Do Collaborative Strategies Actually Work? A Report Card on the Engineering and Technical
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Transcript of Do Collaborative Strategies Actually Work? A Report Card on the Engineering and Technical
Do Collaborative StrategiesDo Collaborative StrategiesActually Work?Actually Work?
A Report Card on theA Report Card on theEngineering and TechnicalEngineering and Technical
Services ClusterServices Cluster
Presentation toPresentation toAPEGGAAPEGGA
Edmonton DistrictEdmonton DistrictApril 15, 2003April 15, 2003
The Greater Edmonton Competitiveness Strategy
The Engineering and Technical Services Cluster
Competitive Challenges Facing the Industry
Collaborative Actions Accomplishments Report Card A Future Perspective Questions
OutlineOutline
Launched Spring 2000 Business Plans presented in Town Hall
Meeting January 2001 1200 People and 300 business and
organizations involved Largest initiative in the region costing
over $1 million
The Greater Edmonton The Greater Edmonton Competiveness StrategyCompetiveness Strategy
1. Shape the next generation economy
2. Build regional competitive advantage
3. Attract investment and new business to the region
Key ObjectivesKey Objectives
“Create an environment within industry clusters that drives both collaborative and constructive competition to encourage innovation, competitiveness and to attract and stimulate new business in the region.”
StrategyStrategy
Industry ClustersIndustry Clusters
“Concentrations of similar companies with related products and services their joint suppliers and supporting economic foundations.”
1. To work together
2. To cooperate with the enemy
““Collaboration”Collaboration”(v. from the Latin: Related to (v. from the Latin: Related to
WORK)WORK)
One of the 8 key drivers of growth in the region
Consists of 50% Engineering and Technical Services 50% Construction Services
Employs 68,000
Engineering and Engineering and Technical Services Technical Services Cluster…HighlightsCluster…Highlights
Growing at 3.4% annually – 1% faster than the North American average
We’ve developed specialized skills in Oil and Gas, Tarsands and Heavy Industry
Lagging behind several North American centres including Calgary
Engineering and Engineering and Technical Services Technical Services Cluster…HighlightsCluster…Highlights
Critical skills shortages (Technical, Professional and trades)
The effects of seasonal and economic cycles on the industry
Not attracting sufficient young people into the industry
Limited marketing of industry services and strengths
Competitive Challenges Facing Competitive Challenges Facing the Industrythe Industry
Engineering & Technical Services
Cluster
Fragmented Industry Lack Head Office
decision makers in Edmonton
Need for alternate forms of project financing
Cross border registration is a barrier to business in US
Competitive Challenges Facing Competitive Challenges Facing the Industrythe Industry
Engineering & Technical Services
Cluster
1. Increasing the availability and skills of our technical, professional and trades workforce
2. Mitigating the effects of seasonal and economic cycles on the industry
3. Collaboratively marketing the unique skills and expertise of the cluster globally
3 Key Action Initiatives3 Key Action InitiativesEngineering &
Technical Services Cluster
Commissioned a study on exporting engineering services to USA and Mexico (Alberta Export
Engineering Study – April 2001) including: Licensing Export potential Training requirements
Commissioned a study of private and institutional training programs available to the cluster (Learning Map Project – June 2001) Interactive website set up of available
training inventory
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
Several training initiatives offered through the Human Resources Flagship Cluster Seminars/Webinar series (SkillsInvest) Topics include Leadership, Best Practices
in Recruiting, Retention and Performance Management
www.skillsinvest.extension.ualberta.ca
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
US licensing of Regional Canadian Engineers Help overcome the barrier of exporting
engineering services to the US Agreement made with the Montana State
Board to hold exams in Edmonton Fundamentals of Engineering “FE” exams
held twice a year in April and October
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
US licensing of Regional Canadian Engineers 18 people wrote and passed first exam in
October 43 people are registered to write on Saturday Lecture was included as part of the ENG 400
Class for fourth year students at the University of Alberta
Al Schuld and Neil Windsor of APEGGA are being certified to preside over the exams in Edmonton
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
US licensing was a collaborative effort of several people including: Robb McColl – EDE Gerry Devine - Stantec Raj Rajan – Alberta Research Council Ken Porteous – University of Alberta Al Schuld - APEGGA Neil Windsor - APEGGA
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
To mitigate the effects of Edmonton’s short construction cycle
To promote and expand the use of cold weather construction techniques and technologies
To share best practices in the field
To meet and network with peers…
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
First time world class event held in Edmonton on November 3 – 5, 2002
Symposium where educators and industry experts presented papers on the latest design and construction techniques and technologies in use in cold weather regions around the world
Industry Expo where companies showcased equipment, products and services for cold weather construction
400 delegates and exhibitors
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…The International Winter The International Winter
Construction Symposium and Construction Symposium and Expo 2002Expo 2002
Challenge identified in an industry cluster working group
Solution started with one or two people’s involvement
Finished with collaborative effort of many steering committee members, sponsors and participants:Co-Chairs Gino Ferri, Read Jones Christoffersen Charles Lendzion, Construction Research
Institute of Canada Wayne Mallet, Voice Construction Ltd.EDE Robb McColl – EDE
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…The International Winter The International Winter
Construction Symposium and Construction Symposium and Expo 2002Expo 2002
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
International Winter Construction Symposium and Expo May 16-19,
2004 Edmonton, Alberta Partnership with:
IWCSE International Winter Construction Symposium & Expo
CSCE Canadian Society of Civil Engineers ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers
Co-Chairs Dr. Dan Smith – University of Alberta
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Gino Ferri – Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.
Accomplishments…Accomplishments…
Energy of a few people
Support by EDE representative(Rob McColl)
Support and participation of organizations like APEGGA
Achieving overall objectives of the competitiveness strategy
Achieving objectives of the cluster strategy
Achieving cluster action initiatives
Report Card…Report Card…
AAAA
AA
BB
BB
BB
Grade
Pace of project completion
General Cluster Participation(people, companies,
organizations)
Future plan to sustain cluster
Seed funding for future projects
Fulltime resource dedicated to cluster project coordination
Report Card…Report Card…
CC
DD
FF
FF
FF
Grade
Overall Grade
Report Card…Report Card…
PASS!PASS!
More Effort More Effort Needed to Needed to GraduateGraduate
1. Continue our formula for success…
““Small Small Solutions Not Solutions Not
Grand Grand Illusions”Illusions”
A Future Perspective…A Future Perspective…Engineering &
Technical Services Cluster
2. Hold a general cluster strategy session in 2003 to: Reestablish the key challenges
facing our industry Reaffirm or expand our
collaborative action initiatives Encourage broader participation
from the industry cluster3. Figure out how to sustain the cluster
group and accelerate its accomplishments
A Future Perspective…A Future Perspective…Engineering &
Technical Services Cluster
Increased business opportunities regionally, nationally and internationally
Wider opportunities for partnerships and strategic alliances
Network with industry colleagues Increase your industry knowledge and
knowledge of best practices Contribute to your industry and
community Personal leadership opportunity
Why Get Involved?Why Get Involved?
Contact any of us:
How To Get Involved…How To Get Involved…
Name Location Email Telephone
Robb McColl EDE [email protected] 780-424-9191
Mike Duff Design Group Staffing Inc.
[email protected] 780-428-1505
Gary Cutmore Lockerbie & Hole [email protected]
780-452-1250
Raj Rajan Alberta Research Council
[email protected] 780-450-5248
Gerry Devine Stantec [email protected] 780-917-7036
Gino Ferri Read Jones Christoffersen
[email protected] 780-452-2325
Wayne Mallett Voice Construction Ltd.
[email protected] 780-469-1351
Rod Karius Associated Engineering
780-451-7666
Rick Prentice Stantec [email protected] 780-917-7000
Thank You!Thank You!
Would welcome your Would welcome your questions and observationsquestions and observations