Construction projects are complex by nature. From costing to scheduling, procurement to implementing the plan, there are a lot of moving parts. And it’s easy to get off track, without even realizing it.
For example, most people couldn’t tell you the difference between a skid steer and a skid loader. But if your project calls for a loader and you rented a steer, it can cause unnecessary complications and delays. That’s why project management is such an important skill in construction.
Whether you’re a new PM just getting started in the field or an old hand looking to brush up on the fundamentals, you’re in the right place. In this piece, we’re going to take a look at the basics of managing construction projects and give you strategies you can use to improve efficiency, cut costs and keep everything on track.
Construction project management (CPM) is the process over overseeing a building project to completion. This includes the planning, coordination and execution of a construction project and can include things like environmental, civil and commercial planning, as well as more typical project management duties like managing resources and communicating deadlines.
Because it’s vulnerable to disruptions in supply chains and labor forces, changes in weather patterns and shifting requirements from engineers, architects and inspectors, tasks can shift wildly with little to no warning.
While there is a large overlap in the skills required for ordinary project management and construction project management, there are some differences.
The major difference between the two is in the work environment. A construction manager will work primarily from the building site, overseeing the tasks in person, where a project manager is likely going to spend more time in the office or traveling back and forth to the client to discuss the project.
Additionally, because construction abuts so many other fields, construction project management often requires knowledge of things like engineering, finance, law and business.
Depending on the sector, a construction project manager may be called upon to oversee a variety of projects, in fields like:
To ensure a project’s success, a CPM should be brought onboard as early as possible. By participating in the design phase, the construction project manager can oversee bidding and evaluation to find the best contractors for the job.
In most cases, in addition to ordinary project management tasks and strategies, the construction project manager will be responsible for things like:
If all this wasn’t already complicated enough, there are also a variety of roles a CPM can serve in, depending on who they were hired by.
Sometimes called an owner’s rep, in this role a CPM acts as an advisor to the building owner throughout the construction project. In this role, you probably won’t directly engage in construction work or have contracts with subcontractors, instead using your expertise to help the owner make decisions and coordinate the project.
This role is a common delivery method in which the owner taps a general contractor to oversee the project beginning with design consultation. In this position, your role is to make sure the design is feasible and aligned with the budget and schedules.
This delivery method is used to ensure a project is completed for a guaranteed maximum price, with the CMAR seeking to find ways to reduce costs, as he or she is then liable for any overages.
Successful construction project management requires a wide range of skills , including an ability to effectively prioritize tasks and communicate with a diverse range of agencies, workers and stakeholder. You must follow the principles of project management through every stage of the build process.
Before any ground is broken or blueprints designed, a CPM has to do his or her due diligence to determine if the project is even feasible. This requires a business case (sometimes called a feasibility study), in which you’ll look at goals, costs and timelines to determine if a project is even possible. In addition to creating a charter to kick off the project, you’ll also identify potential risks.
At this stage, you’ll build a timeline, including outlined milestones and the resources needed to achieve them. You’ll detail the cost, scope, duration and communications involved in the project and begin assembling your team. Key documents you’ll create in this stage include work breakdowns, scheduling, scope management and risk management.
In this stage, a digital project management platform becomes a huge asset.
In this stage, you’re using the plan to create the promised deliverables. Resource management is an important part of this stage, as it is crucial to ensure the resources you require are scheduled and used as planned.
In this stage, you will frequently be in communication with stakeholders and teams, with frequent meetings and reports.
This is where CPMs really earn their money. Monitoring will be essential at every stage of the project. You will need a way to track progress, track key performance indicators (KPIs), overseeing timing and manage quality control.
Being adaptable and communicating clearly are vital skills for controlling any construction project.
The final stage of any project, this may include a post-mortem meeting with stakeholders to discuss which parts of the project did and didn’t meet their objectives. You’ll also create a list of any remaining tasks, perform a final budget and issue a project report.
Like with the management of any project, a quality software platform will help you stay organized and on schedule. It helps with planning, scheduling, resource management and reporting, which streamlines the project and improves productivity – and just as importantly, keeps it on budget.
Software for construction PM should have all the functionality you need to stay organized and in control, plus an ability to share necessary communications and reports.
Because there is usually extensive documentation for a construction project, file storage and management is a must for your PM platform. Other features CPMs find useful in a PM platform include:
DoneDone was designed to streamline project management, giving you all the resources and functionality you need in one intuitive platform. From creating custom workflows to communicating with clients, you can do everything you need to ensure a construction project’s success without ever leaving our app.
See it for yourself. Contact us today for a demo to see how DoneDone can make your life as a CPM easier.
No credit card needed. Just sign up for a free trial, invite your team, and start getting things done with DoneDone.
Questions? Contact Us.
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