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MOBIS and BUILDING RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES |
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MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT SERVICES
Building Technology is an excellent option for management, organizational, and business improvement services, bringing substantial resources and expertise to its clients in a small package. Building Technology offers MOBIS products and services through GSA Multiple Award Schedule GS-10F-0081R in four areas:- Consulting Services (SIN 874-1)
- Facilitation Services (SIN 874-2)
- Survey Services (SIN 874-3)
- Training Services (SIN 874-4)
Quality Services — Building Technology delivers a wide range of management, organizational, and business improvement services to both the public and private sectors and is recognized by its clients for the quality of services. A majority of clients engage the firm for additional work, offering direct testament to its strong reputation and the value the firm provides to its customers. Each Building Technology assignment is personally led by a principal of the firm assisted by a select team of expert professionals. We see our projects through, from planning to final production, with a strong emphasis on close client communication and coordination throughout the process.
Broad Skills — The Building Technology consulting team works with public and private sector clients on management, organizational, and business improvement initiatives on a day-to-day basis. Such services include business planning, industry and competitor analyses, technology assessments, development of analysis tools, engineering economics, and optimization modeling, among others. For commercial clients, the Building Technology consulting practice specializes in analysis of building-related industries and competitors, designing product life-cycle strategies, structuring how to build product lines, brands, and packaging, creating marketing channels, seeking regulatory approvals, and providing marketing advice that includes building product representation. Building Technology principals have special expertise in policy and regulation analysis, financial and risk analysis, operations research, performance improvement and change initiatives, information surveying and analysis, decision making facilitation, and professional training.
Extensive Experience — Building Technology offers a rich consulting skill base and management commitment that smartly addresses client objectives. Our insights and understanding of client requirements regularly translate into directly measurable performance efficiencies and quality improvements. Building Technology makes effective use of leading-edge information and communication technologies in the delivery of state-of-the-art management consulting products. Our management staff and expert consultants stay current with technology and intellectual advances across a broad range of fields, allowing Building Technology to be a top tier provider of quality services to our customers. Building Technology has served civilian and military agencies, state and local governments, not-for-profit agencies, and manufacturing and commercial firms in management projects that have included consultation, facilitation, survey, training, and support services. Examples of these services are detailed in subsequent sections.
Focused Management — Over the years, Building Technology has refined its management practices with the goal of developing a quality product that exceeds client expectation and is delivered within time and budget constraints. Building Technology delivers what it promises and achieves superior customer satisfaction. Our management approach is to establish a single authority, the principal-in-charge, with the charter of delivering the final product. The principal-in-charge does not work alone, but has the full complement of Building Technology resources available to assemble the right team to deliver the right results. Quality is the key product measure at Building Technology with comparative benchmarks established at the outset and frequent progress monitoring throughout the assignment. The principal-in-charge is responsible for ensuring that the highest standards are met in all aspects of the assignment.
Robust Client Communication and Interaction — Building Technology has developed methodologies that have reliably delivered management, organizational, and business improvement services for a wide range of clients, on time, over many years. The key to these methodologies is close communication, interaction, and coordination with the client. An informed client will have no surprises at the end of the project. An involved client will see the final product as its own. Communication is key in validating requirements and reaching a mutual understanding of appropriate functionality for the final product. Client review drafts and prototype products combined with frequent progress and status updates reinforce the partnership Building Technology strives to develop with each of its clients. Building Technology builds-in client interaction through the implementation of a state-of-the-art, secure, dedicated limited-access intranet site for team-client communication from start-up to satisfactory completion of each client assignment.
Baldridge Award Criteria for MOBIS Services — Improvement of services has become a primary objective at all levels of government and industry. Building Technology MOBIS-related services are based on Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award criteria:
- Process focus—emphasizing process definition, process management, and process improvement.
- Systematic improvement—with an organizational focus on quality, cycle time, and waste
- Company-wide emphasis—process and improvement concepts in all agency operations, including product development and business support processes.
- Customer focus—builds on “customer-defined quality”; emphasizes customer service; integrates customer information into management and improvement systems; and includes efforts to become integrated with customers, often called “partnering.”
- Management-by-fact—incorporates systematic analysis and fact-based decision making driven by objective data and information, including deployment and tracking of metrics.
- Employee involvement and development—employee development through training to drive decision making close to the actual processes and increase employee empowerment.
- Cross-functional management—cross-functional improvement as well as cross-functional involvement beyond focus on processes (which typically cross multiple functions).
- Supplier performance and supplier relationships—emphasizing supplier quality and service performance, supplier capabilities, supplier improvement, and supplier involvement and integration (supplier partnerships), such as joint quality improvement.
- Total Quality Management as a critical competitive strategy—building recognition that implementation and aggressive refinement of the TQM management model is a critical competitive strategy and a primary concern of all levels of management, including senior management.
MOBIS-related tasks were undertaken and completed over the past three years in the Building Technology assignments presented in the following table. The twelve selected assignments were completed for the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the States of Maryland and New York, a test laboratory, and a manufacturer. Though none of the assignments was procured as an explicit client TQM commitment, each of these assignments addresses multiple Baldridge Award criteria, as summarized below.
At Building Technology, consulting services are the cornerstone of management, organizational, and business improvement client assignments. Our principals, staff, and selected expert subcontractors and consultants provide first-hand knowledge of and experience with commercial and government management practices, broad subject-matter knowledge and expertise, and a keen understanding of the federal marketplace. Building Technology delivers top-quality products and services to enable significant federal agency customer service improvements. The Building Technology team provides comprehensive consulting services that include but are not limited to the following:
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Building Technology Approach to MOBIS Consulting Services — As feasible, Building Technology will follow a general four-step approach for each MOBIS consulting services assignment.
Step 1. Setting the Stage—A Preliminary Assessment and Plan: The objective of Step 1 is to establish a clear understanding of the issues to be addressed and the expected results of the assignment between and among senior client management and the Building Technology consulting team. Building Technology will evaluate the current situation in terms of the performance issue, problem, or improvement opportunity under consideration. The team will plan a development strategy, establish goals and a schedule for the improvement initiative, and implement internet-based client-team communications. Building Technology will use appropriate data collection methods and analytic techniques, such as customized surveys, interviews, focus groups, and diagnostic tools in setting the stage for performing the assignment.
Step 2. In-Depth Evaluation and Decision-Making: The objective of Step 2 is to develop effective and efficient options to produce focused improvement of client operations and/or customer services and select a preferred change initiative for implementation. Building Technology will assess client organizational strengths and weaknesses, develop evaluation models of redesigned processes and products, develop performance measures, outline option cost and implementation specifications, and establish decision-making process and criteria for final selections. Building Technology will use a variety of analytic techniques in its assessments, including process modeling, such as the MIT design structure matrix and ithink™ systems thinking (dynamic mental modeling) software, financial modeling, etc.
Step 3. Selected Initiative Development and Implementation Priorities: The objective of Step 3 is to develop detailed improvement initiative specifications and establish implementation priorities. Building Technology will develop detailed models of redesigned processes and products; specify comprehensive integration requirements, schedule costs and resources needed, and formulate implementation parameters and requirements.
Step 4. Initiative Implementation and Follow-up: The objective of Step 4 is to ensure successful implementation, performance monitoring, and maintenance of improvements. Building Technology will assist client staff in planning for and implementing change, monitoring the effects, and evaluating and improving the selected initiative over time. The process will emphasize integrated administration and management procedures. Building Technology will develop action plans, performance measures, schedules, communication and training strategies, evaluation plans, and other products to monitor the progress of the change initiative as implemented and adapted.
Recent Building Technology Consulting Services Experiences
DHS/FEMA Investigation Of Customer Focused Processes For Change Management Of ‘Security Decision Making For Building Finance, Insurance, & Regulation’
Title: “Risk Management Series: Finance/Insurance/Regulation Security Primer”
Baldridge criteria addressed: Process focus, Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Management-by-fact, Cross functional management.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Facilitation, Survey Services, and Support Products
Project Description: Following 9/11 FEMA was faced with the task of expanding its natural disaster mitigation mission to encompass terrorism risk reduction, including terrorism risk mitigation in commercial buildings. Building Technology identified three “change levers” (insurance, finance, and regulation) as being the agents that will influence building owners to make investments in terrorism risk mitigation and focused on process, customer, and management-by-fact strategies for each. A strategic alliance with these newly identified FEMA customers was established in the form of an advisory committee. The project produced a published document, FEMA 429, Insurance, Finance, and Regulation Primer for Terrorism Risk Management in Buildings, December 2003. An Appendix to FEMA 429 included a preliminary assessment instrument for terrorism risk in buildings. [See Assessment Instruments aspect of project description under Support Products.]
DHS/FEMA Definition of Sub-Sector Customer Process Differences and Systems Alignment Opportunities for ‘Incremental Hazard Mitigation in Commercial Facilities’
Title: “Risk Management Series: Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation Manuals”
Baldridge criteria addressed: Process focus, Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Management-by-fact, Cross-functional management, Supplier performance/ relationships, TQM.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Facilitation, Survey, Training Services, and Support Products
Project Description: Two principal investigators for this project carried out Building Technology’s four-step consulting services approach through Step 3, Selected Initiative Development and Implementation Priorities. One of FEMA’s goals under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program is the reduction of seismic risk in existing buildings. FEMA had developed several engineering documents in support of this goal, but they were not being used effectively in the private sector. Building Technology developed for FEMA a customer focus to overcome this problem, with a primary emphasis on process differences between customer groups. Services included strategic and action planning, organizational assessments, and performance measures development. The strategic and action plan took the form of the concept of incremental seismic rehabilitation as a process that uses the FEMA tools in an effective way. To achieve this, Building Technology developed performance measures for success, and detailed organizational strategies and action plans that sub-sector building owners can implement. So far a series of six building-specific manuals have been produced for FEMA. [See Assessment Instruments and Process Plans aspects of project description under Support Products.]
HUD/PDR Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Multi-format Customer Surveying to Identify New Product and Service Requirements for ‘Code Inspection Streamlining’ Benchmarking, Best Practices and Systems Alignment Investigations
Title: PATH 14 – Tools for Streamlining the Code Enforcement Documentation and Communication Process.
Baldridge criteria addressed: Process focus, Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Supplier performance/relationships.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Survey Services
Project Description: Building Technology has carried out its four-step consulting approach through Step 3, Selected Initiative Development and Implementation Priorities. The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) was established by HUD as a National Partnership for Reinvention (NPR) initiative. Its objectives include advancing state of the art practices in the design and construction of affordable housing. PATH itself is a strategic alliance between HUD, other federal agencies, and the private sector housing construction industry. Every contract under PATH involves business and action planning to achieve PATH objectives. In this case, the project follows up on another project described under SIN 874-3, Survey Services. This project developed an action plan and associated performance measures for achieving technology transfer from other industries to make the housing code inspection process more effective and efficient. The project included the review and analysis of inspection practices and processes in current use by HUD customer code jurisdictions, to identify and achieve process and productivity improvements. Activities included both benchmarking of systems external to the industry sector and identification of best practices from within the industry. Hardware, software, and management options were developed for strategic and structural alignments of both business and information systems. Alignment options considered both technical and social dimensions of decision making.
At Building Technology Incorporated, facilitation services are a key component in assisting client decision making at all operational levels. We understand the value of assisting groups in planning for and implementing management, organizational, and business improvement initiatives. Stakeholder “buy-in” may be as or more important than that of the decision authors. Building Technology uses proven techniques—such as brainstorming, cause and effect diagrams, focus groups, gap analysis, multi-voting, Pareto diagrams, stakeholder analysis, among others—for gathering critical data, enhancing decision-making, and reporting group actions. Our focus is results.
Examples of Building Technology facilitation services include:
- Agenda Setting
- Consensus-Building
- Decision Making
- Dispute Resolution
- Problem Solving
- Process Analysis
- Team-Building
- Recording Discussions
A Building Technology facilitation team typically consists of a facilitator and a scribe. Close interaction and involvement of the responsible client throughout the process is fundamental to the success of facilitation assignments.
Building Technology Approach to MOBIS Facilitation Services — Our general approach to facilitation of group interactions is comprised of 4 basic steps.
Step 1. Establish Objective(s)
o Identify how results will ultimately be used
o Sketch form and content of products to be developed
o Schedule available resources
Step 2. Prepare for Facilitation Session(s)
o Identify critical participants
o Assist in developing agenda
o Prepare background materials, including pre-meeting correspondence, such as polling or electronic forums
o Arrange session logistics—time, place, amenities
Step 3. Conduct Session(s)
o Confirm objectives and common understandings
o Move through the agenda, summarizing each activity before moving on
o Adapt discussions to meeting dynamics
o Employ investigation strategies tailored to specific issues
o Contemporaneously summarize outcomes and action items
Step 4. Follow-up with Action on Primary Objective
o Debrief key stakeholders and responsible client
o Disseminate session summary and conclusions
o Establish mechanism for tracking follow-on actions
Recent Building Technology Facilitation Services Experiences
HUD/NIST Full Facilitation to Define Customer Product and Service Quality Requirements of ‘Affordability in Housing’ Management-By-Fact Metrics
Title: Workshop on Affordability Guidelines for Owner-Occupied Housing.
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Management-by-fact, Cross-functional management.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services
Project Description: Building Technology implemented Steps 1 through 4 (Establish Objectives, Prepare for Facilitation Sessions, Conduct Sessions, and Follow-up with Action on Primary Objective) of its approach to facilitation services. The objective of the workshop was to flesh out the concerns and objectives of relevant stakeholders on key issues affecting housing affordability, as a first step in the development of a roadmap for HUD under the PATH program to assess the consequences of technology and innovation for affordability of housing. Building Technology planned, designed, and prepared graphic and written materials for the workshop, which was attended by 36 participants representing six categories of stakeholders in the housing industry. The workshop was held on June 4-5, 2003 at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. Keynote presentations were followed by Building Technology facilitated and recorded discussions for each of eight topics defined by Building Technology. A final plenary session was held to discuss future directions for applied research. A final report was co-authored by Building Technology, NISTIR 7064, entitled Measuring and Assessing the Consequences of Technology and Innovation for Affordability of Housing: Proceedings of the NIST-PATH Workshop, February 2004.
HUD/HHI Full Facilitation of Customer-Focused and Process-Focused Partnering of Stakeholders in Agency Planning for Emerging ‘Mold in Housing’ Issues
Title: Planning and Conduct of National Workshop on Residential Wall Construction, Water Infiltration, Mold and Rot, later changed to Healthy Homes Initiative Workshop: Mold in Housing.
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Cross-functional management, Supplier performance/relationships.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services
Project Description: Building Technology implemented Steps 1 through 3 (Establish Objectives, Prepare for Facilitation Sessions, Conduct Sessions), and part of Step 4 (Follow-up with Action on Primary Objective) of its approach to facilitation services. The objective of the workshop was to obtain the perspectives of all key stakeholders on the issues involved in characterization, prevention, and remediation of mold in housing so that HUD’s Healthy Homes Initiative could develop an action plan in this area. Building Technology planned, designed, and prepared graphic and written materials for the workshop, which was attended by 41 active participants and 6 telephone participants representing six categories of stakeholders. The workshop was held on October 30-31, 2002 at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. The workshop sought to satisfy four basic objectives defined by Building Technology: (1) Identify what we know and do not know about mold—mechanisms, effects, and impacts; (2) Determine how to apply existing knowledge to avoid moisture and mold problems; (3) Catalog effective remediation techniques and recommend methods for disseminating guidance to the building community; and (4) Define knowledge gaps and research needs to address mold assessment and remediation.
The workshop was organized around a plenary session to introduce stakeholder perspectives presented by a lead, followed by concurrent breakout sessions to address each of the four above objectives in detail from the perspective of each stakeholder group. The breakout groups investigated a range of pertinent topics suggested by stakeholder participants, and, where possible, recommended follow-on mechanisms to achieve agreed upon objectives in the marketplace. The stakeholder breakout sessions were attended by representatives of all six stakeholder groups. Each individual session addressed all four workshop objectives plus any additional objectives proposed during the orientation session for each particular stakeholder group. A Building Technology or NIST facilitator/scribe was assigned to each stakeholder breakout session to assist the session lead and record key aspects of the discussions. The workshop culminated in six stakeholder breakout session reports to all participants on the afternoon of the second day. The project concluded with Building Technology developing a draft record of the proceedings. As a direct result of this workshop a Buildings and Mold Alliance has been established within NIBS to complete Step 4 of the Building Technology approach and to implement industry recommendations.
SOLUTIA Specialized Facilitation of ‘Building Products Standards Development’ Processes
Title: “Consensus for Building Products Standards Development Consultant Services, CY2004”
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Process focus, Customer focus, Management-by-fact.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services
Project Description: Building Technology implemented Steps 1 through 3 (Establish Objectives, Prepare for Facilitation Sessions, Conduct Sessions), and part of Step 4 (Follow-up with Action on Primary Objective) of its approach to facilitation services. In this project Building Technology’s David Hattis has been tasked with achieving consensus in the development of two standards under ASTM Subcommittee E06.51. Over the ten-year period he has succeeded in conducting and facilitating meetings of Task Group E06.51.17 that consists of stakeholders with divergent and often conflicting interests in the technical subject matter of the standards. Through his facilitation the Task Group has overcome extreme polarization and opposition at the start, and has achieved consensus by 1997 and 1999 respectively. Since then, continual refinement of the standards, achieving continued consensus has been accomplished under Hattis’ facilitation and leadership.
Building Technology Incorporated survey services are tailored to client-specific information requirements and are designed to assist achievement of particular management, organizational, and business improvement objectives. Building Technology can provide consultation, assistance, and deliverables during all phases of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting client data.
Building Technology survey services can be used to:
- Assess productivity
- Develop an information database to improve operational functions
- Evaluate organizational effectiveness
- Identify training needs
- Measure customer satisfaction
- Test responsiveness to change
- Understand staff, organizational, and stakeholder attitudes
Building Technology Approach to MOBIS Survey Services — Typically, comprehensive survey assignments consist of 8 basic steps.
Step 1. Survey Design:
The effectiveness of surveys is directly related to the quality of the survey design, intended target, type of response anticipated, and expected overall survey response rate. In this step, the survey team clarifies goals, identifies research targets, and determines data collection techniques and strategies.
Step 2. Sample Size and Characteristics: Standard statistical tools and methodologies are used to develop a sampling strategy for the number of queries and the expected rate of response.
Step 3. Survey Instrument: Together with the client, develop an outline of the survey focus, demographics, proposed sample, method of surveying, and the type of questions and response scoring. If required, submit the survey to OMB for approval.
Step 4. Pretest/Pilot Survey: For large population surveys, a pilot survey can be used to test response to the instrument by a limited sample. Pretest results are used to refine survey attributes before the final survey is sent to the entire sample.
Step 5. Survey Administration: Selection of a data collection technique (direct mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone) is often a function of budget. An analysis of the target marketplace and anticipated receptiveness to the survey allows recommendation of the most cost-effective means to achieve the survey objectives.
Step 6. Data Compilation: Designing a database to hold the resulting data for subsequent analysis and interpretation is critical to the process. The database may be as simple as a word processing table, a spreadsheet, or as sophisticated as a relational database employing system query language. Building Technology works closely with clients to tailor a database that will continue to be useful beyond its immediate function.
Step 7. Data Analysis and Interpretation: Analyze question-by-question scores to define the major statistics, trends, conclusions, and recommendations. Include graphical representations with trend lines, regression analysis, and an explanation of unusual trends.
Step 8. Report Results and Assist Implementation of Recommendations: Document, publish, and, most importantly, assist the client in their use of the survey results. Develop plans to implement and monitor recommendations from survey services.
Recent Building Technology Survey Services Experiences
HUD/PDR Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) National Survey to Identify Best Practices for ‘Electronic Building Code Permitting Systems’ for Building Code Enforcement
Title: “Evaluation of Electronic Permitting Systems and How to Implement Them”
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Process focus, Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Supplier performance/relationships.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services and Support Products
Project Description: Building Technology implemented Steps 1 through 8 of its proposed approach to providing survey services. The project was in support of achieving HUD’s PATH objective of advancing state of the art practices in the design and construction of affordable housing. The project was intended to develop an information database to improve operational functions of state and local building code enforcement agencies. Information was sought on the types of electronic systems used in the building permitting process, and on how they were developed or adopted. Building Technology designed the survey and selected a sample of over 100 jurisdictions known to be leaders in electronic permitting. OMB approval of the survey instrument was applied for and obtained. Fifty-one jurisdictions completed the detailed surveys and were interviewed in depth. The jurisdictions included counties, cities, and towns in rural, urban, and suburban areas with populations ranging from 11,000 to 9,800,000. The building departments or equivalent of all 50 states were also contacted and 32 were interviewed in depth. The findings were compiled and tabulated, and a report entitled Electronic Permitting Systems and How to Implement Them, April 2002 was published.
HURRICANE TEST LABORATORY Structured and Unstructured Industry Leader Interviewing to Identify Competitive Position and Best Practices Processes
Title: Survey of Full-Scale Mock-Up Testing Operations in the US
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Systematic improvement, Company-wide emphasis, Customer focus, Management-by-fact, Supplier performance/relationships.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services
Project Description: Building Technology implemented Steps 1 through 3 and 5 through 8 of its proposed approach to providing survey services. Step 4 (Pretest/Pilot Survey) was unnecessary due to the small survey population size. The project was intended to provide information to HTL for making the business decision whether to enter the full-scale mock-up testing market for windows, doors, and curtain walls. Building Technology Inc. developed a one-page data collection and reporting form that consisted of five specific questions in addition to the contact information and date. Telephone interviews were conducted with eight testing laboratories located in California, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Texas, and with two additional individuals expert in the field. Building Technology submitted a two-page report.
MD/DHCD Code Enforcement Supplier and Customer Surveys to Assist Problem Identification and Resolution in Implementation of ‘Building Rehabilitation Code’ [Hotline and Database Development/Supplier and Customer Training]
Title: Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code Technical Assistance Hotline
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Management-by-fact, Employee involvement and development.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting, Training Services, and Support Products
Project Description: Building Technology implemented Steps 3 through 8 of its proposed approach to providing survey services. The first two steps (Survey Design and Sample Size and Characteristics) were irrelevant because this survey was taken from a dial-in hotline. Building Technology operated a hotline to answer questions on the application of the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code (MBRC) for nearly one year under this contract, and for the preceding year under a subcontract with the National Institute of Building Sciences. The project had two objectives. The first was to assist the users of the MBRC (Supplier and Customer training). The second was to compile a database for Maryland DHCD on various aspects of the use of the MBRC in the field. Building Technology logged each inquiry and response in electronic format, provided DHCD with monthly reports of all inquiries, provided DHCD with quarterly reports that summarized and categorized inquiries as input into the database. During the one-year of operation Building Technology recorded 568 inquiries and categorized them into 10 categories of inquiries, broken down into five categories of building types, six categories of inquirer role, and 12 categories of local jurisdiction. Building Technology also recorded which of eight codes the inquiry involved, and which of five hotline experts responded to the inquiry. The resulting access database was used to inform state management, building inspection jurisdictions, and practitioners around the state of the relative acceptance and efficacy of rehabilitation code implementation and its overall impact on the reuse of existing buildings.
Building Technology Incorporated offers off-the-shelf and custom-designed training services for specialized topics using a variety of delivery methods.
Off-the-Shelf Training — Near-term, Building Technology off-the-shelf courses will cover the following topic related to management of risk in facilities: “Terrorism Risk Management in Buildings—A First Look”—Course supports process focus, systematic improvement, customer focus, management-by-fact, and cross-functional management Baldridge criteria and presents a primer on terrorism risk management for building owners and managers.The courses is delivered by subject-matter experts with extensive management and business improvement experience. Deliverables for the course include participant manuals, software tools, exercise handouts, and instructor slides.
Customized Training — Building Technology customized training services are often a follow-on response to management, organizational, and business improvement assignments. Training services are an effective means of preparing staff for implementation of improvement initiatives. Building Technology customized training services are designed, developed, delivered, and evaluated based on client needs.
Building Technology Approach to MOBIS Training Services — Building Technology follows the 5-step Instructional Systems Design (ISD) methodology, a.k.a. ADDIE:
Step 1. Analyze: Analyze system (department, job, etc.) to gain a complete understanding of it by:
- Compiling a task inventory of all tasks associated with each job (if needed).
- Selecting tasks that need to be trained (needs analysis).
- Building performance measures for the tasks to be trained.
- Choosing instructional setting, e.g. classroom, on-the-job, self study, etc.
- Estimating what the cost to train the tasks.
Step 2. Design: Develop both terminal and enabling learning objectives for each task by:
- Identifying and list the learning steps required to perform the task.
- Developing the performance tests to show mastery, e.g. written, hands on, etc.
- Listing the entry behaviors that the learner must demonstrate prior to training.
- Sequencing and structure the learning objectives, e.g. easy tasks first.
Step 3. Develop: List activities that will help the students learn the task by:
- Selecting the delivery method such as tapes, handouts, etc.
- Reviewing existing material so that you do not reinvent the wheel.
- Developing the instructional courseware.
- Synthesizing the courseware into a viable training program.
- Validating the instruction to ensure it accomplishes all goals and objectives.
Step 4. Implement: Create a management plan for conducting the training and conduct the training.
Step 5. Evaluate: Review and evaluate each phase (analyze, design, develop, implement). Perform external evaluations, e.g. observe that the tasks that were trained can actually be performed by the learner on the job. Revise training system to make it better.
Recent Building Technology Training Services Experiences
MD/DHCD Custom Process-Focused General and Intermediate Curricula and Training for ‘Building Rehabilitation Code’ Customers (Code Administrators, Design Practitioners, Builders, and Owners)
Title: Develop a Training Module Based on Statewide Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code.
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Process focus, Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Employee involvement and development.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services and Support Products
Project Description: Building Technology developed the curriculum for a series of one-day general training workshops to be presented throughout the State of Maryland to achieve management and organizational improvement of local code enforcement agencies and their customers. The purpose of the training was to familiarize all the potential users (code officials, architects and engineers, builders, and other interested parties) of the new Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code (MBRC) with its contents and use. The curriculum covered seven specific topics. Building Technology developed the curriculum in the form of a student workbook, including examples, case studies, and illustrations; audio-visual tools for instructors; and supplemental classroom handout materials for students. Classroom materials were designed in a format that was capable of being placed on the Internet. Finally, Building Technology conducted a one-day “train the trainer” session for DHCD staff. Following the successful conduct of these workshops throughout the State, Building Technology was tasked with developing an intermediate curriculum for a series of half-day workshops to provide further training on the use of the MBRC. The curriculum covered three specific topics. Building Technology developed the curriculum in the form of a student workbook; audio-visual tools for instructors; and supplemental classroom handout materials for students. Finally, Building Technology conducted a one-day “train the trainer” session for DHCD staff. The curriculum was successfully used in eight intermediate workshops throughout the State, presented from 5/22/02 and 7/10/02.
MD/DHCD MBRC Custom Process-Focused Advanced Specialized Training for ‘Building Rehabilitation Code’ Customers (Code Administrators, Design Practitioners, Builders, and Owners)
Title: Develop a Curriculum for Advanced Training in Relation to Fire and Building Rehabilitation Projects.
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Process focus, Systematic improvement, Customer focus, Employee involvement and development.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services and Support Products
Project Description: To achieve further management and organizational improvement of local code enforcement agencies and their customers Building Technology developed the curriculum for a series of half-day workshops to be presented throughout the State of Maryland to provide individuals who received prior training in the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code (MBRC) with information useful for complex building rehabilitation projects. The curriculum covered an introductory section and several case studies on detailed scenarios. Building Technology developed the curriculum in the form of a student workbook; audio-visual tools for instructors; and supplemental classroom handout materials for students. Finally, Building Technology conducted a one-day “train the trainer” session for DHCD staff. The curriculum was successfully used in workshops throughout the State that continue to this day.
NY/DOS Custom Specialized Rehabilitation Code Curriculum and Training (Code Developers)
Title: Prepare and Conduct a One-Day Training Seminar in Albany, NY.
Baldridge Criteria Addressed: Systematic improvement, Employee involvement and development.
Other MOBIS services addressed: Consulting Services
Project Description: In support of management and organizational improvement within the Department of State, Building Technology developed the curriculum for a one-day workshop to be presented in Albany to technical subcommittee members, advisors, and others engaged in developing the new building rehabilitation code (Appendix K) in New York State. The curriculum was based on a curriculum developed earlier for the State of Maryland.
"risk measurement and mitigation" for the building industry
(services descriptions undergoing review and revision)
INCREMENTAL MITIGATION REHABILITATION
buildingTECHNOLOGYincorporated
"risk measurement and mitigation"