Concepts
The Obeya or “Big Room” practice is a concept taken from Lean Construction and integrated into project management. It is a physical space where project teams collaborate to streamline communication, promote transparency, improve decision-making processes, and enhance overall project efficiency. This approach has been recognized and introduced within the Project Management Institute’s Construction Professional (PMI-CP) exam, signifying its importance in contemporary project management methodologies.
The Concept of Obeya or Big Room
Obeya, a Japanese word for a “large room” or “war room”, is a Lean management tool designating a space where related information is displayed, and where individuals from different disciplines and departments gather to discuss, plan, monitor, and control project-related tasks. The central idea is promoting visual management and real-time communication to improve team interaction and effectiveness.
Applying Obeya in Construction
The application of the Obeya practice aligns perfectly with the goals of Lean Construction, aimed at minimizing waste and maximizing value on projects. The Obeya room aids in fostering a collaborative environment where everyone can see the bigger picture and understand their roles within it.
Communication & Collaboration
In a traditional silo-based project management model, information flow is often disruptive, and team collaboration becomes challenging. Obeya provides a platform where cross-functional teams can physically co-locate, which improves communication and promotes teamwork.
Visual Management
Using Obeya, all relevant project information (like plans, schedules, risks, and issues) is visually displayed on walls. This “visual management” helps everyone understand project status at a glance and helps teams identify potential issues and resolve them proactively.
Decision-Making & Problem Solving
The Obeya approach not only facilitates the information flow but also enhances decision-making and problem-solving processes. By having everyone in the same room, decisions can be made quicker, as you bypass the typical hierarchical command.
Enhancing Program Activities with Obeya
The application of the Obeya concept can offer numerous benefits for construction projects. By utilizing Obeya, you can achieve:
- Improved Scope Understanding: Having a shared understanding of the project scope, goals and objectives.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Teams can work together more closely and collaboratively, fostering trust, understanding, and cooperation.
- Rapid Decision Making: By encouraging real-time problem-solving and quicker, more informed decision-making to address project issues.
- Reduction in Waste: Reducing rework, waiting time, information requests, and various other types of waste in a project leading to overall time and cost savings.
Case in Point
One good example of Obeya application is the Terminal 5 construction project at London’s Heathrow Airport where the team adopted a co-location strategy by bringing some 600 staff from 45 organizations into the same building. This Big Room enabled everyone to understand the project’s progress and constraints at a glance. Using visual displays depicting scheduling, lead measures, and performance tracking, the team experienced enhanced communication, improved problem-solving abilities, and significantly increased project efficiency.
In conclusion, Obeya is a powerful project management tool that can enhance program activities. By bringing all stakeholders into a single physical space, fostering real-time communication and collaboration, and enabling visual management, Obeya can significantly improve construction project outcomes and steer them toward success. It isn’t surprising why it’s now a core part of the PMI-CP exam curriculum. By mastering techniques like Obeya, construction professionals can add greater value to their projects and their teams.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: Obeya or Big Room is a cultural approach that assists in the comparison of multiple projects at a time.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Obeya or Big Room is not a cultural approach but a physical or virtual space where teams involved in the project come together to collaborate and enhance communication, not to compare different projects.
The primary goal of utilizing an Obeya or Big Room is to:
- A) Reduce costs
- B) Enhance program activities
- C) Intimidate project participants
- D) Distract from the project’s main goals
Answer: B) Enhance program activities
Explanation: The main objective of using an Obeya or Big Room is to enhance program activities by improving transparency, collaboration and communication among the project participants.
Multiple Select: What are the primary benefits of using Obeya/Big Room in project management?
- A) Increased creativity
- B) Improved communication
- C) Enhanced rivalry among team members
- D) Real-time decision making
Answer: A, B, and D
Explanation: Using Obeya/Big Room can lead to increased creativity, improved communication, and real-time decision making. It encourages collaboration, not rivalry among team members.
True or False: Obeya/Big Room technique can only be utilized in large construction firms.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Obeya/Big Room can be utilized in any organization or project, large or small, to enhance program activities by improving communication and collaboration.
Which project management process can Obeya/Big Room not improve?
- A) Monitoring and Control
- B) Initiation
- C) Closing
- D) None of the above
Answer: D) None of the above
Explanation: Obeya/Big Room can enhance all project management processes including initiation, planning, execution, monitor & control, and closing through improved collaboration and communication.
True or False: Obeya/Big Room is an approach that encourages the segregation of team members to ensure a quiet work environment.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Obeya/Big Room encourages collaboration and communication among team members, rather than their segregation.
Which of the following misconceptions about Obeya/Big Room is correct?
- A) Obeya/Big Room only applies to agile projects
- B) Obeya/Big Room is a waste of time
- C) Obeya/Big Room cannot be utilized in a virtual environment
- D) All of the above are misconceptions
Answer: D) All of the above are misconceptions
Explanation: Obeya/Big Room can be used with any project methodology, not just agile, it indispensably enhances program activities and can be utilized in both physical and virtual environments.
Multiple Select: Obeya/Big Room contributes to the ___
- A) Project planning
- B) Execution
- C) Risk Management
- D) Stakeholder Management
Answer: A, B, C and D
Explanation: Obeya/Big Room is a collaborative approach that enhances all aspects of project management including planning, execution, risk management, and stakeholder management.
True or False: The Obeya/Big Room concept was first introduced by Toyota in the 90s.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The Obeya or “Big Room” concept was first introduced by Toyota as a part of their Lean Manufacturing System.
The use of Obeya/Big Room is best suited for:
- A) Complex projects with several team members
- B) Projects managed by one person
- C) Short-term projects
- D) Projects without clear goals
Answer: A) Complex projects with several team members
Explanation: The Obeya/Big Room technique works best where multiple team members need to communicate and collaborate effectively such as in complex projects.
True or False: A well-organized Obeya will contain project information that hasn’t been updated in a long time.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: A well-organized Obeya should contain the most recent and updated project information. It is a live document, constantly revised and updated.
Obeya/Big Room significantly contributes to:
- A) Delaying the project
- B) Miscommunication among team members
- C) Creating a culture of blame
- D) A collective understanding of the project
Answer: D) A collective understanding of the project
Explanation: Obeya/Big Room can significantly enhance a team’s collective understanding of a project by improving transparency and collaboration.
Great post on using Obeya/Big Room for enhancing program activities for PMI-CP! Really helps to understand the benefits.
Thanks for the insights. I’ve always wondered how Obeya applies to construction projects.
Can anyone share their experience implementing Obeya in large-scale construction projects?
Appreciate the detailed explanation on Obeya. Will definitely try to incorporate this in our next project.
Obeya has been a game changer for our construction projects. Great article!
Does anyone have tips on setting up an Obeya room specifically tailored for PMI-CP guidelines?
Great insights! This approach can definitely streamline our coordination meetings.
Just started using Obeya in our project management office. Already seeing better alignment and faster decision making.