DQI facilitators add value to projects
Posted: 12th January 2007
There is considerable evidence illustrating that using a DQI facilitator not only helps with the successful application of the DQI in a project but also helps to ensure that the knowledge gained from using the tool is acted upon by the project team. CIC strongly recommends the use of trained DQI facilitators to ensure that quality, stakeholder engagement and collaborate working are at the fore of the process.
The current DQI Facilitator register has 74 construction professionals and clients all of whom have undertaken training and ability assessed. To view the current register, please visit www.dqi.org.uk/needfacilitator.
Following feedback CIC is currently refining the training process for facilitators to provide an even more comprehensive programme. If you would like to know more about the Facilitator training programme for 2007 or are interested in using a DQI facilitator please visitwww.dqi.org.uk/facilitator or contact the DQI team on 020 7399 7424 or dqi@cic.org.uk
Some testimonials from clients on how the DQI and DQI facilitators add value:
John McConnell of North Down and Ards Institute said:
“Our end users found the process to be most helpful in putting across their requirements. They felt that notice was being taken of their needs and that the building was not being designed by people who would normally not know their working requirements.
Our DQI facilitator was a great help in explaining all the different aspects of the process and why they were necessary. We have completed 2 DQI sessions, both of which helped enormously in developing our scheme designs.”
Robin Matthews of Stanley Bragg Partnership said:
“On the most recently completed project our facilitator played an invaluable part in explaining the DQI process and presenting the whole subject in a way that could be understood by all participants. Once the process had been so thoughtfully explained under the facilitator’s guidance, the workshops developed into relaxed and enjoyable sessions that promoted good communication between parties and focused people’s attention on quality issues.
Having now run projects through the DQI process, we can see the positive aspects of using a skilled DQI facilitator to ‘steer’ the workshops and encourage participation by all concerned.”
David Mullins of Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick said:
“The DQI at Warwick was excellently facilitated and was an exciting and very productive experience for the participants. It involved looking back at our existing building and also forward to our new building and we were able to bring together a diverse set of representatives of users of the existing building.
The process, which would not have worked at all without expert facilitation, resulted in a very clear and shared understanding of the aspiration for the new building and lessons to be learned from the existing building. The involvement of the design team for the new building enabled them to rapidly reach an understanding of the specification we wished to achieve and, very importantly, the subjective aspects that linked the quality of the environment to the brand, marketing and success of Warwick Manufacturing Group. I don’t think that such an understanding could be elicited without a facilitated DQI process.”
Ailsa Taylor of Turner and Townsend Group said:
“In my recent experience with the DQI I have found the role of the facilitator to be invaluable in providing a simple and straight forward brief for users new to the tool, explaining the purpose of the tool to a diverse audience, and clarifying the objectives and benefits of undertaking several DQI sessions throughout the design and construction process.
The facilitator actively encouraged everyone to participate in discussion and debate, all the while, developing individuals understanding of the various elements of the tool. As a third party to the project, the facilitator was able to prevent strong personalities from dominating, encouraging stakeholder involvement in the purest sense.
Our facilitator provided a useful report following each of the sessions which captured key points from user group conversations, and included graphics to help participants visualise how well the design is achieving their aspirations as the project progresses.
On the basis of this extremely positive experience, I would not hesitate to recommend the use of facilitated DQI sessions to clients and their user groups on future projects.