be included in the estimate to under- stand what’s really going to happen.” This framework prompts estimators to think more deliberately and communi- cate more precisely. Objective: Providing customers with the service they are paying for requires defining an objective, which answers the key question: What problem are we solving? Examples include increasing building or utility line clearance, reduc- ing risk, and boosting visibility. Method: The specification should de- fine how the crew will perform the work. In pruning, this means specify- ing a particular approach such as re- duction cuts, removal cuts, thinning, heading, or shearing. Each of these ac- tions affects tree health, structure, and appearance. Measurement: The specification should include a measurable goal for each action, such as what size of branches to cut, how many inches to re- move, or how much clearance to main- tain around a roof or power line. A complete specification might read: Provide building clearance on one red maple located at the northwest corner of the house. Use reduction and remov- al cuts to achieve 5-10 feet of clearance from the structure. “We’re going to clearly communicate to the consumer, ‘Why are we doing this?’” Buell explained. “When the job is complete, you can go back and say, ‘Did we accomplish this?’ That’s what a well-written specification allows you to do.”
A300 standards requires specific language about exactly what kinds of cuts will be made to which species, and other exacting specifics.
trees in the yard.” Detailing how work will be performed to A300 standards requires specific language about exactly what kinds of cuts will be made to which species, and other exacting specifics. Vagueness undermines clarity and can damage credibility. THE ELEMENTS OF A CLEAR SPECIFICATION The A300 standards advise that every specification should clearly define the work’s objective, method, and mea- surement or “dosage.” This allows es- timators to define the reason for the work, the actions the crew will take to complete the work, and the extent to which those actions will be applied to a given tree. “These are the minimum,” Buell said. “There are certain things that have to
“They’re underused in our industry. They’re misunderstood. We’ve got the playbook in front of us — pick it up and use it.” A300 STANDARDS IN ACTION Tree care companies of all sizes can benefit from applying the A300 stan- dards to create specifications that consumers understand and crews can execute. “The industry has not gotten their head around the fact that these are stan- dards for the development of specifica- tions,” Buell said. “They don’t tell you how to prune a tree.” This distinction is vital. Companies may claim in proposals that they will perform work “to A300 standards,” but might of- fer little more detail than “prune all 22
SPECIFICATIONS AS RISK MANAGEMENT
Clear specifications are primarily a communication tool, but they’re also a form of risk management. An example of this in action is prun- ing to reduce risk. Communicating vaguely with a directive to “remove deadwood” may result in a risky situ- ation not being fully remediated. But
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