Planning and Scheduling-helps engineers to complete the project in time and within the budget

Construction- does not only denotes physical activities (men, materials, machinery) but from conception
to realization of the project.
Management - the science&art of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the work of organization
members and of using all available organization resources to reach stated organizational goals.
Construction management - deals with economical consumption of the resources available in the least
possible time for successful completion of construction project.
Resources - men, machinery, money, materials
Objectives of construction management Functions of construction management
- completing the work within estimated budget a) Planning
and specified time b) Scheduling
-maintaining a reputation for high quality c) Organizing
workmanship d) Staffing
-taking sound decisions and delegation of e) Directing
authority f) Controlling
-developing an organization that works as a g) Coordinating
team
a) Planning- is the process of selecting a particular method and the order of work to be adopted for a
project from all possible ways and sequences. “What to do”, “how to do it”
- process of documenting action-based plans for completion of project in time.
- includes defining the work task, sequence of work, construction methods, roles and responsibilities
and planning of resources to complete on time. -
Importance of construction project planning
-helps minimize the cost by optimum utilization of available
resources
-reduces irrational approaches, duplication of works and inter
departmental conflicts
-planning encourages innovation and creativity among the
construction managers
-planning imparts competitive strength to the enterprise
Objectives of construction project planning
1. Planning of each activity - should identify and include every
activity of the project in a sequential order
2. Construction Methods - should include construction methods to be adopted for different
construction activities and tools to be used
3. Planning for Construction Equipment and Machinery - planning and scheduling for equipment and
machinery should be done in advance for the activities to proceed smoothly.
4. Procurement of materials
5. Planning for employee skills - proper planning of skilled persons reduce the cost of operation
6. Planning for required documents and drawings - necessary to track and make available these
drawing at site on time.
7. Financial Planning - most important aspect
b) Scheduling - the fitting of the final work plan to a time scale. Shows the duration and order of various
constructional activities. "When to do it"
c) Organizing - concerned with decision of the total construction work into manageable
departments/sections and
systematically managing various operation by assigning individuals.
d) Staffing - provision of right people to each section/dept. created for successful completion of a
construction project
e) Directing - concerned with training subordinates to carryout assigned tasks, supervising their work
and guiding their efforts. Motivating staff
f) Controlling - Involves a constant review of the work plan to check on actual achievements and to
discover and rectify deviation through appropriate corrective measures.
g) Coordinating - Involves bringing together and coordinating the work of various departments and
sections to have good communication.
Documents for construction planning Importance of Construction Management
-designs & drawings
-quantity estimates - "maximum production at least cost"
-construction methods - provides importance for optimum utilization
-contract documents of resources
-site conditions - provides necessary leadership and motivation
-market survey to complete task in time
-local resources - beneficial to society
-project environment
-client's requirements

Site Selection for Residential Buildings

1. The site should be in a fully developed area or area of development
2. The site should command a good view of landscape
3. There should be good transport facilities
4. Civil services should be near
5. Soil at site should not be of made up type
6. The site should be large enough
7. The ground water table at the site should not be very high.
8. Nearness of schools, hospitals, market.
9. Good foundation soil should be available at responsible depth.
10. Should be located away from the busy commerical roads.
11. Should not be located near workshops, factories.
12. Orientation of the site.

Planning Philosophy - planning should be done logically, thoroughly and honestly.

Types of Planning:
1. Strategic planning - involves the high-level selection of the project objectives
- done by the owner's planners, they decide what project to build and when it has to be built.
2. Operational planning - this involves the detailed planning required to meet the strategic objectives
Questions asked before making an operational plan:
-Will the operational plan meet the strategic planning target date?
-Are there sufficient construction resources and services available within the company to meet the
project objectives?
-What is the impact of the new project on the existing work load?
-Where will we get the resources to handle any overload?
-What company policies may prevent the plan from meeting the target date?
-Are usually long delivery equipment or materials involved?
-Are the project concepts and design firmly established and ready to start the construction?
-Is the original contracting plan still valid?
-Will it be more economical to use a fast-track scheduling approach?
3. Scheduling- puts the detailed operational plan on a time scale set by the strategic objectives.

Construction Master Plan - addresses how the project will be planned, organized, and major work
activities be controlled to meet the goals of finishing the work on time, within budget and as specified.
Contracting plan - major consideration in formulating the master construction plan.

Critical Path Method (CPM) - first used in 1950

by Morgan R. Walker and James E. Kelley Jr. in
overhauling a chemical plant
- Time to complete activities is known

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) -

first used in 1957 for the design and development of
the Polaris missile.

-Used when completion time is unknown, based on

probabilities
Characteristics of construction projects to make it amenable for analysis by PERT or CPM are:
a) The project must consist of a well-defined collection of jobs or activities which when completed will
mark the end of the project
b) The jobs must be such that they can be started or stopped independently of each other within a given
sequence
c) The jobs are ordered

Four phases of project management:

1. Defining and organizing the project - Identify the business need for, and objectives of, the project.
Defining roles and responsibilities
2. Planning the project - Assemble your team and assign tasks to individuals, develop a budget, develop
a schedule, and create a communications plan.
3. Executing the project - Team is ready to launch the project
4. Closing down - Evaluation and celebration of completion