S2 E6: Shin Kickers and Staircase Scaling - Transforming Mega Projects with Neill Pawsey

In this conversation, Neill Pawsey of Cohesive (a Bentley company) discusses the challenges and opportunities to use digital tools in capital mega-projects. Packed with amazing metaphors, Neill emphasises the need to start with the end in mind. Digital tools create transparency but with that are impacts on behaviours and ways of working. Onto the soapbox, Neill and Helen discuss that managing change is hard but the people aspects are the most important to get right. Using examples from Crossrail (HS2), Highways and the Energy sector, Neill talks about dealing with "shin kickers", how to fail fast in a safety critical, thin margin world, scaling using the staircase method and how to collaborate with the whole supply chain on digital. And Neill and Helen remind us to think big but act small and avoid giving your organisation "indigestion". 00:00 Introduction to Digital Transformation in Capital Projects 06:03 The Importance of Transparency and Coordination 11:07 Learning from Field Engineers 16:44 Cultural Attitudes Towards Failure 25:26 Navigating the Data Journey 30:33 Owner-Driven Technology Adoption 36:35 Behavioral Insights in Project Management 42:44Silo Mentality and Organizational Behavior