A while back we called on a prospective client. As the meeting broke up we had the chance to talk with the client’s project manager. Wanting to tailor our proposal to his preferences, we asked what type of Project Delivery Method he preferred. He deflected and asked what we suggested.
Since it was a process expansion project we suggested EPC. He replied “I tried that once. It didn’t work out.” We poked and prodded trying to find out why, but made no progress.
Ok, what about CM at Risk? “I tried that too. It didn’t work out either”.
Straight CM? “Did that once too. It didn’t work out”.
Design-Bid-Build? “No, tried that too and it was the worst job ever.”
There was obviously a problem here and it wasn’t which type of project delivery method to use.
More important than the delivery method are the capabilities of the people assigned to your project. Any delivery method is only as good as the people executing it. That includes the Client’s.
The best project delivery method? Depends. Get some good advice from a good firm to find out which is right for your project (and why). And pay attention to the qualifications of the people involved – we think they are more important than the delivery method.