Project management for construction activities is the practice of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve project goals at the specified time and budget.
The primary challenge is to achieve all of the project goals within the given constraints. This information is usually described in project documentation such as construction contracts, created at the beginning of the development process. The major constraints are scope, time, quality and budget. The secondary challenge is to optimize the allocation of necessary inputs and apply them to meet pre-defined objectives.
The object of project management is to complete the project which complies with client’s objectives. In many cases the object of project management is also to shape or reform the client’s brief in order to feasibly be able to address the objectives. Once the client’s objectives are cleared they should influence all decisions made by other people involved in the project.
In term of project management, each project is unique with a defined budget and usually time-constrained. Project manager is undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value. In practice, the management of construction sites requires the development of distinct technical skills and management strategies.
In the initiation stage of a project, PM have to identify project needs, problems, opportunity and brainstorm ways that construction team can meet project needs, predict future problems and issues during different stages of construction works. During this step, Project manager will figure out an objective for project, determine whether the method statements are feasible, and identify the major deliverable for the project within the time and budget of the project.
PLANNING
Once construction contract is signed and project is approved to move forward, project is moving into the planning phase. In this phase, PM will break down the larger project into smaller tasks, build separate team, and prepare a schedule for the completion of assignments. During this phase, PM creating smaller goals within the larger project scheme, making sure each is achievable within the overall time frame of project. Smaller goals should have a high potential for success.
EXECUTION
When all documents and building permits are received (mostly from authorities) it’s time to start site actual activities. The execution phase actually turns plans into action. The project manager’s job in this stage is mostly to monitor and keep the work on track, organize team members, getting required approval for sub-contractors involved in the project, manage timelines, and make sure the work is done according to the approved programme and milestones.
CLOSURE
Once project is completed we enter to the closure phase. In this phase, PM provides final deliverable, release project resources, schedule team and subcontractors release and determine the success of the project. Just because the major work is over, doesn’t mean the project manager’s job is done. There are still important things to do, including evaluating and preparing end project reports, financial clearance, variations and project delays if any.
