Managing a construction project is not an easy feat as they need to be highly structured. No matter what the project you are working on consists of, whether it is the construction of a huge building or a small residence, all projects have different moving parts that require precise coordination. Similar to other projects, construction project management also consists of different phases. The process includes the designing, planning, scheduling, and lastly the construction of the infrastructure. All of these phases are quite complex and only a piece of a more complicated overarching procedure.
That is mainly why project management software exists. Although you have to wonder whether project management software is going to be enough to carry the weight of an entire construction project. Before you can find the answer to that question, you should first be able to understand what is project management in construction.
What is Construction Project Management?
Just as the name indicates it is the process of managing a construction project. The main difference between construction project management and the management of other types of projects is that when you are working on a construction project you are mission based. What that means is that upon the completion of the project’s construction, its organization ends as well.
Construction Project Management Team
If you are wondering how to become a construction project manager you need to first learn about what construction project management entails. As a construction project manager, you will be in charge of the construction project’s management team. For effective building project management, you need to be able to communicate clearly with the construction crew as well as the project stakeholders.
The Project Owner
The project owner is the person who commissioned the development of the new infrastructure and is either directly or indirectly financing it. The owner has the authority to supervise the project and has a say in important decisions regarding the selection of contractors and what the bidding process should be like. Not only does the owner get a high-level view of the project but also gets to decide what delivery method will be used for the project.
Construction Project Manager
A construction project manager is responsible for the entire management of a project. If you become a construction project manager you will be in charge of planning, coordinating, budgeting, and supervising the entire project. Your duties will include estimating and negotiating project costs, managing work orders, and communicating with the project owner and stakeholders. In order to become a construction project manager, you will need to either be certified or have enough relevant experience to qualify for the job.
General Contractor
It is the responsibility of the general contractor to oversee everyday operations on the work site. General contractors are responsible for providing the employees with the necessary equipment, materials, and labor needed for the successful execution of the project. General contractors can also hire subcontractors to carry out certain tasks. Monitoring the subcontractors and all daily construction activities is also the general contractor’s responsibility.
Conclusion
Although project management mainly is concerned with the management of resources throughout the life cycle of a project with the help of different available tools and methodologies in order to successfully control the scope, cost, time, quality, etc. but while working in the construction industry, you should have a broader outlook. Managing a construction project mostly involves careful consideration of constraints that relate to the design and construction of new infrastructure development projects. As a construction project manager, you will be interacting with a number of different disciplines while working on a project. Depending on the project you will need to collaborate with the architecture, city planning, and engineering departments.