisations who are willing
to help (Tel 01524 782830 or see www.team-compass.org). Should
you have, or are aware of, tools and techniques which would support
and extend the Integration Toolkit, you can submit these
to the Integration Toolkit Development Team for review and possible
inclusion in a future release.
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8 |
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Who
is using the Integration Toolkit? |
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Many
leading client groups have confirmed that the Integration Toolkit
is consistent with their change programmes and are fully supportive
of the concepts and ideas being applied on their projects. This
is echoed by their partners in all parts of the supply chain,
including manufacturers, distributors, contractors, designers,
specialists and advisors of all types and sizes. A number of
teams have also come forward to undertake demonstration projects
to help prove the concepts and develop the guidance. The Toolkit
is also in the process of being adopted by leading construction
insurers as a best-practice framework for policy-holders. Details
of the growing number of supporters and practitioners are
available on the Strategic
Forum Site.
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9 |
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I
understand that the Integration Toolkit is a summary of current
best practice, how will it be kept up to date? |
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A number of members of the core team behind
the original Toolkit development have agreed to stay together
to regularly review both the feedback and recommendations from
users and to follow up the lessons learned in the demonstration
projects. This group will periodically update the content of
the Integration Toolkit to ensure it continues to reflect contemporary
best practice and strategic development in the industry.
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10 |
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OK,
we have heard the hype, but we are doing alright working the way
we always have, why should we change? |
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This
is an agenda for industry change as defined by those who are
actually doing it, freely sharing because they know that the
best need a constant stream of new ideas to avoid complacency
and stagnation and to maintain their competitive advantage. They
are not interested in forcing everyone else to change. Leading
exponents know that by embracing change they will become more
efficient and more effective, able to enjoy a more fulfilling
culture delivering better outcomes, superior value and increased
profitability. Frankly, they are not worried about those who
will not change, because they know that the real question is
not "Why should we change?" but "Can we afford to be left behind?" for which their answer is a resounding "No!" |
