Case of the Owner's Rep

[Ramu Iyer]

Given that many hospital building projects are expensive, risky and complex,
these projects require owners to make decisions on issues that are beyond
their expertise and not typically core to the hospital's mission. The
completion of such a project depends on the quality of the collaboration
among the owner, architect and builder, thereby improving outcomes, reducing
risk, and preventing unnecessary expenses.

Enter the "owner's rep" (owner's representative), who typically brings
experience in project planning and delivery while being savvy enough to
negotiate and navigate the complex hospital building project.

While peeling the onion around this job description, I have understood that
a good owner's rep has to be able to "play several roles, including
psychologist, information manager, leader, designated truth-teller, change
agent, accountability nag and lightning rod." (Healthcare Financial
Management, April 2006)

I desire to use the owner's rep as a frame of reference while straddling
between work and life. The bridge between work and life is my personal
real-estate, which is 'under construction'. This proverbial hospital
building project (for brevity labeled "project") is an emotional energy
field of thoughts, emotions and interactions. When the health of this
"project" is green, everybody (including myself) on both sides of the bridge
is happy and I'd characterize the seesaw between work and life as being
balanced. When the health of this "project" is not green (i.e., yellow or
red), there is a need for healing, reflection, reconciliation and/or
intensive care in a ER (emergency room) setting in order to address the
imbalance. For simplicity, I have chosen stoplight colors to illustrate my
point of view; however, we can certainly use visual imagery and use all the
colors of the rainbow to describe and sense the repertoire of feelings while
ensuring that the conversation among eligible parties is an engaging one.  I
believe that we should strive for both success and significance in our
lives.

Let's examine the job description of an owner's rep that is quoted above. It
is a fusion of multiple roles (seems like a theatre where the various actors
are improvising to express their spontaneity and creativity). What is the
systematic way for an average person (John Doe or Jill Lee) who 'aspires' to
become an effective owner's rep?  I see that I've painted the picture of the
end goal but need to "warm up" systematically via multiple baby steps to get
there.

As a newbie, I believe that psychodrama offers tools that will help with the
role playing of an owner's rep. I am in the process of reading Adam
Blatner's book titled Acting-In. In my view, the proverbial hospital
building project (i.e., "project") is a world of purpose. When actions match
the intent in this world, then it is music to the ears (everybody is happy).
When actions (execution) don't match the intent (plan), then it causes a
trauma or tremor (mild or severe) in the system. If I had to express the
sentiment of the latter in French (my command and fluency is somewhat
rusty), it would sound akin to "les tremble mons le terre" (the trembing of
the earth).

Apparently in the 'real-world', actions will always lag or lead the intent;
this means there is a market for being an effective owner's rep in
real-estate and other settings. I am interested in both the choreography and
orchestration of the owner's rep role using the expressive power of
psychodrama.

Thanks for any constructive feedback.

Ramu Iyer
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