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1.0 Why

2.0 What

Team Members

Organization

3.0 How GroupTYpes

Techniques

References/Sources

Cluster Groups

“ASYSTEMISANETWORK

OFINTERDEPENDANT

COMPONENTSTHATWORK

TOGETHERTOTRYTO

ACCOMPLISHTHEAIMOF

THESYSTEM.ASYSTEMMUST

HAVEANAIM.WITHOUTTHE

AIMTHEREISNOSYSTEM”| W. Edwards Deming |

A collaborative presentation from over a dozen experienced Lean IPD practitioners.

© 2015 Lean Construction Institute

CLUSTERGROUPS | 2

1.0 WhyPrepareagendasforallmeetings,sessions,andgroupeventswhere threeormorepeopleare involved. Agendas canbeused for singular subjectmatter situations and can supporttheweeklyplanforco-locatedteamsandBigRooms.

Building projects are complex intermsofsystemsthatworktogether,multiple companies that interact,and multiple budgets integrated inthe overall development budget.Manydecisionsmustbemadewhendeveloping and delivering a projectthat meets all of the Conditions ofSatisfaction. It isunlikelythatoneorafewindividualscanmakeallneces-sarydecisions.Volumeofissues,tech-nicalskills,inputneeded,codeknowl-edge,awarenessofoptions,andtheabilitytostudythemostappropriatesolution would overwhelm a smallteam.ALean/IPDprojectusesClusterGroups to better manage this ardu-ous task. Cluster Groups break upthatcomplexity intoanenvironmentofrapidprototypingofsolutionsandrapid learning through a distributedLeadership. The teams share cross-functional knowledge for problem

solving; together they understandtherippleeffectofdecisionsandcanthereforemakebetterinformeddeci-sionswith less iteration. TheClusterGroupscometogetherinaBigRoomenvironment to share and learnfrom other team members or clus-ters. Cluster Groups are most oftenused as part of Target Value Design(TVD). Through the use of A3 think-ing, Choosing by Advantages andset-based design, these clusters canimprove predictability while drivingValue to theCustomer.A singleper-sonorcompanyshouldnotdesignasolution alone, without representa-tion fromother project participants.ClusterGroupsarepowerfulbecausethey can get input frommanyotherperspectives – and thus benefit theproject.

Cluster Groups break down large con-straints, goals, and decisions into smaller components that enable project teams

ClusterGroup

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

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CLUSTERGROUPS | 3

ClusterGroupsareuniqueandspecific to individualprojectneeds.ClusterGroupsalsochangewiththeneedsoftheproject.Theyarenotallintendedtolasttheentiredurationofaprogrambutinsteadarecenteredaroundabodyofworktobedelivered.NotallprojectshaveClusterGroups.SmallprojectsmaybeaClusterGroupinandofthemselves.Theintentistobatchtheworkintomanageablepiecessotheworkcanprogresssmoothlyandreliably.Smallprojectsmaybeable tomanagethiseffortasoneclusteroverseeingallactivity.ThenumberofClusterGroupsrequiredforaprojectwilldependonaproject’s:• Scope/Size• Complexity/Constraints• ProjectRisks

2.0 What

ClusterGroup

Cluster Group Administrator

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

DisciplineRepresentative

Cluster Groups must be multi-disci-plinary.RegardlessofthetopicoftheClusterGroup,itwilltypicallybecom-prisedofanownerrep,anenduser,anarchitect/designer,aGC/CM,andaspecialtytradecontractor.Thesizeofthegroupshouldbemanageableyetstill compriseabroad representationofstakeholders.Teamswithhigh lev-elsoftrustallowonemembertorep-resent a multitude of stakeholders;thisarrangementhelpsreduceclustersize. Individual team members mustbe empowered to make decisions

onbehalfoftheircompany,scopeofwork,orareaofinfluence.Theymustalso understand their boundaries ofdecision-making to keep the teamsright-sized.EachClusterGroupshouldhaveanestimatororpersontoreporttotheoverallprojectbudget.

ClusterGroupLeader:LeaderofInnovation.Thisleaderdoesnotneedtobethepersonwiththemostexpertiseorseniority,butneedstobethepersonwhocanleadandchallengetheteamtoinnovate.

ClusterGroupAdministrator:Themanageroftheinnovationteam.Keepstheteamontaskandfocused.ReporterandFacilitatorattheprojectteamlevelforthisClusterGroup.

Cluster GroupLeader

Cluster Groups may need some internal organization to keep the team motivated and on task.

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CLUSTERGROUPS | 4

Clustersshouldbeformedaroundwhatevergroupingisappropriatetotheproj-ect.Examplesinclude:• Buildingsystem• Departmenttype• Discernablechunkofstructureorscope• SubjectmattersupportingtheConditionsofSatisfaction(environment,com-

munity,culture,etc.)

Theprojectteamcollaborativelyformsthegroups;thegroupsmustnotbedic-tatedbyasinglepersonorcompany.EachClusterGroupdefinestheobjectivesandcapturesinnovativeideasthatitwillbringtotheproject.Theytakeadeepdiveintothebodyofworktheyweredesignatedtoformaround.InaTVDstruc-ture,theywilloftenrespondtoaparticularbudgetgoalaswell.AllClusterGroupgoals,ideasandstrategiesneedtobeintegratedintotheProjectTeamPullPlan[referenceLastPlanner®System].Thiswillinsurethattheteammakesdecisionsattherighttime,andthattheeffectofthosedecisionsonotherClusterGroupsandprojectteamsisconsidered.It’sbestwhendecision-makingA3documentsdefinewholeadsthechargeofaparticulartopicandrecordsthedatethatthedecisionneedstobemade.TheA3documentationcanalsoinformtherestoftheprojectteamaboutwhattheindividualClusterGroupisworkingon.AllA3sshouldbeaccessibleandvisibletotheprojectteam.

3.0 How

Cluster Groupsmay find it appropri-atetoworkseparatelyfromthelargerteam for various efforts. Their focusof work could demand a location,technology, and intensity that hap-pens outside the Big Room setting.It is essential, however, that ClusterGroups interact regularly. This inten-tionalinteractionisthereasonfortheBig Room to exist. To facilitate thisinteractiontheteammayneedtousetechniquesandtoolssuchas:• BigRoomAgenda• Speed Pulling- purposeful sched-

uled time slots of interactionbetweenClusterGroups

ThePullPlaninformswhattheClusterGroupwillbeworkingon;theClusterGroup responds and informs thepull. But thegoal is topull theworkfromtheactivitiesordecisions tobemade,notmeetforthesakeofmeet-ing. Parkinson’s Law states: “Work

expandssoastofillthetimeavailablefor its completion.” That is not theintention of Cluster Groups. ClusterGroups are cross-functional teamsthat complete focused work basedon a deliverable established by pull.TheuseofRetrospectivethinkingandPlus/Delta canhelp inform thevalueoftheseworksessions.

The Cluster Group will evolve andevendisbandasaprojectprogresses.Group members may be added anddeletedasthedeliverableschange.Ifthere are no remaining deliverablesoutlined on the pull for the ClusterGroup, then the group may haveno further need to exist. As a proj-ect enters construction phases andissues arise needing the expertiseofmulti-disciplinary team members, aSwarmcantakeplaceatthesiteoftheworktodealwiththatsingularissue.

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