A reflection on the RFI process

Conversing with engineers/a company to resolve a request for information is interesting. All stakeholders come with very different perspectives. If our operation and mindset are similar, we would be competitors rather than a client or customer. We would not hire them, if we did not need their product. The company would not have a product, if it did not resolve a designer’s need; therefore, none of the entities have similar operations because they would not be needed otherwise. If they do, they would be competitors and not work with each other. Don't expect people who operate differently to understand and agree. They will approach things differently, and each entity's service is needed to complete the project/product. The incorporation of each entity's contribution is the key to resolving issues according to my experience today. We need people to provide different services and products, or we would all be competitors, not working together. The unity of many entities results in a product/project that one entity or many like-minded individuals who compete cannot create. The combination of entities to resolve an issue will achieve a bigger picture success. The owner/customer typically needs and provides the means for bigger picture success. They may not know what they need/want, but the bigger picture success will be needed. The collaboration of many unique entities can achieve the things, where no individual understands all parts. This collaboration requires skill and critical thinking. It requires human inaction and an exchange of thoughts.