BY : SALEH FAREED

CH 1: Construction Environment
Project management definition
-

Project management is the art of directing and coordinating human

and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern
management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of
scope, cost, time, quality, and participation.

Project definition
1.
2.
3.
4.

Project is: a temporary effort of work, a one-time event that meets the
following criteria:
Has a start and an end date.
Has schedule, cost, and quality constraints.
Is a unique endeavor and contains risk.
Has a certain scope that needs to occur.

Professional Construction Management

-

Professional construction management refers to a project

management team consisting of a professional construction manager
and other participants who will carry out the tasks of project planning,
design and construction in an integrated manner. Contractual
relationships among members of the team are intended to minimize
adversarial relationships and contribute to greater response within the
management group.

A professional construction manager

A professional construction manager is a firm specialized in the practice of
professional construction management which includes:
-

Work with owner and the ME firms from the beginning and make
recommendations on design improvements, construction technology,
schedules and construction economy.
Propose design and construction alternatives if appropriate, and
analyze the effects of the alternatives on the project cost and
schedule.

Monitor subsequent development of the project in order that these

targets are not exceeded without the knowledge of the owner.
Coordinate procurement of material and equipment and the work of all
construction contractors, and monthly payments to contractors,
changes, and inspection for conforming design requirement.
Perform other project related services as required by owner.

Project Management Responsibilities

Throughout the life of any project, project managers are responsible for the
key areas. Some of these responsibilities, which tie in directly with any
project methodology, follow:
-

Obtain approval for the project to proceed.

Determine the project scope and its feasibility to the overall business.
Ensure the necessary project resources are identified and allocated.
Plan the project to the relevant detail it requires.
Ensure that the project methodology and associated processes are
adhered to.
Monitor the project in terms of cost, quality, and schedule.
Identify and monitor project issues and risks.
Provide updated reports and summaries to key stakeholders.
Provide leadership to the project team.

Constriction types:
-

Building construction (vertical const.)

Heavy construction (horizontal const.)
Highways, Airports, Bridges

Construction definition:
Construction can be described as the creative effort that converts the 4 "m"
of construction:
1 .Money
2. Materials
3. Manpower
4. Machines
Into a construction facility.
Management can be included as the fifth "m"

Management comprises:
1. Planning
2. Initiating
3. Directing of the construction process

Agent/ Architect
-

Agents : acting as an owner

Agents : acting as a contractor

Support construction effort in various forms

Scope of construction e forts depend on:

-

Project size
Project complexity
And other factors

Simple project
Complex project
*Items to be considered are:
-

The variety of technologies and type of construction involved

required quality control standards
The geographic location of the construction site and the nature
of the work environment
the planning and management skills of contractor

Development o construction process: total live building process

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

awareness of need
project formulation
engineering- design process
construction process
use and maintenance
disposal

Resources of construction (5"M" and I)

1. Money

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Materials
Manpower
Machines
Management
Information

Types of relationships
-

master - servant relationship

Business- service relationship
contractual or formal legal obligation
coequal relationship (intimate cooperation of equals )

Traditional approach
-

Most construction is performed thru this approach

Disadvantages:
-

the construction process is totally separated from : feasibility studies ,

engineering and process.
designs are complete prior of the selection of contractor
design details formulated without consideration of construction
methods and cost

Advantages:
-

bidders are supplied with full project description

detailed knowledge help bidders eliminate many uncertainties relating
to material types and quantities
Knowledge of bid price

Construction project are different methods:

-

owner construction force

owner management of construction
construction by general contractor
design/ build construction con
construction management

Construction management levels:

I. project mission management

Sets up specific organization form and coordinate the interaction of the

efforts and responsibilities of the construction parties:
-

project owner
contractor
designer
consultant and contract administration agents
and others

Requires: knowledge of business, organizational, technical, legal, contractual

and financial matters and high level of professional management skills.

2. Project management (middle management)

-

planning
organizing
monitoring
Management in building stage
On bid award: scheduling, buying, procurement, mobilizing of
resources.
On construction monitoring project status, preparing progress
payments, management of cash flow

Requires: planning, analysis of risk, decision- oriented management

techniques skills
2. Field management
-

focus on technical aspects of the project,

on construction methods,
on operational equipment capabilities,
Planning, scheduling, mobilization and directing of construction
activities

Requires: considerable experience and be able to direct, command respect

from and motivate field labor.

1.13 MANAGEMENT LEVELS OF CONSTRUCTION

Organizational considerations lead to a number of hierarchical levels that can
be identified in construction. This derives from the project format.
Decision making at levels above the project relate to company management
considerations.
Decisions within the project relate to operational considerations (e.g.,
selection of production methods) as well as the application of resources to
the various construction production processes and work tasks selected to
realize the constructed facility.

1.13 MANAGEMENT LEVELS OF CONSTRUCTION.. .. cont.

1. Organizational. The organizational level is concerned with the legal and
business structure of a firm, the various functional areas of management, and
the interaction between head office and field managers performing the
management functions.
2. Project. Project-level vocabulary is dominated by terms relating to the
break down of project for the purpose of time and cost control (e.g. the
project activity and the project cost account). Also, the concept of resources
is defined and related to the activity as either an added descriptive attribute
of the activity or for resource scheduling purposes.

3. Operation (and Process). The construction operation and process level is

concerned with the technology and details of how construction is performed.
It focuses on work at the field level. Usually a construction operation is so
complex that it encompasses several distinct processes, each having its own
technology and work task sequences. However, for simple situations
involving a single process, the terms are synonymous.
4. Task. The task level is concerned with the identification and assignment of
elemental portions of work to field units and work crews.