I wish to respond to the letter "Mapping uncharted territories" (3 February).

If one is to wait for learned institutions and other professional bodies to issue a process map for design integration, I think it will be an extremely long time. A successful project team will take the initiative to design its own processes and I have been involved with this approach for a number of years. It takes a lot of effort and planning at the front end, and a lot of expertise to keep it on track. However, the outcome is a positive and enjoyable experience for all concerned.

It takes a shift in mindset and a willingness to take an alternative approach but once you are through that pain barrier, you can't think why you haven't always done it that way.

As one of my team associates once joked:

"The business strategy for some construction companies seems to be that if you're not part of the solution, there's money to be made in prolonging the problem."

I urge clients and other professionals to try something a little different next time.

Ken Gray, principal, Performance Building Partnership

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