Project Management in Construction

Throughout history, the construction of any project required proper planning. The main role of planning has been undertaken by project managers that oversee the construction of various complex buildings. Construction is a complicated endeavor that requires adequate planning and management of resources. The rules of project management have been applied to realize success in different construction projects. In the modern world, project management tools have been applied to improve the management of projects. Constructions of projects are today managed digitally, and the technology is expected to be developed in the future. Mobile-friendly technology and software have been applied to create more efficiency with construction. Project management is critical in improving the management of construction as it ensures that there is correct planning, design, and implementation of a project.

Definition of Project Management 

The main function of project management is to direct and coordinate material and human resources throughout the life of a project. Project management thus involves the handling of a project by examining the planning, coordination, and execution of a project (Bingham & Gibson, 2017). The modern management techniques have to analyze different factors such as the objectives, scope, time, quality, and costs required in the project. The project manager should be equipped with various skills such as deep knowledge, problem-solving approaches, and communication when handling different aspects of a project.

Project management can be applied in construction to manage different construction projects. The application of project management in construction is referred to as construction project management. The aim of construction project management is to critically analyze various resources required to complete a project. The project manager should undertake construction planning where they consider the execution of the project. One should consider the choice of technology, estimation of the required resources, analysis of the duration of the individual tasks, and an examination of the relationship among the different tasks. A good construction plan is a basis for succeeding in the management of the budget and the project schedule.

Principles of Project Management in Construction 

Project management can impact the progress of construction as it involves applying various principles that can facilitate the execution of the construction. The process of project management usually comes about after the completion of the bidding process, and the construction phase of the project begins. Project management should oversee the progress and success of the project by following a series of steps.

Initiation of the Project 

Before the start of any project, the project manager should evaluate the feasibility of the project by evaluating different considerations in the project. The project should not begin unless the project managers know that there are adequate resources to finish it. A feasibility study or a business case should analyze the different aspects of the project to determine the goals, timeline, and costs of the projects. There should be a clear analysis of all the resources of the project to determine whether the entire project has adequate resources to reach the project end. The different constraints and factors that could arise throughout the construction phase should also be considered. The project stakeholders should be involved after the feasibility analysis. They should agree to process with the project after the feasibility study has determined that the project has all the resources required to proceed with the process. The initiation phase is critical for the success of the project as it ensures that there are adequate resources before the actual project begins. Without a proper feasibility study, the project could begin and stop in the middle when various resources have been exhausted.

Planning 

The next step after the feasibility study and the initiation of the project involves defining and planning the project. The project managers should outline the tasks, timeline, project milestones, and resources required to complete the given tasks throughout the life of the construction. One way to succeed with the planning phase is to ensure that there is efficient communication so that all the project stakeholders are on the same page regarding what should be done throughout the life of the construction. A detailed plan should highlight the costs, scope, duration, communication to be used, and the quality that will be required in the project. Planning a construction project should also identify the project team that should handle specific tasks and activities.

The planning phase will be completed through the development of a project management plan. The plan is a formal document approved by the project manager that guides in the control, execution, and setting up of baselines for the project. One of the critical elements in the plan is the scope statement that identifies the business needs of the project, objectives, deliverables, critical milestones, and benefits. A work breakdown structure (WBS) should break different milestones of the project into visible and manageable sections (Sarkar et al., 2021). A communication plan should also be incorporated to analyze the communication techniques that will be undertaken and the strategies that will be used to avoid and solve conflicts or misunderstandings. Additionally, the incorporation of a risk management plan should identify all the risks beforehand, such as the shortage of various resources.

Execution 

After a proper plan has been placed regarding the different considerations and resources of the construction project, the next phase will involve the actual execution. The role of the project manager in the execution phase is to observe the start of the project and consider all the resources that were required to initiate the project. Holding project meetings with various stakeholders is thus critical to assign resources, set up tracking systems, implement project management plans, and modify the project plans when necessary. The project management team should also deal with the customers and teams that are involved in the project. To ensure that the execution of the project follows the previously created plan, the project managers should frequently report about the success of the project and the initial plans.

Performance Monitoring 

One of the main benefits of project management in construction is that it facilitates easy monitoring of the entire project. Project monitoring should be done concurrently with the execution. It is difficult to truly understand the progress of the project unless there is a way that can monitor it. The project management team should have a specific approach to project management by having performance indicators for the costs, time, and quality. The aim of the project management team is to ensure that the project stays on top of the figures to ensure the successful execution of the project. For instance, in case the construction project deviates from the initial financial considerations, there is a likely chance that the project will be placed on hold and will not be completed as the company stakeholders strive to get additional resources to complete it. The best strategy for adequate project monitoring is to have consistent communication and being flexible to change whenever there are new constraints.

Project Closure 

The project management team should oversee the project to the final step of closure and completion. Closure of a project will involve the project managers holding meetings with the stakeholders to analyze the parts of the project that met the objectives and the parts that did not meet the required objectives. The project management should then create a final list of tasks to be completed, a final budget, and a project report that highlights all the considerations of the project. Project management thus impacts the success of the construction of a project as it follows up on various resources that should be allocated to the project right from the initial phase to the closure.

Technology in Construction Project Management 

As project management advances, there have been developments of various technologies and methods that can be applied to oversee a project. The role of project management should be to analyze the various technology resources that can be applied in the construction and identify the alternative that would be most beneficial. For instance, when deciding whether to transport concrete through the use of buckets or through a pulley system, proper planning will ensure that it analyzes all the costs and the duration of the different activities. The decision between the two activities should analyze the reliabilities, availability of equipment, and relative costs of the two approaches of transporting materials. The project management team should then come up with the recommendations of the best approach.

Project managers may be required to form a construction plan of the project. The success of the construction plan will rely on the proper use of technology. For instance, a computer-based simulation can analyze different alternatives and plans and help the construction project choose the best alternative. For instance, the decision about transporting items using a bucket or using a pulley system can be analyzed through simulation software. The analysis should provide an overview of the project in terms of the costs and time considerations. The use of a computer-aided design (CAD) can be especially helpful for project managers in construction. The software can facilitate a simulation of the operations and identify various problems that could be encountered before the actual implementation.

Advantages of Project Management in Construction 

Break down of work 

One of the main benefits of project management in the construction field is that it facilitates the creation of an explicit hierarchy of work activities throughout the project. The analysis of the different activities provides a simple approach to understand the progress of a project and can be used to develop a clear schedule. For instance, the initial plan of a project could define various activities such as removing vegetation and relocating utilities. All these different activities can be placed under a single main activity of site clearance. The analysis of activities this way is critical to the success of any project as it ensures that the team dedicated to working on the project knows the project requirements. The different activities can also be placed in a work breakdown structure or a Gantt chart where the timeline required to complete all the activities is critically analyzed. The inclusion of different hierarchies throughout the course of the project facilitates a better understanding of the project and an improvement in the time required to complete it.

Identifying Critical Activities 

There can be different activities required in construction planning. Without a clear detail of all the activities required to complete the project, the execution of the project will be difficult. When starting out with the project, there should be a clear analysis of the critical activities and a sub-division of the activities. For instance, a construction project that involves building a road bridge. The main activity will be written as building a bridge. However, a subdivision of the activities will show building the structures, the roadway, and other general activities. The roadway work should involve the associated earthwork, clearing the waterway, excavation, and compaction. The structural activities will involve establishing the concrete or steel platforms that will be used to hold the different parts of the bridge together. The general activities that will be applied in the project could involve general supervision and management of the human resources. Project management will facilitate the entire planning that specifically identifies all the activities that should be identified for the success of the project. In case there are additional activities required, the project management team should analyze the activities and communicate with the stakeholders regarding the new considerations.

Identifying Relationships Among Activities 

Another approach that project management can impact the construction of a project is that identifies the relationships among different activities in the project. The specific activities and work that will be required to complete the project should first be identified. The relationship among all the activities in the project can then be analyzed. For instance, the beginning of one activity can be dependent on the completion of another. Clearing the site should come before the actual setting up of the foundation of the construction. Various tools and resources can be used to analyze the relationships among the different activities in the project. For instance, the use of a PERT chart in project management can analyze and coordinate all the tasks within the project.

Estimating Duration of Activities 

One of the central roles of project management in construction is that it facilitates a clear estimation of the duration that different activities will take. Each specific work activity should have a specified time duration that should be written down before the start of the activity. Project management allows for different sub-activities to have a specific timeline that should indicate the time that the main activity will be completed. For instance, the excavation process of the construction may take approximately three days. The three days will be divided into different sub-activities that will show excavating the trenches taking place in one day, placing reinforcements taking one day, and placing the frameworks taking another day. Project management enables the formulation of a formal schedule of the project based on the estimation of various project activities. A proper estimation of all the activities that will be required to complete the project should show the estimated completion time of the project. The project management team should also consider random factors that could impact the successful completion of the project.

Risk Management 

Project management can play a critical role in managing the risks of a given project. Risk management involves identifying and responding to potential issues throughout the life of the project that could impact the project negatively. In any construction site, one of the inherent risks is the safety of the workers. The project management team should outline various strategies to mitigate the safety risks by providing safety guidelines for the staff. Other risks that could be present on the project involve unrealistic schedules, poor budgeting, and poorly designed projects. The project managers should create a contingency plan in case such risks are observed later in the execution of the project. There can be other risks in the construction of the project, such as the presence of storms, earthquakes, and natural disasters. Having a contingency plan should act as a proactive approach to mitigate various risks. The project managers should also supervise the workers and help wherever possible. They should oversee the safety standards and report any safety issues before they occur. Project management that incorporates various risk management strategies in the construction will deliver a final project that meets the expectations of the stakeholders.

Management of the Budget 

The project management team should manage the financial considerations required to complete the project. The first step will involve establishing a budget that analyzes all the costs for the construction. The next step will involve creating a financial plan that highlights how the various resources will be utilized efficiently. When constructing a road that goes for several kilometers, the project manager should keep track of the expenditure per kilometer. In some instances, the construction costs per kilometer should vary based on different factors like the weather and environmental conditions. The project management team should forecast any changes that should be incorporated into the budget due to changes in the weather or environment. In case of any additional costs, they should inform the team about the forecasts to be prepared for any unplanned costs. Proper financial considerations will ensure that the project will have minimal problems and that it will be completed with minimal issues.

Relationship Management 

Apart from simply planning and executing a project, project management helps to facilitate better communication among the staff and other stakeholders in the project. The construction project manager will be responsible for hiring and managing the staff. They should educate the staff regarding what is expected of them and communicate with them clearly. In any construction, there can be projects undertaken by different teams that are interrelated (Meng & Boyd, 2017). For instance, in any road construction project, there could be a team that clears the sites, another team handling the excavation, and another team laying the initial foundation. The construction can be done in different phases by completing a certain distance first and then moving to another distance. The project management team should oversee that all the different teams work together in harmony. They should communicate about the progress of the different teams and the overall progress of the project. Having clear objectives, efficient resources, and having a clear expectation regarding the quality of the project should motivate the team towards the successful delivery of the project.

Project management also involves managing the relationships with key stakeholders. The construction project could have different sources of funding from the different stakeholders. External communication with the stakeholders is necessary to ensure that the sponsors of the project can provide additional funding when necessary. The stakeholders should thus be informed regarding the health and progress of the project. They should also coordinate various internal resources with the outside vendors to help execute the project with higher efficiency.

Challenges of Construction Project Management 

Construction project management can be impacted by different factors that strain the various resources required to complete the project. For instance, there can be random factors that impact the productivity of workers, making the activity duration estimations inaccurate. The project manager may not know the skills of the workers and the management ability of various supervisors in the construction project. The productivity can be negatively impacted in case the project has an unskilled engineer. The absence of specific knowledge can impact the productivity of the project.

Environmental Impacts 

There can be unanticipated environmental effects that impact the following the project plan successfully. For instance, weather effects can negatively impact the time durations required to complete the project. The weather, like heavy rainfall, could have a random influence on the duration of the activity, a random effect that can influence the productivity and the time required to complete some activities. However, the chances of having such a rainfall can vary depending on various conditions, such as the time of the month and the meteorological records. The project management team should incorporate the weather estimations when examining the estimated time required to complete the project. Incorporating such contingencies ensures that the project resources will not be strained in case the project exceeds the previously allocated time and monetary resources.

Conflicts 

The project management team is responsible for handling various human resources in the construction and should manage conflicts whenever they arise. For instance, limited resources in the construction project can result in conflicts as the workers strive to get adequate resources that should facilitate the completion of their sections. Other possible sources of conflict can include poor communication, conflict of interests, and power struggles. The presence of such conflicts can negatively the progress of a project. It can lead to a reduction in the motivation of the workers, leading to a reduction in productivity. The project manager should readily address all the conflicts that can emerge. The resolution strategies that can be applied include mediation and arbitration.

Legal Issues 

Every construction project may involve various legal issues. The different legal issues that can be expected in the project include jurisdictions, negotiating contracts, licensing requirements, and job site safety. The actual construction can result in a legal issue in case one of the employees gets harmed or injured throughout the construction. The project management team should formulate a clear approach that can address such a legal issue. Additionally, the failure to complete the project at the correct time due to delays and the project exceeding the initial estimated costs can result in professional liabilities. Having proper coverage ensures that the project management team can manage all the claims and liabilities adequately.

The Future of Project Management in Construction 

Project management in construction has been applied throughout history through the use of various planning techniques. As technology evolves, there have been different strategies to improve the management of different construction projects. The use of construction project management software enables the planning, scheduling, building, and reporting issues with the construction project. The future of construction project management expects to have an increasing application of various technological resources that can help to keep a tight budget and schedule and budget. Online construction project management software are cloud-based systems that can be applied to manage various processes efficiently. The cloud-based systems create efficiency with the different work processes by enabling one to access the different resources remotely in the field.

There are different scheduling strategies and software that facilitate better management of various phases of a project. Some examples of tools include a Gantt chart, a work breakdown structure, critical path scheduling, and a line of balance. A tool like a Gantt chart can be applied to create a construction schedule for the project. The chart enables one to visualize the project timeline and create a visual representation of the dates, durations, task names, and end dates of a project through horizontal bars. Other software that can be applied to manage a construction project includes Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Co-construct, BuilderTREND, Procore, and BuildTools. All the different types of software have different functionalities and are applied differently when managing a project.

Conclusion 

The analysis of project management in construction showed that the success of any project is highly dependent on applying the correct project management principles. The different project management principles were identified to facilitate a successful implementation of a project. The implication of the study is that any construction initiative needs to have a highly reliable project management team. The failure in the execution of the project can be attributed to the failure in implementing the right project management steps and strategies. Critically analyzing the resources of the project, such as the cost and time limitations, could be the difference between the success and failure of the project.

References 

Bingham, E., & Gibson Jr, G. E. (2017). Infrastructure project scope definition using project definition rating index.  Journal of management in engineering ,  33 (2), 04016037. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000483 

Meng, X., & Boyd, P. (2017). The role of the project manager in relationship management.  International Journal of Project Management ,  35 (5), 717-728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.03.001 

Sarkar, D., Jha, K. N., & Patel, S. (2021). Critical chain project management for a highway construction project with a focus on theory of constraints.  International Journal of Construction Management ,  21 (2), 194-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1512031