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Annual Study Examines Construction Business Trends
This year’s study portrays a construction owner community that is responding to changing economic conditions
News Release
November 4, 2009
HousingZone
Raleigh, N.C., November 3, 2009 — FMI, management consultants and investment bankers to the construction industry, and the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) presented the FMI/CMAA Tenth Annual Survey of Owners at the CMAA National Conference on Monday, October 26, 2009 in Orlando, Fla.
According to Mark Bridgers, the FMI consultant who managed the study, “With drastic drop off in construction activity over the past year, we felt it was appropriate to explore how construction management and the outsourcing of construction activities are changing. In the Tenth Annual Survey of Owners, we learn the outsourcing of design and construction activities will be a trend that cannot be ignored going forward.”
This year’s study portrays a construction owner community that is responding to changing economic conditions by looking to service providers for more comprehensive support across the entire building lifecycle. During 2008 and 2009, the economic turmoil has resulted in a dramatic shift in the business environment for the A/E/C industry and this shift or “inflection point” represents a significant moment of change.
In the A/E/C industry, typically it is five to 10 years before we can look back and recognize a curvature shift. The Tenth Annual Survey of Owners examines the long-term trends affecting capital-construction program management and focuses on how the construction delivery process, owner perspectives and necessary skill sets will transform the A/E/C industry over the next 10-20 years.
Survey highlights include:
- Owners are outsourcing more work, and more kinds of work, and they expect this trend to continue.
- Owners are seeking outside support for program activation and ongoing operations and maintenance activities, but the increase in outsourcing will embrace all phases, beginning in pre-design.
- Program activation/commissioning and operations and maintenance demonstrate a 60 percent and 30 percent acceleration in outsource use respectively.
- Between 2009 and 2014, owners expect to attach significantly more importance to the following areas:
- Selecting the most effective project delivery system
- Maintenance management support in both process and technologies
- Proactive strategies to avoid claims and disputes
- Development and use of a construction management plan
- Effective documentation and processes designed to support facility commissioning or turnover
- Owners identified “team coordination” as the area in which all types of service providers need the most improvement, with the lone exception of labor/unions, for which knowledge transfer and safe workplace were the most frequently mentioned as needing improvement
The Survey of Owners, sponsored by CMAA and published every year, surveys, analyzes and summarizes trends and concerns of business owners in the construction industry. The survey has become a definitive resource on construction owners’ perspectives since capital asset owners serve as the bellwether of construction industry trends and movements.
Mark Bridgers, a frequent speaker at owner-group meetings, construction associations, surety gatherings and other professional meetings nationwide, works with owners or purchasers of construction contracting services in the areas of organizational analysis, construction cost management, accounting and financial issues and strategy development. View the 10th Annual Survey of Owners Report.
About CMAA
CMAA is North America's only organization dedicated exclusively to the interests of the professional Construction and Program management industry. On behalf of its 25 regional chapters and more than 5,700 public and private firms and individuals throughout the nation, CMAA promotes the Construction Management industry and provides professional resources, advocacy, professional development, certification, and business opportunities to its members. CMAA's national headquarters is located in McLean, Va. The Association’s website is www.cmaanet.org.
About FMI
FMI is the largest provider of Management Consulting and Investment Banking to the worldwide construction industry. Founded in 1953 by Dr. Emol A. Fails, FMI delivers innovative, customized solutions to contractors; architects and engineers; construction materials producers; manufacturers and suppliers of building materials and construction equipment; private owners, managers, and developers; residential builders; utility companies; surety companies and industry trade associations. FMI creates value through enhanced performance of companies, teams and individuals and by mitigating risk. FMI is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., and has offices in Denver, Phoenix and Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit www.fminet.com.
© 2009, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.