About Project Scorecards

"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks
and costs of comfortable inaction."

- John F. Kennedy

"When you confront a problem you begin to
solve it."

- Rudy Giuliani

"We've found the Project Scorecards™ to be a great communication tool across the project team. They provide a consistent and informative overview of how we are performing as a team and where we need to spend a bit more time improving our performance."

Carl Clayton, P.Eng. P.E. PTOE
Senior Vice President
Stantec

What is a Project Scorecard™?

Project Scorecards™ are on-line surveys conducted by Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. on large complex projects while the projects are underway.

Project Scorecards™ provide a method of getting anonymous feedback on performance measures that are key to effective partnering and to the successful completion of large complex projects.

Project Scorecards™ consist of identifying and measuring a project’s key performance indictors (KPI’s). These KPI’s comprise the Project Evaluation Statements and usually include Project Goals and Key Project Challenges.

All Project Scorecard™ participants can also provide comments and suggestions for improvement for each Project Evaluation Statement.

Project Scorecards™ are an excellent proactive project management
tool, as participants are also asked to identify any key
concerns that may be upcoming on the project.

Effective on Non-Construction Projects …

Project Scorecards™ are also very effective
on non-construction projects.

For further information on using Project
Scorecards™ on non-construction projects,
see Other Project Scorecards.

Sample Report Page
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Did you know ...

•	To date, over 1,400 Project Scorecard™ Reports have been issued
•	Over 94% of Project Scorecard™ participants have found them to be helpful in monitoring projects
•	Project Scorecards™ are now a requirement on many large infrastructure projects

“What gets measured gets managed.”

- Dr. Peter Drucker

Who fills out the Project Scorecard™?

Each Project Scorecard™ should be completed by representatives of the owner, consultant(s), architect(s), contractor(s) and major sub-contractors, and possibly other stakeholders. These representatives should have a strong working knowledge of the project, and may include:

• Corporate Managers
• Project Managers
• Contract Managers
• Project supervisors
• Project Foremen/women

Other project stakeholders may also be invited to fill out the Project
Scorecard™, including:

• Municipal representatives
• Key suppliers
• Utility representatives
• Safety and environmental organizations

These selected individuals are Project Scorecard™ Contributors.

How many people participate on a Project Scorecard™?

Up to 30 team members can complete the surveys as Project Scorecard™ Contributors.

At the team’s request, up to 30 additional senior team members who are not actively
involved in the day-to-day project activities can also receive a copy of the Project
Scorecard™ Report. These individuals are Project Scorecard™ Recipients.

Project Scorecards™ enable senior team members to monitor emerging project
trends and allows for early identification and intervention on problem areas.

Arrangements can be made with Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. to have additional team
members participate.

How are Project Scorecards™ completed?

Project Scorecards™ are usually completed on-line. Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. sends all participants an e-mail that contains a link to the Project Scorecard™. After clicking on the link, the party simply fills out the Project Scorecard™ on-line. See the Typical Survey (Screen View) below.

If any of the parties does not have access to an internet connection, Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. can arrange to conduct the survey in confidence by telephone.



Typical Survey (Screen View) Click to enlarge

How is it decided what to measure on a Project Scorecard™?

Project Scorecards™ consist of the project’s key performance indictors (KPI’s) that are included in the Project Evaluation Statements to measure critical project components.

The Project Evaluation Statements generally consist of Project Goals and Key Project Challenges.

If a formal construction partnering session has been conducted for a project, the Project Goals and Key Project Challenges identified in the partnering session will usually be the Project Evaluation Statements that are measured in the Project Scorecard™.

If the project has not been formally partnered, Allan Lowe & Associates
Inc. provides information in the Detailed Information Package that gives
step-by-step guidelines, including Typical Project Goals and Typical Key
Project Challenges, to assist in identifying the best measurement criteria to
develop the Project Evaluation Statements for the project.

The project management team gets together and works through the
step-by-step guidelines and develops custom Project Evaluation
Statements for their project. This straight forward and easy to use
step-by-step process helps the project management team to identify
Project Goals and Key Project Challenges and identify pro-active
action steps to address the key challenges.

Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. then works with the management team to
finalize the Project Evaluation Statements for their Project Scorecard™.

Note - For detailed information on the Project Scorecard™ process see Getting Started.

Can the Project Evaluation Statements on a Project Scorecard™ be changed?

The project management team is encouraged to make necessary changes
to the Project Scorecard™ as the project progresses. This includes
changing, deleting or adding Project Evaluation Statements and also
updating the Project Scorecard™ Participant List as different
individuals move on and off of the project.

Keeping the Project Scorecard™ current makes it a living process and
document that evolves with the project, and is a valuable continuous
improvement tool.

How many Project Evaluation Statements are usually measured on a
Project Scorecard™?

Each Project Scorecard™ may measure up to 15 Project Goals and
10 Key Project Challenges. It is important for the project team to
identify the most important Project Goals and Key Project Challenges
to allow them to focus on the most important areas of the project.

What about “hard data” vs. “soft data” as measurement criteria on a Project Scorecard™?

There are two types of data that can be measured on a project – hard data and soft data.

Hard data is data that is easily measurable and quantifiable. Project
Evaluation Statements including safety, profitability, quality, issue
resolution and schedule are examples of Project Goals that may include
hard data.

Soft data is data that is not as easily measurable and quantifiable, but is
still very important to the project just the same. Project Evaluation
Statements on important criteria such as communication, teamwork,
environmental stewardship, and health of the partnership are not always
easy to quantify, but can still be effectively measured and used to benefit
the project.

The Project Scorecard™ Detailed Information Package includes sample
Project Evaluation Statements that project teams have found very useful
in monitoring their projects. While not necessarily considered hard data, the
feedback from team members on these Project Goals and Key Project Challenges helps the team to identify both strong and weak areas of the project and make improvements as necessary. As well, the trends for the Project Evaluation Statements are monitored over time, helping the project team to easily identify areas of improvement and regression.

How often are Project Scorecards™ filled out?

Project Scorecards™ may be filled out at specific time periods (usually monthly)
or at significant stages or milestones of the project. Experience shows that to be the
most effective, Project Scorecards™ should be completed at least bi-monthly.

The results from your Project Scorecard™ Benefit Evaluation Tool will identify the
optimum frequency for your project.

How much time does a Project Scorecard™ take to fill out?

For each Project Evaluation Statement, the parties can rate how the scorecard item
scores, generally ranging on a 5-point scale from very poor to very well. The parties
can also provide any comments they wish about any scorecard item.

The Project Scorecard™ usually takes between 5 and 10 minutes to complete.

Are the responses on the Project Scorecard™ anonymous?

Yes, anonymity of responses on the Project Scorecard™ is guaranteed by Allan Lowe
& Associates Inc.

However, if a participant prefers to include their identity with comments, they may do so.

Further information on the anonymity of responses is provided in the Project
Scorecard™ Detailed Information Package.

What type of report is issued for each Project Scorecard™?

Within four business days or less of receiving all responses to the Project
Scorecard™, a Project Scorecard™ Report will be issued that includes a
graphical summary of the ratings for each scorecard item, all comments,
and a graph showing the trends for each item (to identify progression or
regression).

Items that show a strong negative trend since the last report or a “Poor” rating
will be highlighted to identify areas that the team should focus on.

Team members’ concerns about key concerns that may be upcoming on the
project are also gathered to provide a proactive project management tool.

Who receives the Project Scorecard™ Report?

Reports are provided to each Project Scorecard™ Contributor.

At the team’s request, Project Scorecard™ Reports may also be provided to additional parties, including senior team members who are not actively involved in the day-to-day project activities. These individuals are Project Scorecard™ Recipients.

Project Scorecards™ enable senior team members to monitor emerging project trends and allows for early identification and intervention on problem areas.

Information on creating the Project Scorecard™ Participant List is included in the Project Scorecard™ Detailed Information Package.

How long does it take for the team to complete the Project Scorecard™ survey and receive the Project Scorecard™ Report?

The Project Scorecard™ participants are given five days to complete
the scorecard online. A reminder is sent to all participants on Day 4,
which generally greatly increases the Project Scorecard™ response
rates. The Project Scorecard™ Report will be e-mailed to all participants
in a PDF format within four business days after the online Project
Scorecard™ has been closed.

If your project requires an accelerated Project Scorecard™, special
arrangements can be made with Allan Lowe & Associates Inc.

What are the typical team member response rates
on Project Scorecards™?

The typical Project Scorecard™ response rates range between
70% – 95%. Suggestions for keeping the response rates high are
included in the Project Scorecard™ Detailed Information Package (see Getting Started).

What is done with the results of the Project Scorecard™ Report?

The Project Scorecard™ Report should be thoroughly discussed at the next Project Management Meeting and appropriate actions developed to address concerns identified in the report.

Based on the Project Scorecard™ Report, senior team members who are Project Scorecard™ Recipients may also wish to provide input.

How much do Project Scorecards™ cost?

Project Scorecard™ users report that compared to the value that Project
Scorecards™ provide on projects, they are inexpensive:

• $600 CAD one-time fee for the initial set-up of the first Project Scorecard™
   and participant database*
• $600 CAD for each Project Scorecard™, including up to 30 active participants
   and 30 additional Project Scorecard™ Report recipients
• Volume discounts are available

* If the project has been formally partnered by Allan Lowe & Associates Inc.,
   the initial set-up fee is waived.

How do I pay for my Project Scorecard™?

Payments for Project Scorecards™ are processed through PayPal, major
credit cards, direct bank deposits (Canadian bank) or invoicing.

There is a $200 CAD deposit for the Project Scorecard™ Detailed Information Package. This deposit is non-refundable, but it is deducted from the set-up fee for the initial Project Scorecard™.

Project Scorecards™ will be invoiced after the Project Scorecard™ Report has been sent. Payment in full is due upon receipt of the invoice.

Note: Canadian organizations are required to pay GST on Project Scorecards™. (If your organization claims for GST Exemption, you are required to submit proof of your GST Exemption Status).

How do I know if my project can benefit from using Project Scorecards™?

Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. has developed two Project Scorecard™ Benefit
Evaluation Tools, one for construction projects and one for non-construction projects.

The Project Scorecard™ Benefit Evaluation Tool is a rating questionnaire which will
identify how much your specific project can benefit from using a Project Scorecard™
and the optimum frequency for Project Scorecards™ on your project.

The Project Scorecard™ General Information Package also includes a Project
Scorecard™ Benefit Evaluation Tool for construction projects.

It is recommended that you complete the appropriate Project Scorecard™ Benefit
Evaluation Tool with your project management team to assess the potential benefit
of using Project Scorecards™ on your project. (See Getting Started).

Click here to download:


	The Project Scorecard™ General Information Package The Project Scorecard™ Benefit Evaluation Tool for Construction Projects The Project Scorecard™ Benefit Evaluation Tool for Non-Construction Projects

What if I’m not satisfied with my Project Scorecard™?

Working with your project management team to complete the Project Scorecard™ Benefit Evaluation Tool and reviewing the rest of the Project Scorecard™ General Information Package will give you a very good indication of the potential benefit of using Project Scorecards™ on your project.

As well, you are encouraged to discuss any questions you may have with
Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. prior to ordering your Project Scorecard™.
Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. will also work with you on the development
of your Project Goals and Key Project Challenges as required.

Given the amount of information provided and the available interaction
with Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. prior to you completing your first
Project Scorecard™, it is very unlikely that you will not be satisfied
with your Project Scorecard™.

However, in the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with your
Project Scorecard™, Allan Lowe & Associates Inc. guarantees client
satisfaction for all projects. If you are not satisfied that your
Project Scorecard™ has met your expectations, you will not be required to pay for the Project Scorecard™ (with the exception of the non-refundable $200 CAD fee for the Project Scorecard™ Detailed Information Package).

Typical Survey (Screen View)
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Typical Report Cover
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General Information Cover Page
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Project Scorecard™ Success Story…
Document Submittal Process

“We will follow the strategies identified in
the partnering workshop to ensure that
there is a good information flow between
the parties, and the review procedure is effective and efficient.”

Click here to see this real-life Project Scorecard™ success story

Project Scorecard™ Success Story…
Relationships

“We are recognizing contributions and achievements of teams and individuals throughout the project, and are getting together as a group to celebrate the
successful progress of the project.”

Click here to see this real-life Project Scorecard™ success story