Principles of Successful Data Center Project Delivery are discussed in “Voices of the Industry”. “Voices of the Industry” is Data Center Frontier’s weekly column featuring guest articles by data center executives on the front lines of innovation and market dynamics. This week’s article is a contribution from UMP’s Global Director for Strategy, Harold Simmons, in which he discusses the three principles of delivering a successful data center project.
Below is the summary of the principles. To read the whole article, please click here.
The process of delivering a new data center build is a multi-faceted one that involves many disciplines. The difference between a successful project where the owner is delighted in the end product and one that is filled with needless difficulties along the way is often related to the atmosphere that exists between the various disciplines involved in the delivery. The following three principals are characteristic (though not comprehensive) of the interactions that exist between the end users, architects, engineering team, contractors, and suppliers on successful data center projects.
Proactive & Regular Communication – One of the most representative characteristics of successful projects is pro-active communication that takes place on a regular basis.
Trust & Accountability – Once the communication lines have been opened it is imperative that there is a culture of accountability & trust established. The contractors need to be able to trust all of the players on the project and the various subcontractors and suppliers need to show themselves to be trustworthy.
Teamwork – At the end of the day the most important thing on a complex construction project is making sure that the owner/end user is satisfied and delighted in the final delivered product. This does not happen without the suppliers, contractors, and other disciplines being committed to this end goal.
End Result = End User Delight
Proactive communication, trust & accountability, and teamwork are nothing earthshattering or new to those of us who have any business experience. That being said, these characteristics are most likely known by all, talked about by many, and unfortunately only implemented effectively by a few. The end goal needs to always be end user delight and satisfaction. Hopefully, by taking a few minutes to reflect on these characteristics we all will be able to better serve the end user community in the delivery of successful data center projects.