Lean Research Spotlighted in ENR’s Law & Risk Management Issue
The Lean Construction Institute (LCI) supported research that was recently included in Engineering News-Record (ENR), the most widely-read publication in the design and construction industry.
In ENR’s Law & Risk Management special section, leading legal experts weighed in on current industry challenges, from tariff uncertainty and rising claims to the growing misuse of contract terms as leverage instead of collaboration tools.
Amid these concerns, ENR highlighted a different approach to reducing project risk: Lean project delivery.
LCI’s CEO Brian Perlberg shared key findings: “LCI-supported research shows that collaborative, integrated contracts drive significantly better outcomes. Projects with higher ‘Lean intensity’ are three times more likely to finish ahead of schedule and twice as likely to come in under budget. Lean intensity equals success intensity — better quality, fewer delays, reduced cost overruns. While most successful projects use CM At-Risk, IPD accounted for 20 percent of top performers with even higher success rates. Despite proven benefits, slow IPD adoption is limiting industry performance. Change is essential for better results.”
Perlberg echoed this message on LinkedIn: “the biggest risk in #construction is doing nothing. Get started on your #lean journey and cut through the noise—organize your business to build strategically rather than chase thousands of tactics.”
LCI’s research reinforces what many project teams already know: collaboration, integration, and Lean-driven planning improve quality, reduce disputes, and strengthen financial performance. As legal friction and claims escalate across the industry, Lean offers a proactive and collaborative path forward, one focused on shared success rather than contract battles.
Want to financially support research that elevates construction outcomes? Contact Shannyn Heyer to make a tax deductible donation.