Direction Group

task-forces

Establishing the Evidence

ECI Task Forces
Until recently ECI has focussed its energies on establishing the evidence for its strategies and deliverables through a series of Task Forces.  These have been very productive over the years and ECI wants to acknowledge the considerable effort from many individuals and organisations who have contributed to their success.  However, as part of a new ECI strategy, we are now changing the way that the evidence is gathered as explained in this document.

Direction Groups and Working Groups
The new structure is as follows:

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The aim of the Direction Groups’ (DGs) is to champion and promote the ECI charter and its ethos – continual improvement of engineering & construction project performance and delivery by providing strategic direction and impetus for the development of leading edge good practice through the blending of academic research with industry practitioners’ expertise, experience and leadership.  Currently there are four DGs:

  • Project Delivery
  • Leadership and Development
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ)

The DGs take the ECI strategy in their area and formulate time and resource-bounded projects for the Working Groups (WGs) which are formed from member organisations and supported where appropriate by research-focussed individuals.  The DGs are core teams comprising a Chair from an ECI member organisation, a Sponsor from the ECI EU Executive Board and an Academic Lead. Where a DG has several Working Groups (WGs) active at any time the team may elect additional personnel from ECI member companies or request additional Board sponsorship on an ad-hoc basis to bolster the DG.  Taking steer from the Exec Board, the Client/EPC Round Table and the Membership Council, the DG members will work together to develop a strategic direction and relevant WG briefs, detailing tasks, activities, deliverables and timescales for each of the Working Groups within their stream.

The Working Groups (WG) deliver the outputs in association with the DG and other member organisations.  Individuals and their employers commit to the specific WG project with regards to resources and timescales. Individuals MAY continue to be involved with further WG projects if appropriate.  Current topics for the WGs are as noted on the Figure.

Communities of Practice
Whilst the Working Groups and Direction Groups will maintain focus on strategic issues and produce targeted deliverables, we consider that stream-specific Communities of Practice (CoPs) will also bring benefits to individuals and their companies.  These work in the context of the WG tasks and responsibilities rather than as an end in themselves.  The overall ECI Community of Practice will stimulate interaction between CoPs to avoid entering a ‘silo mentality’ and explore topics at the boundaries between work streams.

Currently there are four stream-specific Communities of Practice: Project Delivery; Leadership & Development; Technology & Innovation; and Safety, Health, Environment & Quality (SHEQ).

Each ECI member organisation is asked to provide a representative for each of the CoPs to act as conduits between ECI and their organisation on those topics.

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ECI relies heavily on the good will of member companies and the voluntary contribution of individuals and that this has implications for the way in which it is able to fulfil its mission. ECI is very appreciative of all the voluntary resource that is committed to its efforts, both within and outwith the ‘normal’ work environment.