When Owners Should Bring in Independent Advisors
The timing of independent advisory engagement is one of the most consequential decisions owners make in complex infrastructure projects. The most common pattern is reactive engagement — bringing in advisors after problems have already emerged. By that point, capital has been committed, vendor positions are established, and the leverage to correct structural issues has diminished […]
Owner Representation vs Project Management
Owner representation and project management are often conflated. Both roles work on behalf of the owner, both interact with vendors and contractors, and both contribute to project success. But the functions are structurally different — and understanding the difference matters for owners deciding which roles to engage in complex projects. This article explains the structural […]
What Owner Representation Actually Means
The term “owner representation” is used loosely in infrastructure projects, and the looseness produces confusion. Some owners understand it to mean project management. Others understand it to mean construction supervision. Still others understand it to mean a senior advisor reviewing major decisions. Each interpretation describes part of the role, but none describes the structural function […]
Why Large Projects Need Independent Owner Representation
There’s a conversation I’ve had countless times over the years, usually after a project has already gone off track. An owner sits across from me, trying to understand how a project that began with a realistic budget and a reputable vendor ended up over budget, behind schedule, and tangled in disputes no one anticipated when […]