Reflections on Construction Management: Empowerment and decentralisation vs. Detailed Planning and control
I wanted to share some reflections on a really interesting discussion I had with a colleague in the construction industry. We talked...
top of page
All Posts
Aug 234 min read
Learning from Southwest Airlines: Put the team first
First I want to tell you about Southwest Airlines and their approach to employees and teams. If you’ve ever read any book on business...
120
May 246 min read
To Tender or not to Tender
Evaluating a Tender Opportunity: Key Questions to Ask Yourself So you’ve been asked to tender on a project. Now what? What are your...
110
Apr 24 min read
What the construction industry can learn from Scrum and Agile Methodology
Jeff Sutherland's principles from "Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time," while rooted in software development, offer...
370
Mar 72 min read
The deadly consequences of a zero tolerance workplace policies
This book is extraordinary and debunks a lot of what everyone thought was good safety management. It validates that exhaustive, highly...
690
Mar 74 min read
Prioritising Safety over Compliance - A radical plan to improve site safety
The Buttress Safer Now Methodology and the radical plan to improve construction safety. Buttress and our Safer Now philosophy is...
1030
Mar 63 min read
7 Step plan to rapidly improve your construction business
There are infinite things to do but there is only one of you. There are hundreds of bits of advice from friend’s staff and everyone...
320
Mar 42 min read
Why Lean Principles might just save the building industry from a productivity death spiral
The construction industry, long plagued by stagnant productivity levels, finds itself at a critical juncture. Unlike other sectors that...
1160
Feb 124 min read
Why is construction so unproductive and backwards?
The construction industry is massive and complex, but the fact that it is made of mostly small, simple businesses may be its Achilles...
520
Jan 305 min read
The Buttress Guide to better hiring for small businesses
It’s tough for a small business to get hiring right. Not only that you’ve got limited resources, no HR department, the most talented...
330
Jan 253 min read
the Buttress 10 Book MBA
So here it is; my list of 10 essential reads that constitute a de facto MBA, chosen for their general applicability, evidence-based...
290
Jan 102 min read
Why the construction industry needs Buttress BuildOS
What is Buttress Build OS? It’s a simple operating procedure for small construction and trade businesses. It integrates forms, checklists...
500
Dec 15, 20234 min read
Unpacking the NSW Building Commission Legislation
The construction industry in New South Wales is facing a significant shift with the introduction of new legislation by the NSW Building...
1330
Dec 7, 20232 min read
Why I said to my staff - “Forget the Sales Funnel - Just help people”
A good doctor knows to treat the patient and not the ailment. Granted, this is an imperfect metaphor but it kind of explains why I have...
500
Dec 4, 20232 min read
If you’re a Builder or a Site manager with no safety system on your site; do these things first:
It's not uncommon for construction sites to operate without a Work Health and Safety (WHS) system or compliance in place. However, for...
360
Nov 22, 20232 min read
Is the tradition of Separate Banking and Accounting Systems a relic of the past?
Will they become unified in an integrated future? Is the future for small businesses payments and accounting - one platform that is fully...
430
Nov 20, 20232 min read
How you deal with mistakes will define your business and your relationship with clients
Mistakes will happen, sure you can minimise these with better staff, better contractors, better systems, but where humans and human-built...
350
Sep 20, 20232 min read
Rapid Quality Improvements by focusing on tipping points
If you’ve ever looked into a quality management system with Inspection Test plans and the like you’ll notice 2 things: It’s designed for...
250
Aug 3, 20235 min read
Fast Meeting Minutes and No RFI’s - 11 tips for reducing admin time with effective meeting minutes
Introduction I like things to be simple so I have combined meeting minutes and RFI’s (request for information) into one schedule and I...
470
Jul 10, 20233 min read
Why round number are landmines: 7 ways rounding quotes and invoices can unbalance your business
Rounding numbers in financial data: it makes things simple right? - No! In fact it’s a short term fix that sets landmines for everyone...
480
Jun 25, 20233 min read
Finding and engaging the best Subcontractors and Suppliers
Introduction: In the construction industry, effective collaboration between head contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers is pivotal...
700
May 31, 20236 min read
The GST Trap: Unmasking The Hidden Risks for Australian Builders
The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Australia in 2000 fundamentally transformed the nation's taxation landscape....
530
May 11, 20232 min read
10 tips and tricks for Managing Subcontractor Claims
In this blog post, we share ten tried-and-tested tips to help you manage subcontractor claims more efficiently and avoid potential disputes.
300
Apr 6, 20234 min read
9 strategies for surviving a cash crunch
I know this very well, as a building company for 8 years I am uniquely qualified and experienced to tell you about this, and if you’ve...
170
Mar 28, 20233 min read
How to survive your first client meeting (and get the job!)
Hey there! Are you feeling nervous about your first client meeting? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Our blog is packed with tons of help
210
Mar 2, 20234 min read
How to respond to new client enquiries effectively
Responding to client enquiries is an essential part of any business, and how you handle these interactions can make or break your...
1360
Feb 20, 20233 min read
Turning Complaining clients into fanatical supporters of your business
Introduction Not everything goes to plan on your project and sometimes even when it does the client may have misunderstood something or...
750
Feb 10, 20232 min read
5 Common Mistakes When Quoting
Preparation of an accurate quote or variation to contract is critical to business success but it is surprising how many times builders...
950
Feb 1, 20237 min read
What the hell is wrong with Construction Software?
Lets face it - construction industry software has a reputation for being crap. It's often seen as cumbersome, confusing and irrelevant to...
850
Jan 20, 20234 min read
7 Reasons Why The Construction Industry Is So Backwards In Software Innovation
Why is the construction industry so backwards? There is no doubt the construction industry underperforms when it comes to technology....
750
Jan 10, 20237 min read
AI and the end of bookkeeping and project accounting (as we know it)
Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise the field of project accounting and bring about significant...
550
Jan 8, 20231 min read
Why The Construction Industry Is In Need Of Innovation
The construction industry is a sector of the economy that involves the building and creation of infrastructure, including buildings,...
430
Dec 13, 20221 min read
Why is Co-founder / CTO Search is so hard for construction tech startups?
Hello Buttress Fans, I'll make no secret that it's been a tough road to find the right co-founding team for Buttress. There are a few...
630
Dec 8, 20221 min read
Another pitch, another win for Buttress
So I pitched again at a massive Fishburners B2B SAAS night - that's Business to Business and Software as a Service - and Buttress is...
320
Sep 13, 20221 min read
Early Adopter Program - MVP Status update
Welcome to the the Buttress blog. The reason for creating this blog is to share our journey with our community of customers, investors,...
1630
bottom of page