Professional Skills
Effective collaboration in construction
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If you are involved in any large construction project, understanding how different people and organisations can work together successfully is likely to be important for you. The course will help you to identify necessary skills and conditions for working together, and recognise how you might improve effectiveness in collaborative situations. During the course you will develop a business case to justify collaboration and evaluate different areas of possible collaboration. Throughout the course you will focus on delivering value to the end client or end users, as well as keeping an eye on factors crucial to your own organisation.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB073 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
What you will study
The course has five sections:
- Section 1: Why collaborate? The business case – explores ways in which collaboration between members of a project team can in principle improve value delivered to the end client; improve the management of risk within a project team; and enhance the achievement of predicted margins.
- Section 2: Who should you collaborate with? – considers how to apply tools for mapping relationships between firms involved in a construction project and identify the key firms you need to collaborate with in order to improve project performance.
- Section 3: What can we do collaboratively? – helps you to understand the range of collaborative activities that may be appropriate for a construction project team and to identify three areas of collaborative practice that are beneficial and feasible for you to engage with on your current project.
- Section 4: Where should I focus? – encourages analysis of the main business drivers of construction sector organisations and understanding of the various kinds of investments that participating organisations need to make when then work collaboratively.
- Section 5: Bringing it all together.
During the course you will:
- maintain focus on delivering value to the end client or end users, together with your supply partners, in construction projects, including using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) suitable for the particular project
- maintain simultaneous focus on aspects of performance crucial to your own organisation – e.g. cash flow and cost
- understand different ways of managing inter-firm relationships – from the highly collaborative to the ’arms-length’ contractual approach – and evaluate when each is most appropriate for effective project delivery
- identify practical ways of deepening collaboration with firms for whom this kind of relationship is appropriate, including collaborative management of costs, identifying and allocating risks to the supply partner best able to manage them, and sharing rewards with partners across the supply chain.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. It requires no more than 30 hours of your time in total, over whatever period suits you. But the learning is far richer than more expensive one- to three-day workshops. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University (OU) from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your continuing professional development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (NB The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered wholly online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and the work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB073 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity that you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB073 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
- - the OU has relationships with many professional bodies, and as part of those relationships members may be entitled to special fee arrangements.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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