There are roughly a billion things that can go wrong on a construction project, and the bigger and more complex the project, the closer that exaggerated estimate comes to reality. But for every problem there's a solution, and according to Per Roger Johansen, experienced project director and TaskCtrl co-founder, systematic completion is the construction industry's answer.
Do A before B
On paper, systematic completion is fairly simple: always knowing where you're headed, and continuously making sure you're doing what's needed to get there. By implementing structured processes and methods throughout the construction process, a project can meet all its time, cost and functional requirements. In short: A needs to be done properly before you move on to B.
An industry playing catch-up
In practice, it's more complicated. The industry has historically lagged behind on digitalisation, and has lacked proper support systems to simplify its processes. This has often meant construction projects running over time and budget because functional requirements weren't met at planned handover, resulting in lower productivity growth than other parts of the Norwegian economy.
Generous with his expertise
Per Roger has broad experience from the construction industry, as a tradesman, advisor and project manager. Over the years he has freely shared his experience, putting the competence and methodology he believes the industry needs on the agenda. Systematic completion is the topic he cares about most.
In 2015 he co-wrote the "Guide to Systematic Completion" together with Tor I. Hoel. That extensive research project, combined with the successful construction of the faculty building at the Bergen Academy of Art and Design, where Per Roger was project manager, made it clear that the industry lacked a proper system to support systematic completion. That insight is what led the two of them, together with Patrick Hjerpseth, to build TaskCtrl.
A structured process becomes a successful project
Today Per Roger works as a project director at Statsbygg, leading construction of Norway's largest university building: the Life Sciences Building at the University of Oslo. On this large-scale project, a strategy and action plan for systematic completion has been established, with clear requirements for what contractors, advisors and operations organisations must deliver to ensure the building works as intended at handover.
"We've found that our industry has a lot to gain from LEAN methodology. By breaking the design process into separate deliverables, it becomes easier to see which deliverables are critical, which are completed, and, not least, which are running late. The more visibility everyone on the project gets, and the more open dialogue you can enable between the parties, the better your starting point for success."
Per Roger Johansen, Project Director, StatsbyggClear requirements for everyone involved, combined with collaboration and complementary expertise across the team, is what makes the complexity of large construction projects manageable. Breaking projects into separate deliverables makes it possible to identify critical elements, track progress accurately, and manage resources and deadlines more effectively, reducing the risk of delays.
Time to close the gap
Behind Per Roger's long career in the sector is a genuine wish to improve the industry. He firmly believes that systematic completion, together with LEAN, is what's needed to close the productivity gap between construction and other industries. Most recently, he has published a new guide related to systematic completion: the Function Maturity Index (FMI).
Frequently asked questions
What does systematic commissioning mean in practice?
In short: A must be done properly before B begins. Structured processes throughout construction ensure the project meets its time, cost and functional requirements.
Who is Per Roger Johansen?
Per Roger Johansen co-authored the 2015 guideline on systematic commissioning and the FMI guideline, and is one of the co-founders of TaskCtrl.
How do LEAN and systematic commissioning fit together?
Both are about breaking the project into clear deliverables and making status visible to everyone. That makes it easier to see what is critical, what is done and what is delayed.
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Systematic completion made simple
Done right, systematic completion is a comprehensive process that takes both time and mental effort. TaskCtrl has a dedicated module that structures the requirements, gives you visibility into all planned tests and the dependencies between them, a visual test hierarchy, and ongoing visibility into deviations, both during document preparation and during the tests themselves.