Print this page Charrettes for High Performance Projects
Lee Layton, P.E.
Course Outline
Chapter one of this course is an overview of what a Charrette is and how to host an event. Chapter two discusses how to get started including what type of meeting event to have, developing the intent of the meeting and forming a steering committee. Chapter three covers detailed planning of the event, including developing an agenda, confirming key players and working out the logistics. Chapter four discusses what to do the day before a charrette and items to address on the day of the event. Chapter five reviews some of the key activities that should occur after the conclusion of the charrette.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
After taking this course you should:
- Know the meaning of a charrette;
- Understand how a charrette helps develop a high-performance project
- Know how a charrette improves communications;
- Know the difference between a workshop and a charrette;
- Know the purpose of a steering committee;
- Know how to hold a kickoff meeting;
- Understand the benefits of a motivational speaker;
- Understand how VIPs can help (and hinder) the process; and
- Understand the specific, detailed steps, to conduct a charrette.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for anyone who must conduct a meeting and wants high performance results.
Benefit to Attendees
Anyone who has been in industry for any length of time as probably spent way too much time in excruciatingly boring, mind-numbing, and un-productive meetings. The purpose of this course is to give you step-by-step guidelines on how to conduct a high performance meeting that will yield extraordinary results.
Course Introduction
A charrette is an intensive workshop in which various stakeholders and experts are brought together to address a particular issue. Charrettes are ideally suited for large scale complex projects that involve multi-disciplines, regulatory issues, and the involvement of elected officials. However, the process can be used for just about any meeting event. The charrette should result in good communication among project team members and help them develop unified goals.
The purpose of this course is to furnish guidance for planning and conducting a high-performance charrette. The course answers typical questions such as “What is a charrette?” “Why conduct a charrette?” “What topics should we cover?” “Whom should we invite?” and “What happens after the charrette?”
The course presents detailed information for every step of the charrette process, from initial planning, to conducting and facilitating the charrette, to follow-up. It gives recommendations for planning and logistics. It suggests the types of participants to invite, including technical, political, and community representatives, and how best to include key decision makers and stakeholders who can attend only portions of the event. It gives suggestions for the types of expert speakers who can motivate participants and answer their questions. It outlines the characteristics of good facilitators and offers advice for forming effective breakout groups.
This course is literally a step-by-step “how-to” plan to organize and conduct a charrette. And the first step is to understand what a charrette is. Chapter one answers this, and other questions.
Course Content
This course content is in the following PDF document:
Charrettes for High Performance Projects
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Course Summary
Critical to the success of a high performance project is proper planning. A charrette is a formalized meeting process to help ensure the right team is in place and understands the project so that exceptional results will be achieved.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
