CD Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a design review meeting, a client requests a change that conflicts with local building codes. What should the drafter do first?
- Explain the code conflict and document the discussion for the project record (Correct answer)
- Make the change as requested since the client is paying
- Ignore the request and proceed with the original design
- Ask a coworker to handle the client instead
Correct answer: Explain the code conflict and document the discussion for the project record
Drafters must communicate code conflicts clearly and document the exchange so decisions are traceable and compliant.
Question 2: Which document is the most appropriate way to formally record a verbal design decision made during a phone call with an engineer?
- A confirmation memo or email summarizing the decision (Correct answer)
- A sticky note on the drawing board
- A text message to a friend on the team
- No record is needed for verbal decisions
Correct answer: A confirmation memo or email summarizing the decision
A written confirmation memo or email creates an official, retrievable record of verbal decisions.
Question 3: A contractor calls to say a dimension on your drawing appears incorrect. What is the best initial response?
- Verify the dimension against the source data before issuing any correction (Correct answer)
- Tell the contractor to measure it themselves in the field
- Immediately issue a revised drawing without checking
- Blame the engineer who provided the specifications
Correct answer: Verify the dimension against the source data before issuing any correction
Verifying against source data prevents propagating a new error and ensures any revision is accurate.
Question 4: When presenting drawings to non-technical stakeholders, which approach improves understanding?
- Use plain language, 3D views, or renderings to supplement orthographic drawings (Correct answer)
- Present only dimensioned section views
- Read every drawing note aloud verbatim
- Use as many technical abbreviations as possible
Correct answer: Use plain language, 3D views, or renderings to supplement orthographic drawings
Non-technical audiences grasp visualizations and plain language more easily than dense orthographic conventions.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a transmittal letter accompanying a drawing set?
- To record what documents were sent, to whom, when, and for what purpose (Correct answer)
- To replace the title block information
- To provide legal approval of the design
- To list the drafter's qualifications
Correct answer: To record what documents were sent, to whom, when, and for what purpose
A transmittal documents the contents, recipient, date, and intent of a document delivery.
Question 6: Two stakeholders give the drafter conflicting instructions about a floor plan layout. The best course of action is to:
- Escalate the conflict to the project manager for a documented resolution (Correct answer)
- Follow whichever instruction arrived last
- Average the two requests into a compromise design
- Choose the instruction that is easier to draft
Correct answer: Escalate the conflict to the project manager for a documented resolution
Conflicting stakeholder direction should be escalated so an authorized decision-maker resolves it on record.
Question 7: Which communication practice best supports coordination between drafting and other disciplines like structural and MEP?
- Regularly scheduled coordination meetings with shared model or drawing reviews (Correct answer)
- Waiting until construction to resolve overlaps
- Communicating only through the client
- Each discipline working in isolation until final submission
Correct answer: Regularly scheduled coordination meetings with shared model or drawing reviews
Scheduled interdisciplinary reviews catch clashes early, before they become costly field problems.
CD Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 2
During a design review meeting, a client requests a change that conflicts with local building codes.
What should the drafter do first?