Last month, we attempted to debunk the myth that nothing good can come from government, and the particular notion that there is no use for government standards in the commercial sector. We discussed the Government Services Administration (GSA) and their design guide, the PBS-P100, Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service. We noted that this standard, simply referred to as the P100, is continually reviewed and updated (most recently in March 2003) by some of the top practitioners in our field, and it covers both systems and processes.
In our previous outing, we focused on the process of engineering and the need for a plan to get from A to B most efficiently and effectively. We highlighted that reinventing the wheel or flying by the seat of your pants may not always be the most efficient ways to develop standard operating procedures. Tom Cruise stopped by (really, read the article) and helped drive home the point that the P100 offers valuable tools and insights that can make the design process more productive and less painful.