Van Mell Associates | Project Planning

Project Planning

How can executives and directors think coherently about these complex decisions? Projects fail from focusing first on the real estate deal or on design and construction. Our Integrated Facility Planningsm process summarizes and integrates all the key issues of location, design and finance. You see how all the parts fit together.

The key benefits of our approach are projects that are on time, in budget, free of conflict and, more important, buildings which strengthen market position, efficiency, recruitment and return. These are powerful, if unforgiving leadership opportunities. Our approach follows basic planning discipline.

1). Set objectives and scorecard

Begin with education: director and executive briefings
Approve a concise statement of objectives based on the business plan

2). Conduct location and site analyses

Focus on space/resource allocations, not floor plans
Consider how each project links to others in the system

3). Create concept design

See summary maps of markets, labor pools and transportation
Use for competitive design/builder selection, fundraising

4). Run financial analysis (including lease versus own)

Review defensible budgets and financing schemes
Focus on core question of long-range return

5). Create feasible alternatives

Review a few sensible alternatives, including Do Nothing
Make Go/No-Go decision on 1-page cost/benefit summary

6). Facilitate and communicate

Have a record of key decisions, assumptions and information
Use material to promote project to critical audiences