Deconstrategy

Greetings! My name is Ben Dupslaff, and I’m the author of Deconstrategy. My mission is to equip design and construction executives with practical frameworks that simplify and transform business operations in our industry.

I currently lead the design and construction quality programs at Ryan Companies. I’ve worked as a mechanical engineer, commissioning agent, construction project manager, and business leader for multiple markets including data centers, sports, museums, office/retail and industrial. I bring my blended experience to this newsletter.

Publishing Schedule

Deconstrategy is a monthly newsletter publishing long-form business articles and leadership interviews on the first day of each month. The full collection of articles is below.

My ideas and articles on Deconstrategy represent my own thoughts and do not reflect the opinions or perspectives of my current or past employers, coworkers, or organizations I’m affiliated with.

The DFOW Flywheel

• On Definable Features of Work

• Understanding the DFOW Flywheel

Leadership Tactics

1. Tony Pellegrino: Senior Field Leader

2. Mike Rodriguez: Design Firm President

3. Lori Chandler: The Construction-Minded Design Leader

Business Strategies

• The Right People Don’t Need Incentives

• The "Working With Me" Exercise, Processes, and Excellence

• On Conviction, Technology, and Critical Thinking

• Tangible Benefits and the Uniqueness Trap

• Strategy, Focus, and Automation

• Documentation First Drafts and Planning the Work

• Meeting Ratios and Managing for Quality

• Decentralization, Being the Collaborator, and Changing Our Default

• Sealing Ductwork, Business Acumen, and Architect Responsibility for Details

• Slowing Down, Long-Term Thinking, and Removing Defensive Processes

• Focus, MEP, and Lessons Learned

• Rephrasing and Simplifying Quality

• Improving Meeting Strategies and ChatGPT's Thoughts on Why Quality Programs Exist

• 4,000 Weeks and the Empire State Building

Creating a Quality Program

1. Introduction: How to Build a Compelling Business Case for Quality

2. Integrate Quality and Business Strategy

3. Secure Executive Buy-In

4. Gather Feedback Across Your Organization

5. Establish the Business Case Actions

6. Identify Success Metrics and Reporting Needs

7. Present the Business Case

8. 5 Elements for Successful Implementation

Book Notes

• The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, by Atul Gawande

• Out of the Crisis, by Edwards Deming (Chapters 1 through 3)

• Out of the Crisis, by Edwards Deming (Chapters 4 through 6)

• Juran’s Quality Handbook, 5th Edition (Section 7: Quality and Income)

• The Definitive Drucker

  • Part 1: Strategic Focus

  • Part 2: Strategic Thinking, Focus on the Client, Redefining Roles and Expectations, and Business Philosophy