Overview
Gather’s Worklog section in Shift Records is here to help you track every shift activity accurately—from location and discipline to start and end times. However, to truly get the value from Worklog, it’s essential to use objective units of measure like meters, cubic meters, tons, or pieces.
Relying on subjective measurements like hours, shifts, or percentages can lead to issues with tracking progress, productivity, and contractual alignment. Here’s why objective measurements matter, the risks of not using them, and the benefits of using them.
The Problem with Subjective Measures
Using vague measurements such as time (e.g., hours or shifts) or percent complete can make it challenging to evaluate actual progress. Here’s how these measurements fall short:
Lack of Cumulative Measurement
Saying “4 hours of work completed” doesn’t indicate what was achieved during that time. For instance, “10 meters of trenching completed” is far more useful because it shows measurable progress that adds up shift by shift. Cumulative tracking becomes impossible with subjective data, leading to gaps in understanding project completion.
Challenges with Benchmarking
Without objective units, comparing productivity becomes inconsistent. Subjective measurements don’t allow benchmarking against past projects or setting realistic expectations for future projects. By contrast, using units like linear meters (e.g., meters of piping installed) or square meters (e.g., area painted) provides a concrete foundation for meaningful benchmarks.
Difficulty Aligning with Your Contract
Contracts typically specify deliverables in measurable terms. Using vague measures risks creating discrepancies between the work done and the project’s payment terms. Units such as tons of steel installed, cubic meters of concrete poured, or number of fixtures installed align your documentation with contractual requirements, reducing potential issues with progress claims or payment applications.
Limited Insight for Informed Decision-Making
Data in concrete units provides the foundation for making better decisions, allowing you to see exactly what’s complete and forecast what’s next. This clarity enables proactive planning around delays or bottlenecks, ensuring better resource management and timeline adjustments. Subjective measures simply don’t offer this level of insight.
Benefits of Using Objective Units in Worklog
Using objective measures such as meters, cubic meters, tons, or units brings a range of advantages to your Shift Records and project tracking:
Accurate Cumulative Measurement – Track cumulative completion easily and accurately with units like:
Meters of cable laid
Cubic meters of earth excavated
Square meters of flooring installed This makes it easy to see what’s completed at any point, aiding in clear forecasting and planning.
Reliable Benchmarking Data – Consistent, objective units allow for benchmarking on productivity and efficiency across projects. Examples include:
Tons of steel installed per day
Linear meters of trench dug per shift These benchmarks help measure performance, spot inefficiencies, and inform improvement on future projects.
Alignment with Contract Requirements – Objective units ensure clear alignment with contract terms, simplifying payment and reporting. Common examples include:
Cubic meters of concrete poured
Number of items installed
Meters of piping completed Using these units ties recorded work directly to contractual goals, making it easy to substantiate applications for payment and project claims.
Informed Decision-Making – With detailed, objective data, you can analyse trends, anticipate resource needs, and identify productivity bottlenecks. For example:
If trench meters dug per shift consistently fall short, you can allocate additional resources or adjust schedules.
If cubic meters of backfill completed daily exceed projections, you might reallocate to other tasks to stay on track. This level of clarity allows for proactive, informed adjustments that enhance overall project performance.
Setting Up Objective Measures in Gather
To get started with objective units in Worklog, consider the following:
Sync with Project Estimates – Use units that reflect your project’s initial estimates for consistent data.
Align with Contract Terms – Choose units that match contractual requirements to streamline invoicing and reporting.
Follow a Standard Method of Measurement – Using recognised industry standards makes your data clear and reliable for all stakeholders, from contractors to auditors.
Switching to objective units in Gather’s Worklog isn’t just about today’s records—it’s an investment in future project success. With objective, cumulative data, you create a foundation for clear progress tracking, reliable benchmarks, and informed decision-making that powers project performance and meets contractual goals.
Series
Introduction to Project Datasources
Guide to Worklog Setup ⬅️ You are here