On Tuesday February 25th, we re-launched the San Francisco Partnering Fundamentals Training. Generously hosted by the Port of San Francisco, we held an incredible event with 30 attendees, which included representation from each of the Chapter 6 Departments, from a downtown entity that supports construction, and from San Francisco contractors who work on projects.
This relaunch initiative was started because the City is approaching the ninth year of the Steering Committee effort and identified the need to re-invigorate the Partnering Program. The COVID pandemic forced many Partnering activities online and the implementation had become less consistent. So, to help support new staff who have joined the City since the prior trainings were held in 2021, and to help rebuild momentum, we have launched a quarterly training for the next three years.
At its core, the implementation of this type of training is a key element of a culture change process. With a Partnering Steering Committee, our intention is to simplify the complexity of a design and construction ecosystem by focusing our energy on a few key principals. We emphasize the use of Structured Collaborative Partnering to support a collaborative environment where our project teams remain aligned in how to deliver a quality project while balancing cost, scope and schedule. We emphasize the importance of the City serving as an “owner of choice,” who is worthy of multiple bidders. Additionally, we recognize teams and individuals exhibiting those behaviors as they deliver projects.
From the training attendees we heard this valuable feedback:
- It was valuable to learn about the Structured Collaborative Partnering Program and the “why” behind the system.
- Having a joint training between departments helps us meet a cohort of other people interested in improving project delivery across the City.
- Having a subject matter expert on how San Francisco’s projects get delivered gives context to the training, so it’s meaningful and relevant.
- The examples where we built the Resolution Ladder, Charter Goals, and worked through an issue were fun and helped us engage with the materials.
If you work on construction projects in the City and County of San Francisco, I highly encourage you to sign up for one of our upcoming training sessions. You can click on the flyer or follow this link to sign up for one of our remaining classes in 2025!
– Rob
Rob Reaugh is President of OrgMetrics LLC. He facilitates the City and County of San Francisco Collaborative Partnering Steering Committee and currently works with San Francisco International Airport, San Jose International Airport, BART, Caltrans, and others. He holds a Masters’ Degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
For more information please contact Rob Reaugh, RobReaugh@Orgmet.com / (925) 487-2404 (cell), or OrgMetrics, (925) 449-8300.