SMITH/Associates is a consulting firm that provides services such as communication strategies, event management, staffing solutions, tailored consulting, facilitation and mediation, and prescriptive partnering. They help clients improve communication, avoid conflict, and work better together through services like meeting facilitation, partnership development, and conflict resolution. Their goal is to establish long-term, positive working relationships and reduce costs and timelines on projects.

1. How to Avoid Conflict and Improve Communication
Presented by
SMITH/Associates
www.SmithCollaboration.com
210.270.7761 office

2. About SMITH/Associates
 SMITH/Associates is a quality leader in consultative
services for the U.S. military, federal government, and
private companies worldwide.
 Small, Woman-owned company
LC1
 Local-HQ in San Antonio
Our flexibility and adaptability allow us to efficiently and
effectively tailor our consulting services to meet your
needs…just let us know how we can help.

3. SMITH Service Offerings:
 Communication Strategies
 Strategic Communication
 Risk Communication
 Public Outreach/Involvement
 Community Meetings
 Social Media
 Event Management
 Conferences
 Summits
 Board Meetings
 Vendor Management and Contract Negotiation
 Staffing Solutions & Recruiting
 Continuity Planning
 Managed subcontract staffing
 Confidential direct recruitment
 Contract-to-hire placement
We help people work better, together

4. SMITH Service Offerings:
 Tailored Consulting Services
 Organizational Development
 Process Improvement
 Business Analysis
 Facilitation & Mediation
 Meeting Facilitation
 Project Facilitation
 Conflict Resolution
 Prescriptive Partnering™
 Teambuilding
 Partnership Development
We help people work better, together

5. Issues? Challenges?
 What roadblocks have you encountered on projects?
 Internal?
 External?

6. Facilitation and Partnering
 SMITH/Associates Experience with Partnering
 Construction Partnering
 Design-Build
 Design-Bid-Build
 CM At Risk
 DoD Partnering
 Environmental Partnering
 Public Project Partnering
 Mediation

7. Success Stories
 Deer Creek Elementary
 Defense Logistics Agency
 Wright Patterson AFB
 Kelly AFB RAB
 City of San Antonio

8. Why Partnerships are Important?
 To establish Long-Term, Positive Working Relationships
 To reduce the amount of time it takes to get something
done
 To help organize work
 To reduce the amount of money that it will cost to get
something done
Scope
Resources Schedule

9. Why Partnering is Important?
 ROI
 Litigation Prevention
 Documentation of Decisions
 Documentation and prompting on Action Items
 Unified Approach

10. Litigation Prevention / Risk Mitigation
 Quick Resolution of claims expedited payment
 Resolution of issues
 Cost-Benefit Analysis

11. Partnering Lifecycle
 Partnering is not a one-time event
Leadership
Buy-In
Kick-off
Close Out
Meeting
Project
Duration
Issue Regular
Resolution Check In
Sessions Sessions

12. Partnering Lifecycle Continued…
 Partnering is not:
 A fix for all project problems
 Accomplished in one meeting
 Easy
 A process that changes an
institution or cultural
approach overnight
 Easily applied once a situation
has escalated

13. Benefits
 Tangible
 Reduced Costs
 Expedited Schedule
 Safer Project
 Improved project quality
 Increased customer satisfaction
 Reduction in man hours and paperwork

14. Benefits
 Intangible (but impactful)
 Improved relationships
 Development of trust
 Job satisfaction
 Improved Public Relations
 Future opportunities
 Enhanced business reputations

15. Use of Third Party
 Our area of expertise
 Focus on meeting direction,
documentation, actions
 Neutral
 Reduced Risk
 Ability to identify and engage
the right people
 Understanding of process and
relationships

16. Communication
 Facilitate Relationships & Communication
 Internal communication
 Within organizations & private businesses
 Identifying key decision makers
 Timely communication
 Prevent derailment of scope/schedule/budget

17. Communication
 External communication
 Community Meetings
 Engaged Participants
 Aware Public
 On Schedule/Scope/Budget
 Managing community
expectations, awareness,
knowledge

18. Communication
 External communication
 Social Media - real time
communication with your
constituents

20. Contact Us:
Laura Christ
210.270.7748 office
LauraC@SmithCollaboration.com
Heather Ramón-Ayala
210.833.9977 mobile
HeatherRA@SmithCollaboration.com
www.SmithCollaboration.com