JUNE 201919 3D SurveysUnleashing the Potential of 3D DataAs a technology executive in the Engineering/Construction industry, I live in two worlds challenged by a lack of diversity and inclusion. There are many parallels in not only the industries, but in the way, we can apply solutions for these issues in Engineering/Construction.Those of us in the technology world routinely argue that investing more in technology will create higher profits and more nimble organizations. Collaboration will be improved, people can work on projects regardless of their location, and we can get the best solutions for our clients if we leverage technology and invest more in it. The E/C industry spends less on technology than most other industries, including other professional services firms, and is at the bottom of the overall professional services segment for both spending on technology and profits. I think these two are related, and there are several studies that show that is true in other industries.The same is true for Diversity and Inclusion. As an industry, we do not invest as much as we should (either financially or with leadership time), and we suffer from low profits, low employee engagement, and collaboration is challenged. We have "group-think". Look around the next meeting you attend in your firm. Diverse or homogenous? What about the invisible characteristics that make people have different perspectives? What schools did people attend? What part of town do they call home? What do they do on the weekend? Do they attend a church, mosque, synagogue, or temple? Do they have kids, and if so, what ages? What about pets? Are they married? Have a partner? Single? Widowed? Divorced?You may be asking why any of these matters. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) defines diversity as "the collective mixture of differences and similarities that includes for example, individual and organizational characteristics, values, beliefs, experiences, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CAN DRIVE BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENTBY LINDA K. LANNEN, CIO & SR. VP, KLEINFELDERNSIGHTSCIO
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