Organizational Development
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White Paper | Published 06.28.2021
Organizational Adoption of New Technologies: Best Practices for SMACNA Contractors
SMACNA members are eager to adopt new technologies, operational processes, and business strategies. Yet the implementation of organizational change – defined as an intentional, company-level adoption of new practices, technologies, or management approaches – can be extremely difficult. Through a national survey and interviews of SMACNA contractors, the top 8 most effective technology implementation management …

White Paper | Published 05.01.2017
White Paper: Enhancing Your Organizational Structure: An Approach to Profitable Operations
This white paper focuses on traditional and functional organizational structures. It offers a simple and easily understood contrast and comment on the appropriateness of each approach. In contrast to the traditional structure, the paper concludes that a functional analysis of a firm’s operations can be “a tool for designing their organization going forward. It views …

White Paper | Published 01.01.2017
White Paper: Using a Board of Directors, Peer Groups and Other Resources to Challenge and Enhance Performance: For HVAC and Sheet Metal Contractors
An area of increasing adoption throughout the construction industry is the use of high-functioning boards of directors, peer groups, and other external resources to provide objective input to enhance performance. Companies are seeking solutions to the many challenges they face in today’s competitive business environment. Leaders are confronted with talent pressures, changing technologies, increased competition, …

Report | Published 12.01.2013
Strategic Thinking
Strategic Thinking is a blueprint for contractors seeking to use the Futures Study to improve their position as the industry recovers and stabilizes. Strategic thinking should not be confused with strategic planning, but the two are related. Strategic thinking involves the generation and application of unique business insights and opportunities intended to create competitive advantage …

White Paper | Published 07.01.2013
Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement, as used in this paper and in the industry, is the name of an approach to improvement known and used around the world for decades. It applies to processes in the office, project or anywhere within the organization. The major components of continuous improvement are often referred to as an acronym, DMAIC: Define …
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Report | Published 08.01.2008
Creating a Learning Environment: A Template for Creating and Cultivating a Learning Culture in the HVAC and Sheet Metal Industry
This report describes the research into creating and fostering a learning environment in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and sheet metal industry. It defines a learning culture for HVAC and sheet metal contractors, and explains how contractor organizations can create an environment that cultivates a learning culture. A competency scorecard and an example …