Why a 2-Week Lookahead Isn't Enough And What to Do Instead
- Gil Rosa
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
Most schedules fall apart because you're not looking far enough ahead.
Let's talk about the sacred cow of construction:
The 2-week lookahead.
Everyone does it.
Few do it well.
And even fewer realize… it's not enough.
If your team is only planning two weeks ahead, you're not leading you're reacting.
At GRPM, we don't recommend a 2-week lookahead.
We recommend a 4-week tactical horizon.
What's Wrong With the 2-Week Standard?
It's too short.
You can't solve material lead times in two weeks.
You can't coordinate trade stacking in two weeks.
You can't fix a missed inspection or sub delay with a 2-week leash.
It's like seeing the punch a second before it hits.
You saw it—but it's too late to block it.
What a 4-Week Lookahead Does Better
A real lookahead should function like a radar, not a rearview mirror.
With 4 weeks, you can:
Identify upcoming long-lead items and chase them now
Spot schedule collisions between trades before they happen
Prepare for inspections, shutdowns, or weather windows
Communicate clearly with ownership about what's coming
The Anatomy of a Real 4-Week Lookahead
It's not just a longer list. It's a smarter one.
1. Week-by-Week Task Breakdown
Specific scopes. Real locations. Clear dates.
Think: progressive clarity—more detail in Week 1–2, broader scope in Week 3–4.
2. Blockers Identified Early
A 4-week view lets you catch delayed materials, open RFIs, or missing manpower while there's still time to course-correct.
3. Named Commitments
Each week's tasks must have an owner—a real person, not "the electrician."
Accountability without clarity is just noise.
4. Rolling Lookback + Sync
Don't just look ahead—review what you promised last week.
Call out what was missed. Fix the pattern, not just the task.
5. Field–Owner–Sub Alignment
Share the 4-week forecast with the team.
Owners plan payments and inspections.
Subs plan manpower.
You stay in control.
Field Wisdom:
Two weeks gets you compliance.
Four weeks gets you control.
Final Thought:
The 2-week lookahead is a good start—but it's not enough for today's complexity.
If you want to lead, not chase, you need a 4-week tactical rhythm that feeds your schedule, not just reports on it.
Book a Project Clarity Call
We'll review your current lookahead system and show you how to build a 4-week tactical rhythm that drives results.
If you're tired of being surprised by delays, it's time to start seeing further.
Comments