Foreword

Historically members of the project team tended to treat every project as a bespoke experience for themselves, their clients and the end users of their buildings. Information and evidence gathering from the project was pushed aside at the joy of building handover.

We rarely learned, with any structured information gathering strategy, the lessons on offer in order to improve the outcome for the next projects. A building which appears not to function as expected is submerged as something for the design or construction team to be ashamed of. Under-performing building elements or difficulties in use are seen as mistakes, rather than as constructive experiences or opportunities to improve the building for its future users, or to inform new projects.

The 2013 Plan of Work was structured to change this, and the industry should welcome this step change in the way we work. We need to grasp this nettle firmly, and work with our teams, clients and users to create more resilient buildings, to view the construction process running through whole life in use, and to create continuously improving outcomes.

This book, the first in a series of three guides to using the RIBA Plan of Work 2013, explains the means by which, using stages 7, 0 and 1, the process of learning and continuous improvement can develop using analytical tools and collection of data to provide for shared knowledge.

No client could fail to be seduced by a system which manages the process so well, commences with a structured review of their needs and objectives, assesses their business case, reduces their costs, and demonstrates how to improve their buildings in use.

This helpful publication provides clarification for the team to ensure that the client’s vision and objectives are met. This is a working guide, informing the reader throughout the process of data gathering, setting and agreeing the brief, in preparation for the design stages of a project.

This is the essential guide to changing our industry for the better. I urge you to read and digest its unassailable logic.

Jane Duncan
RIBA President Elect