Partnering Case Studies

184 Family Housing Unit

184 Family Housing Unit Altus AFB, Altus OK
Completed August, 1999

Partnering Lesson:

Partnering champion is essential to keep the partners together and actively work to sustain a good relationship.

Project Description
This $22 million Air Force design-build military family housing project included the design and construction of 184 single-family, detached, and duplex homes on 75 acres as well as play areas, a two-mile jogging track, and an 18-hole golf course, and extensive landscaping.

Project Challenges:

  • A three-month delay caused by El Nino.
  • A series of destructive wind and hailstorms damaging work in progress
  • A more than 10% incrementally by change orders caused by a complete redesign of the site electrical system and the addition of a 31-acre park adjacent to the site.
  • The business failure of several key subcontractors.

Issue:
Securing buy-in and shared goal of objective by all the parties, including the subcontractors.

By far, the most effective Partnering practice utilized effectively was the concept of the champion. The efforts of the division manager champion resulted in a sustained partnership that was very effective.

The champion included subcontractors when all the members of the original partnering session were invited to meetings. This gave the
subcontractors a sense of the process and also let the Corps had an ongoing interface with them.

The Partnering champion added a social aspect to the Partnering sessions, which also helped sustain the group's interest. We were able to get to know each other better over lunch, dinner, or a round of golf.

The champion was able to keep everyone interested and sustain momentum going by constantly communicating with the partners and encouraging everyone to contribute. The champion also kept in contact with the members of the team who had been transferred or left the project, and new team members were welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Partnering concept.

All of this greatly enhanced the group's ability to resolve all of the issues at the lowest level and to successfully complete a difficult project.

Benefits of Partnering:

  • No claims
  • No lost-time accidents
  • Project completed on time
  • Satisfied customer