Design for Release™
Proactive Planning for better Production Management
Are your complex, challenging projects held up by
inconsistent decision-making or incomplete design?
Have you ever been on a project where it feels like team members are not making decisions at the rate that the project needs? How about a project in which Build team members are constantly asking, “When will the design be 100% complete?”
When this happens, Owners are paying more to achieve desired outcomes because Owner, Design, and Build team members are not aligned on how key decisions and design can best support procurement and construction. Projects will then be hit with higher procurement costs for expedited materials and equipment as well as higher labor costs to achieve compressed schedules… because typically, “The end date does not change!”
Design for Release™ helps you avoid these roadblocks!
Developed by Cynthia Tsao of Navilean LLC while working as a Lean / High Performing Team coach on New England projects during the 2010s, Design for Release™ is, in essence, a concept, mindset, and approach for explicitly coordinating the work of Owner, Design, and Build team members. In particular, it is a technique that prioritizes managing the handoffs (especially key decisions) needed between team members so design can be “released” in smaller batches that support procurement and construction work flows.
Design for Release™ is a guiding framework
for High Performing Teams!
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“Fast tracking projects,” “Establishing decisions as design milestones,” and “Delaying decisions until the Last Responsible Moment” all function in the same spirit as Design for Release™. The difference is that Design for Release™ serves a dual purpose on High Performing Teams:
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It helps team members recognize that design generates value when it “releases” work for subsequent work flows
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It instructs team members on how to establish better design milestones
With this framework in place, team members would then collaboratively determine, “How can we rapidly develop the design sufficiently enough so team members can start critical subsequent work flows?”
Ready to learn more about Design for Release™?
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Cynthia Tsao has formed a non-profit organization, Building AEC Learning (BAECL), to encourage AEC practitioners in Greater Boston to share how we are building High Performing Teams… because life is too short to work inefficiently!
If you are interested in learning more about Design for Release™, please add yourself to our waitlist for BAECL’s Introduction to Design for Release™ Workshop!
Introduction to Design for Release™ Workshop (offered by BAECL)
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An overview of the Design for Release™ concept, mindset, and approach
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Review and discussion of Design for Release™ case studies
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How to leverage Design for Release™ to improve project outcomes
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How to introduce the Design for Release™ framework to project teams
Eager to use Design for Release™ to
build a Higher Performing Team now?
If you want to get beyond the basics of Design for Release™ and actually start making it happen on a project, Navilean LLC can provide support via the following coaching modules:
Design for Release™ Rapid Implementation Coaching Module (offered by Navilean LLC)
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This coaching module is appropriate when team members feel like “We don’t have time for training… or planning!”
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Navilean LLC will work with your key team members to build the Design for Release™ strategy catered to your project’s unique needs and challenges
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Navilean LLC will lead the initial implementation of the Design for Release™ strategy with support from your key team members
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Navilean LLC will train your key team members on how to sustain the Design for Release™ implementation effort
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Design for Release™ Learning-by-Doing Coaching Module
(offered by Navilean LLC)
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This “Train-the-Trainer” coaching module couples learning with action
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You will need to connect Navilean LLC with key team members who will be responsible for introducing and sustaining the Design for Release™ initiative on your project
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Navilean LLC will facilitate deeper dive discussions of the Design for Release™ case studies with your key team members
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Navilean LLC will work with your key team members to build the Design for Release™ strategy catered to your project’s unique needs and challenges
-
Navilean LLC will train your key team members on how to lead the initial implementation of the Design for Release™ strategy
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Your key team members will lead the initial implementation of the Design for Release™ strategy with support from Navilean LLC
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Navilean LLC will train your key team members on how to sustain the Design for Release™ implementation effort​