Separating hype from reality is one of the lofty goals of good journalism. This goal is to provide useful information for readers to make informed value judgments. Through a combination of their own experience, research and analysis plus the input of outside experts, successful companies are those best able to apply these judgments, along with their limited resources, on activities that will provide the most reliable return. This includes hiring qualified people, investing in the right technology and applying solid management principles. Where technology is novel, more reliance must be placed on research and the input of reputable consultants and experts. Our experts start this month with an article on important principles for managing claims, then move on to two pertinent articles on emerging technology. Our fourth regular column invites a guest editor to address functionality differences of two leading project control software applications, both from the same vendor.

When it comes to construction claims, there are two types of contractors—those that plan ahead for potential claims and those that wait to address the problem until it’s potentially too late. Larry True explains that you can use your cost control system in conjunction with good project management to help make the claims process a more successful endeavor. Jerry Laiserin follows with some excellent viewpoints and definitions of building information modeling, which will give readers a much more discerning eye for gauging which, if any, current BIM offerings are viable.

Gordon Aronson, sometimes one of Primavera's harshest critics, is ready to embrace web-based scheduling as the twenty-five year old firm has finally shown commitment and progress in its move to the Internet.

By Larry True
When it comes to construction claims, there are two types of contractors—those that plan ahead for potential claims and those that wait to address the problem until it’s potentially too late. Larry True explains that you can use your cost control system in conjunction with good project management to help make the claims process a more successful endeavor.

By Jerry Laiserin
Depending on whom you ask, BIM and its associated terms can mean any number of things. Jerry Laiserin offers a set of definitions to help clarify the confusion.

By Gordon H. Aronson
With Primavera’s impending arrival of Version 6.0, the march towards Web-based scheduling and planning has picked up the pace. Gordon Aronson predicts that Web components will soon win the lion’s share of software development. So, it’s time to get up to speed or get run over.

By Nicole C. Robinson
Many collaborative management tools offer similar solutions for large-scale projects. When it came time for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to choose a software solution for its $5.3 billion congestion relief program, it ultimately chose Meridian Systems’ Proliance. Here’s why.

Here’s a look at recent items in the news.