Terry Hays, CVS, FSAVE Executive Vice President Work: (760) 741-1155 Fax: (760) 489-6765 E-mail: terry@vms-inc.com

SAVE International®
1. Why Are We Here?
2. Where Are We Going?

As we move to develop our Strategic Plan we need to answer the second question so that we can map out the strategies that can take us there. But as I hear comments from members and non-members that are involved in the application of the Value Methodology (VM) around the country, I realize that we must first understand the first question. "Why are we (SAVE International®) here?

The Mission of SAVE International® is to lead and expand the value profession. When you look at the widespread use of VM throughout the world it would imply that a reasonably good job is being done. However, when you look at the widespread ignorance of what VM is and what it can do for an organization there are infinite opportunities for value practitioners and SAVE.

How SAVE International® accomplishes its mission is grouped into five major areas:

Foster Education


Communicating VM News and Activities


Promoting the Ideals of Professional Practice


Broaden the Application of VM Use


Recognize Significant VM Contributions

While this may help to clarify "Why we are here", the question "Where are we going", remains open. There is much that we can do to work together and improve the society and the value profession. A key factor is what we can do to better serve the members. As the Board of Directors focuses on developing our strategic plan we will be addressing areas and prioritizing actions based on what we see and feedback from the membership. To assist us we will be sending e-mail surveys to the membership. Please give us your feedback. We will report the results in Interactions and use your feedback to take action. If you have any ideas for topics of surveys, please send them to the SBO.

Letter to the Editor
To: Editor, Value World
c.c. Ronald J. Tanenbaum
Re: What's in a Name.

I would like to make a couple of comments on the recent article about What's in a Name. First, I would like to congratulate Ronald for challenging the status quo.

Ronald mentioned that customers are looking for value enhancement and lists product oriented objectives such as refine processes etc. Public sector clients are delivering projects that should benefit the "public" but they have to prove this to their stakeholders in a very challenging environment. . The public is more educated and less likely to rely on the philosophy that "government experts know best". More than ever we are striving to "improve value" and to do this we must "manage value" not just "engineer value". We have to determine what is important to the stakeholders. We have to make choices that involve tradeoffs between different stakeholders. Cost is only one factor in developing and choosing amongst alternatives that affect the public. Obtaining reasonable value for a reasonable cost and increasing the probability that the project will be approved and accepted are some of our objectives.

I would also like to comment on a specific word used by SAVE International® that has a first meaning to outsiders that is different from the "SAVE International® meaning". Construction is typically defined as the "act or mode of construction". When we use the term "construction" we assume everyone knows it means "projects" rather than manufacturing "processes" or products.

Stephen Holmes, P.Eng., CVS
Senior Engineer, Value Engineering
Highway Design Office
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
301 St. Paul Street
St. Catharines, ON
L2R 7R4
phone 905-704-2286
fax 905-704-2050
mobile 416-209-8381
steve.holmes@mto.gov.on.ca