Demonstrating Construction Productivity

For many construction estimating and scheduling activities, it is generally accepted that two workers can perform a given task twice as fast as one worker. Similarly, four workers can perform the same task in a quarter of the time. While using ratios to modify labor productivity is generally accepted, it is also recognized that for certain tasks it will take longer than one-half as long for two workers to perform the task than it would take one worker. Likewise, it will take four workers longer than one-quarter of the time required for one worker. This loss of productivity can be illustrated using a simple card game that can be useful to explain the concepts. This paper discusses the card game, its similarities with construction and the results of its use in a classroom situation.