Blog

Disrupt or die

Whilst not the same size as Carillion, Clough is one of the biggest contractors in Australia and the news that it has entered administration is no less significant for the construction industry here. Read More

High wages for low productivity is not constructive

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what price a graph or in this case two? Read More

Should Cost - why it unlocks a more effective way to deliver

Should-Cost Modelling’ is a phrase you might start hearing a lot more in procurement discussions. It’s a costing method designed to inform clients of fair value very early in the project. Read More

Complex systems thinking - rethinking the Australian construction industry

Complex systems are all around us, from the climate to the stock market, to world wars and ant hills… and to mega projects and the Australian construction industry. Read More

Time to attract women to construct

Construction is one of Australia’s largest and most highly skilled industries, and it is also a bastion of male domination. Just 12 per cent of the construction workforce are women, meaning the industry is missing out on employing half the working population. Read More

Productivity is the skills silver-bullet, not migrants or training

It may seem heresy to say this but increasing migration will not solve Australia’s critical workforce shortage—particularly Australia’s third largest industry, construction. Read More

Construction ripe for productivity picking at Jobs Summit

The Federal Government’s recently announced Jobs and Skills Summit in September is aimed at addressing current economic issues such as skills shortages by driving reforms in areas like employment participation, productivity and skilled migration. Read More

National approaches required to address major productivity problem

The Productivity Commission is considering how the pandemic shaped Australia’s productivity challenges and arguably it does not have to look far to see the opportunities. Read More

Same, same but different inquiry

Productivity is once again the subject of a Federal Government review and, again, the real challenge is the actual adoption of better practice. Read More

Unforeseen significant escalation should not be a contractor or supply chain risk

The construction industry is experiencing ‘hyper-escalation’ – unpredictable, rapid price increases in key commodities combined with supply issues. Read More