Blog 16: Answer 2

1.  What is your EQ? What is the most important factor in ensuring a profit in a grading operation?

2.  What is your first answer? : The most effective way to ensure a profit in a grading operation is proper estimation, in order to not under bid. Underbidding will destroy profit.

3.what is your second answer?:  proper pre-construction planning effectively  ensures a profit through preventing costly errors during the construction process.

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.
1. It is extremely important to know the exact specifics of a construction site especially considering how they are updated often. If you fail to build according to the specifics than quite the expensive legal battle will ensue.
2.Proper planning allows the entire process to run smoothly. Time is a very important factor in construction and delays can ruin your profit margin.
3. Proper planning also increases efficiency in the construction process allowing less time and money to be wasted.

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?
http://www.mpgroup.com/documents/guidelines.pdf
This paper by contractors of america goes in depth on the entire construction process and all through out showed how proper planning was important in each section of the construction process. It showed my how integral planning is to construction.

6.What other source supports your answer?
http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Program,%20Cost,%20Consultancy/Cost/Procurement_SuccessfulProjects_10Feb06.pdf
This paper from aecom further supports my answer though showing the various pitfall grading operations face. Time and time again it mentions how proper planning can prevent 95% of the encountered problems. Planning has become a common theme for success.

7. Tie this together with a  concluding thought.

Proper planning has been a common theme of successful construction projects in my research. Time and time again it has also been stated that lack of planning is a common pitfall. Because pitfalls will ruin profit and must be avoided, proper pre construction planning is the second answer to my EQ.