Next Generation Quantity Surveying - The Morden Way
Morden’s team of Quantity Surveyors, while based in Petone, Wellington, do operate in other regions of New Zealand.
The traditional method of QS, based heavily on scale rulers and drawings, has gradually given way to more modern approaches.
Computer-aided methods and specific measuring tools like Cost X have revolutionised the speed and efficiency of performing QS tasks.
These software solutions are certainly familiar to the next generation of Morden’s quantity surveyors; Tessa and Victoria.
But what if the power or internet were to go down? Without their computers, can the younger generation of quantity surveyors still perform the necessary tasks for the role?
You’ll be pleased to know the answer to that question is a firm YES. Tessa and Victoria’s extensive training has also covered traditional methods of quantity surveying.
Tessa McFarlane, Quantity Surveyor
Tessa, while in her 20s, has already spent a number of years working in the QS field, contributing her experience to an impressive and diverse array of projects valued at between $300k to $50m.
The Morden Way
According to Phil Hebden, Morden’s Commercial Director: “Quantity surveyors used to have to be the police, accountants, the watchdogs basically and now the role of QS is moving much more towards being proactive rather than reactive. There is a need to look ahead to understand what’s happening in the future and factor this in, as opposed to waiting for it to unfold first.”
The Morden QS team are highly involved with their communication with clients. Not relying solely on drawings, they will go and physically look at a site and make their own observations and risk analyses, and ensure all project stakeholders are kept informed.
Their strong relationships with subcontractors and main contractors also ensures that their pricing is consistent and reflective of current market pricing and conditions. Included within the Morden team are experienced builders and construction programmers whose knowledge enhances their cost estimates and value engineering capabilities.
Morden also helps with many EOT claims, especially in disputes, and will forensically look at the construction programme and demonstrate how a delay has impacted the programme. It becomes incredibly clearcut and transparent as to how the contract has been delayed. This is another point of difference and why Morden typically gets great results when involved in disputes.
“Clients know that with Morden they are getting the most up to date skills and plenty of energy, combined with a solid foundation of years of experience and knowledge, true to “the Morden way”,” states Phil Hebden, Morden’s Commercial Manager.
Victoria explains Morden’s approach to QS work, in relation to disputes; “I really enjoy where Morden sits in terms of the services we provide and the QS dispute work - which I find incredibly rewarding because there is a purpose behind what we do. Identifying where a project has cost implications and working with the client to ensure fairness for both parties.
What does the next generation QS bring to Team Morden?
Morden holds their next generation QS in high regard. With great levels of energy and a keen eagerness to learn new things, they are a real asset to the team. They have fresh opinions and are highly likely to come up with a new way of doing something. As a result, problem solving within the team can be much more dynamic.
The next generation QS, as mentioned briefly above, brings an understanding of new software programmes such as Cost X. This software is beneficial as it allows for quicker and more precise calculations. The functions of Cost X also allow for clear transparency of quantities and rate build ups which enhances communication between the client and stakeholders and aids in understanding how the estimate is derived as well as allows the team to explore different cost saving measures if required. The application of Cost X combined with tried-and-true traditional methods of measurement allows the Morden Team to provide well informed and reliable cost assessments for construction projects.
With Phil’s 30+ years of experience, the younger team members different perspectives, it makes for a powerful QS team. Morden’s clients can attest to this, often choosing them as a preferred QS contractor, instead of navigating the complexities of managing their own in-house QS team.
Victoria Lum, Trainee QS
What’s it like to be part of Morden’s QS team?
The next generation’s perspective
Morden’s next generation of quantity surveyors, Victoria and Tessa, are grateful for the opportunity of working on such a wide range of projects (something they wouldn’t gain from many other firms) and equally appreciative to gain so much extra learning from Phil. They give the example of the QS team getting together for “weekly workshops” where Phil poses tasks or challenges he’s recently come across for the next generation to problem-solve and learn from these experiences.
Victoria sums up the workplace culture, “They want us to be a success, just like they want the company to be a success. You can tell that Dave and Phil do everything they can to ensure that we are happy, thriving and learning in our jobs. They really invest in us – and for the long-term so we want to stay.”
“There’s nothing pretentious about Morden. Everyone is approachable, they’re real team players and we fight equally hard for smaller disputes as we would for the larger, more problematic ones. All our clients are important to us.”
Tessa adds, “It’s a very positive and energetic culture. The team here are so passionate and enthusiastic about work, their enthusiasm is contagious and it makes you feel the same.”
The Commercial Director’s view
Phil explains, “We have different skills. For example, when you consider that Tessa is from the PQS (Professional Quantity Surveyor) background, rather than from a contractors background, she provides greater insight into that side of the operation and understands the issues that mostly affect clients from the principal’'s point of view. Victoria brings all the latest and greatest things that have been taught in Weltec which are not necessarily things that an older QS would have learned.”
“I enjoy growing and developing Morden’s next generation of quantity surveyors. In terms of the work, I really enjoy reviewing and understanding contractual obligations and liabilities. The risk management that goes along with that and the negotiation to reach common ground between the parties is very rewarding and bringing a meditation to a satisfactory close so that the parties are both satisfied that they have a result and both feel they have won. This is incredibly challenging but equally rewarding.“
Are you looking for Quantity Surveyors you can rely on? Call Morden today on 04 210 0340 or email info@morden.co.nz with some background information on your project to get the ball rolling. Let’s work together.
