GIRI launches Project Workshops

How can project leaders reinforce the importance of zero error and how it can impact a team’s key objectives, particularly at crucial points in the programme? As GIRI’s research has revealed, project milestones such as the completion of detailed design or start of construction are critical points at which the likelihood of error increases.

A new custom-designed consulting service from GIRI Training & Consultancy may provide the answer, through a whole-team session that drills down into the specific challenges of a project, or team interactions, to strengthen effective collaboration, improve productivity, and reduce error.

GIRI Project Workshops are ideal for those points in a project where large volumes of knowledge need to be passed from one group to another, or at a milestone stage, such as when the project is about to start on site. The intention is to bring the whole team together across the board from planners and architects to key subcontractors and suppliers.

“Many projects start by gathering everyone together at the beginning, which is a lot of effort and expense, so you really want to make sure you get the right people in the room and you get the most value from this opportunity,” explains Nick Francis, director of GTC. “These workshops can do that, and you only need to get one better decision as a result to make it worthwhile.”

Delivered by GIRI Training & Consultancy, the Project Workshops sit alongside GTC’s training schemes. “The workshops build on the principles instilled in GIRI training, but they are a more direct intervention,” says Nick. “This is a tailored consultancy service that looks at the needs of the individual project and project team and injects the appropriate elements to set it up for success.”

Nick describes the workshops as “part team building, part design and planning meeting”. The process starts with an initial chat with the client to establish what should be achieved and the hot topics on the project. The focus can be on the project itself or on the team. “We then tailor the content to meet the specific requirements and host a one-day workshop. These are designed to be fun and interactive to encourage participation from all parties. Afterwards, the client receives a report summarising the key points, the whiteboard output (if the session was held remotely), and a follow up call.”

The workshops can take place face to face, when this is possible again, or they can be delivered remotely, which offers several advantages, says Nick. “We tend to get better participation when we hold the workshops remotely. This is partly to do with Mural and how people interact with it. Everyone can think about the issues under discussion and contribute their ideas at the same time, so we can capture a lot of information, identify patterns, and pick out what’s important immediately. You get a lot of experts sharing their expertise, and it creates a good product to take away from the workshop.”

There is no cap on the numbers that can attend the workshops, but Nick says they work best with around 20 to 30 people. Typically, these are senior people from each of the key organisations, such as a director and an associate, and two or three people from each specialist. “This is really valuable, because you can bring in the people such as the QS, environmental manager, and even council planning who you don’t see every day on the project but who do have a significant input.”

Our introductory video provides a more in-depth look at the Project Workshops. For more information, please contact us.

If you are not sure which approach would work best for your business needs, Nick has this advice: “If you want to improve the long-term capacity within your organisation, choose the training. If you want your project or project team working more effectively, then it’s the Project Workshops you want.”