Ready, fire, aim…is there a better way to choose a winning horse?

by: Anthony Burnett

After working in the banking and credit union industry for the last 10 years, the number one question I hear more than anything is “What’s in it for us?” This is a layman’s way of asking about Return on Investment (ROI). Their question comes up frequently in response to several questions I ask routinely in regards to growth, expansion and the future. All CEOs want to know what’s in it for their company if they do invest in growth. It’s a simple question but the answer is not always…simple. It’s sorta like Bob Baffert trying to pick a winning horse for the Kentucky Derby using a ready, fire, aim approach…it takes a lot more thought, planning and execution to win a race.

Back to banking…the reason for the complexity to my client’s question is that it depends on the company’s mission, market, and people. Additionally, no two companies are the same, and each company’s delivery of its value proposition to its market also varies.

One of my favorite quotes is from Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia). Chouinard says, “The adventure doesn’t start until something goes wrong.” This article addresses one huge choice for banks and credit unions in their adventure toward growth and expansion – “How do I select the correct project delivery method so my facilities succeed?” or in layman’s terms “How in the heck do I get a branch on the ground (designed and constructed) for optimal value?”

Furthermore, in a cost-is-king environment, Value is not defined. Critical components such as quality and time carry equal weight as costs. Therefore, for this article, we will assume the following equation is true:

VALUE = (Quality + Time)/Costs

We’ll start our journey where all journeys begin…In the beginning…

Evolution of Project Delivery Approaches – Context

In selecting the best delivery method for your project, it helps to have context. In life and in selecting project delivery methods, there is no meaning without context.

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