“In a progressive country ... change is inevitable.” So wrote British statesman Benjamin Disraeli nearly 200 years ago. Change provides the theme of this month’s issue of Construction Project Controls. Larry True and John Jurewicz look at the cause and effect of changes in computer systems. A change in process, such as converting to BIM technology for scheduling and estimating needs, may increase the accuracy of information on any given project, says Jerry Laiserin. And finally, Gordon Aronson says that if you want to change the amount of attention your RFI receives, you need to change the way you communicate that request.

What changes are in store for your organization? Whether you’re changing office buildings or management systems, remember this thought by British novelist Arnold Bennett: “Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”

By Larry True
Once you invest the money into a new computer system, what’s next? Larry True reports that too many contractors and their personnel revert to their old ways, ignoring the entire reason they upgraded to a new system. His advice? Upgrade, train and implement.

By John Jurewicz of ASPTIP.COM and Manny Canta
When the Chicago Transit Authority makes the switch to Skire’s web-based management system later this year, John Jurewicz will be on the lookout to see if Unifier measures up. This month, he offers a preview of the system.

By Jerry Laiserin
Project information is only as accurate as the person (or people) supplying the information. BIM capabilities may offer the solution to ambiguities and misinformation that transfers between schedulers and estimators on any given project, suggests Jerry Laiserin.

By Gordon H. Aronson
What does your RFI communicate? Does it scream urgent or does it fall to the bottom of the inbox? Using Primavera Contract Manager, Gordon Aronson explains that you can make your RFI carry the necessary weight to get the attention it needs, when it needs it.