For 2023, GREYHAWK is rolling out a new concept to be shared on our social media platforms. We’ll pose questions and share issues we’re considering for our company and industry. We invite you to follow along and give us your feedback on social media or by emailing us individually. To kick off this series, President Ronald C. Kerins, Jr., shares his thoughts on disruption.
Consider This . . . Disruption
By Ronald C. Kerins, Jr.
Often seen as a negative, disruption can be defined as “the action of preventing something, especially a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected.” At GREYHAWK, we view recent construction industry disruption as both radical and innovative, with disruptors changing the landscape of design and construction. In fact, we think the construction industry has needed some shaking up of the ‘usual or as expected’ results for some time. No industry has been as historically stagnant as ours. In the past five years, we have experienced a significant increase in technology implementation in the design and construction process, with acceleration fostered by ongoing attrition of the construction trades workforce and the loss of baby boomers from the industry. When coupled with the ‘brain drain’ of fewer individuals pursuing architecture and engineering fields, we are left with no option but to shift the dynamic and introduce more technological options to manage the process. We in the industry must learn to be more adaptive and resilient. Our educational institutions must alter the delivery of how designers and construction professionals are trained.
What do you think? How have you experienced disruption in your firm or industry? How can we in construction manage the unexpected more efficiency or effectively? How can we teach students to be resilient and agile in their future careers?
