Construction - Where do You Start?

No matter how you look at it, construction makes a mess!  Pass any site under construction and take a look at the apparent chaos.  Pass by again once construction is complete and landscaping has been completed and you'll see a totally different picture.  What is it about construction that causes such anxiety?

• the mess - yes, there will be a mess
• the time - will things be completed on time?
• the chaos - does everyone know what they're doing?
• the delays - and there will be some - count on it!
• the cost - need I say more?
• the commitment - once you're started, there's no going back!

Now, take a look at your business, whether it's a full fledged product manufacture or a service business with little or no infrastructure.  What would construction mean to you?

First, let's take the manufacturing business - construction to you would mean, building in a new location while you continue to operate in another; or constructing in sections at your present location.  The first option would be costly since you would have two properties underway, but, the second could be just as costly if things don't go as planned and your business suffers. 
Second, the service business - construction to you can be less offending to your senses.  You probably work off site, so, you'll experience less frustration - theoretically.  I know from first hand experience that someone working on my property, while I attempt to keep writing, producing reports etc., can be very distracting and set back time schedules significantly. 

At the risk of sounding long-winded, I've said that to say this;

De-constructing or probably, more accurately, re-constructing your internal business systems, practices, policies and procedures can be just as painful and down-right exhausting!
When you start this type of construction process, you're going to contribute massive amounts of time, examining every aspect of your business model, deciding, what works as it is, what stays, what has to be re-vamped etc.  Most companies, for this reason will not do a complete re-construction on their internal business systems, but, choose rather to 'put out fires'!  This only lasts for so long, before it becomes a serious liability to the entire company. 
i.e.  The service counter keeps making mistakes, repeating the same mistakes over and over.  Customers aren't happy and some have voiced their concerns to you.  What do you do? Keep in mind, for everyone who will talke to you about it, a couple dozen won't, but, will tell others.  Is this the kind of advertising you want? 
Your response - sending a snippy email to the service area expressing your dissatisfaction and a directive to ensure accuracy.  If you have weekly meetings with department heads you may even have discussed it there.
The result - you haven't addressed the issue, only the people.  You will definitely have another unsatisfied customer in your office again, soon!
Ideal response - Listen to your customer, ask questions, examine the invoicing, as well as the policy and procedure for this type of service.  Is the actual service lining up with the written policies and procedures?
If not, why not?
If so, revisit the policy and procedure to determine if there is room for improvement. 
Ask yourself the questions the customer is wondering about.  Does the IT system need upgrading?  Are employees properly trained?  Are they properly compensated? Are they committed to the company?
Once you have asked all the questions, you're ready to implement changes and your construction has begun.  It may be lengthy or it may be a quick fix.  Either way, you have asked the questions, you know what will make the customers happy, you know they're not happy now and you want to change that.
So, you can see that no matter whether your constructing with bricks and mortar or IT and policies and procedures, you still have; the mess, the chaos, the time constraints, the delays, the cost and the committment.  Enjoy the construction.