Do Collaborative Strategies Actually Work? A Report Card on the Engineering and Technical

1. Do Collaborative Strategies Actually Work? A Report Card on the Engineering and Technical Services Cluster Presentation to APEGGA Edmonton District April 15, 2003

2. Outline • The Greater Edmonton Competitiveness Strategy • The Engineering and Technical Services Cluster • Competitive Challenges Facing the Industry • Collaborative Actions • Accomplishments • Report Card • A Future Perspective • Questions

3. The Greater Edmonton Competiveness Strategy • Launched Spring 2000 • Business Plans presented in Town Hall Meeting January 2001 • 1200 People and 300 business and organizations involved • Largest initiative in the region costing over $1 million

4. Key Objectives Shape the next generation economy Build regional competitive advantage Attract investment and new business to the region

5. Strategy “Create an environment within industry clusters that drives both collaborative and constructive competition to encourage innovation, competitiveness and to attract and stimulate new business in the region.”

6. Industry Clusters “Concentrations of similar companies with related products and services their joint suppliers and supporting economic foundations.”

7. “Collaboration” (v. from the Latin: Related to WORK) To work together To cooperate with the enemy

8. Engineering and Technical Services Cluster…Highlights • One of the 8 key drivers of growth in the region • Consists of • 50% Engineering and Technical Services • 50% Construction Services • Employs 68,000

9. Engineering and Technical Services Cluster…Highlights • Growing at 3.4% annually – 1% faster than the North American average • We’ve developed specialized skills in Oil and Gas, Tarsands and Heavy Industry • Lagging behind several North American centres including Calgary

10. Engineering & Technical Services Cluster Competitive Challenges Facing the Industry • Critical skills shortages (Technical, Professional and trades) • The effects of seasonal and economic cycles on the industry • Not attracting sufficient young people into the industry • Limited marketing of industry services and strengths

11. Engineering & Technical Services Cluster Competitive Challenges Facing the Industry • Fragmented Industry • Lack Head Office decision makers in Edmonton • Need for alternate forms of project financing • Cross border registration is a barrier to business in US

12. Engineering & Technical Services Cluster 3 Key Action Initiatives Increasing the availability and skills of our technical, professional and trades workforce Mitigating the effects of seasonal and economic cycles on the industry Collaboratively marketing the unique skills and expertise of the cluster globally

13. Accomplishments… • Commissioned a study on exporting engineering services to USA and Mexico (Alberta Export Engineering Study – April 2001) including: • Licensing • Export potential • Training requirements • Commissioned a study of private and institutional training programs available to the cluster (Learning Map Project – June 2001) • Interactive website set up of available training inventory

14. Accomplishments… • Several training initiatives offered through the Human Resources Flagship Cluster • Seminars/Webinar series (SkillsInvest) • Topics include Leadership, Best Practices in Recruiting, Retention and Performance Management • www.skillsinvest.extension.ualberta.ca

15. Accomplishments… • US licensing of Regional Canadian Engineers • Help overcome the barrier of exporting engineering services to the US • Agreement made with the Montana State Board to hold exams in Edmonton • Fundamentals of Engineering “FE” exams held twice a year in April and October

16. Accomplishments… • US licensing of Regional Canadian Engineers • 18 people wrote and passed first exam in October • 43 people are registered to write on Saturday • Lecture was included as part of the ENG 400 Class for fourth year students at the University of Alberta • Al Schuld and Neil Windsor of APEGGA are being certified to preside over the exams in Edmonton

17. Accomplishments… • US licensing was a collaborative effort of several people including: • Robb McColl – EDE • Gerry Devine - Stantec • Raj Rajan – Alberta Research Council • Ken Porteous – University of Alberta • Al Schuld - APEGGA • Neil Windsor - APEGGA

18. Accomplishments… • To mitigate the effects of Edmonton’s short construction cycle • To promote and expand the use of cold weather construction techniques and technologies • To share best practices in the field • To meet and network with peers…

19. Accomplishments… The International Winter Construction Symposium and Expo 2002 • First time world class event held in Edmonton on November 3 – 5, 2002 • Symposium where educators and industry experts presented papers on the latest design and construction techniques and technologies in use in cold weather regions around the world • Industry Expo where companies showcased equipment, products and services for cold weather construction • 400 delegates and exhibitors

20. Accomplishments… The International Winter Construction Symposium and Expo 2002 • Challenge identified in an industry cluster working group • Solution started with one or two people’s involvement • Finished with collaborative effort of many steering committee members, sponsors and participants: Co-Chairs • Gino Ferri, Read Jones Christoffersen • Charles Lendzion, Construction Research Institute of Canada • Wayne Mallet, Voice Construction Ltd. EDE • Robb McColl – EDE

21. Accomplishments…

22. Accomplishments… International Winter Construction Symposium and Expo May 16-19, 2004 Edmonton, Alberta • Partnership with: • IWCSE International Winter Construction Symposium & Expo • CSCE Canadian Society of Civil Engineers • ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers • Co-Chairs • Dr. Dan Smith – University of Alberta Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Gino Ferri – Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.

23. Report Card… Grade A • Energy of a few people • Support by EDE representative (Rob McColl) • Support and participation of organizations like APEGGA • Achieving overall objectives of the competitiveness strategy • Achieving objectives of the cluster strategy • Achieving cluster action initiatives A A B B B

24. Report Card… Grade C • Pace of project completion • General Cluster Participation (people, companies, organizations) • Future plan to sustain cluster • Seed funding for future projects • Fulltime resource dedicated to cluster project coordination D F F F

25. Report Card… Overall Grade PASS! More Effort Needed to Graduate

26. Engineering & Technical Services Cluster A Future Perspective… Continue our formula for success… “Small Solutions Not Grand Illusions”

27. Engineering & Technical Services Cluster A Future Perspective… • Hold a general cluster strategy session in 2003 to: • Reestablish the key challenges facing our industry • Reaffirm or expand our collaborative action initiatives • Encourage broader participation from the industry cluster • Figure out how to sustain the cluster group and accelerate its accomplishments

28. Why Get Involved? • Increased business opportunities regionally, nationally and internationally • Wider opportunities for partnerships and strategic alliances • Network with industry colleagues • Increase your industry knowledge and knowledge of best practices • Contribute to your industry and community • Personal leadership opportunity

29. How To Get Involved… Contact any of us:

30. Thank You! Would welcome your questions and observations