Higher National Certificate/Diploma in

Construction and the Built Environment

Assignment Brief
Student Name/ID Number
Unit Number and Title 4: Construction Practice & Management
Academic Year 2019/20
Unit Tutor Dr Shahab Samad
Assignment Title Construction Practice & Management
Issue Date 29th January,2020
Submission Date 15th April 2020
IV Name & Date Dr V Oke , 22January,2020

Submission Format
The submission is in the form of a report. The report should be technical and written in
a concise and formal business style. As such, your choice of font face and font size
should contribute to the clarity of the information. The report should be well-
structured, using headings, sub-sections and paragraphs as appropriate and should
contain the sketch of the main scenario as provided. Any images, graphics, or text that is
derived from other sources must be correctly referenced using a standard form of
citation. A bibliography should be included and in a standard academic format.
Your report should be 3000 words in length. Please keep in mind that being clear and
concise are key features of professional documents.
Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Describe the construction industry with reference to company structures and
other activities

LO2 Explain different types of construction companies within the market and their
relationships within the tendering process.

LO3 Discuss the key stages in a construction project, and how Building Information
Modelling informs the different stages.

LO4 Analyse how the construction industry has developed suitable collaboration
strategies in support of greater recognition of health & safety

Assignment Brief

You have been working for a medium sized family-owned construction firm. Much of the
work of this firm has been in private residential work, but under new management
there is a desire to begin to undertake larger scale non-domestic work. In order for this
change to be managed effectively, the company will need to change its structure. The
management team recognises a relationship between the structure of the company and
the relationships that they may form, through contracts, tendering and other activities.
You have been asked to prepare a report on the different options available to the
company, in terms of company structure, and the benefits and/or challenges that the
options present.
They were the winning bidder to be the principal contractor on a new purpose built
industrial park
This assignment has four sections in line with the four learning outcomes covered by
all Tasks provided starting with an initial holistic scenario acting as a case study:

Scenario: (This is provided below as a construction scenario covering all learning

outcomes and may be utilised or applied to all tasks.)
SCENARIO
(Learners are to sketch this practical Construction Project scenario and use and apply
it where specified or needed as a an example or case study especially in the
consideration of construction materials, services and methods choices suggested)
You have been appointed to prepare an initial conceptual design and implementation
report on Industrial Complex (2 km by 2 km) near a couple of near parallel highways
12km apart that both link the megacity of London to an international airport in the
outskirts of London, Heathrow to be specific. The site of this complex is separated from
one of the highways by a large fast flowing River that flows parallel to these highways
and finally finds its way into the River Thames. This River which is about 20m wide lies in
the middle of the 4 kilometer land space between the chosen Industrial complex site
and one of the two highways.
The Client who is a private investor needs twenty (20) industrial building(s) and factories
manufacturing baby foods, soaps, perfumes amongst several other commodities. This
site is proposed together with some inter-connecting Infrastructure to the highway on
the other side of the site 6 km away the river, which is not only necessary but required
as a key element of the project. The factory buildings are made of both steel, concrete
and other materials (to be specified). These industrial and factory buildings are provided
as key structures of high specification that are intended to be built for the long term
duration in this part of south of England, around the Heathrow Airport. The Industrial
complex can be developed with steel or concrete or alternatives or a combination. The
access interconnecting infrastructure roads to both highways can be flexible or rigid and
the bridge across the stream and the walkway across the highways can be made of
either RC concrete or steel, all in line with your choices for the project

LO1 Describe the construction industry with reference to company structures and
other activities.

TASK 1

(a) Explain how the construction industry has developed and encompassed
professionalism within its structures.
(b) Demonstrate the scope and linkage between all parties within a construction
organisation. In general and with respect to the scenario provided.
(c) Identify different types of contractual work tendered by contractors and justify
the use of the specific type of tender for the given industrial complex scenario.
(d) Analyse how the construction industry has developed overall in terms of
company structures, its employees and contracted work. Justify the company
structure you will choose for the current scenario.
(e) Critically evaluate how construction companies have developed their structure
and business ethos. What is its impact on the scenario provided?
LO2 Explain different types of construction companies within the market and their
relationships within the tendering process

TASK 2

(a) Identify the different types of construction companies in the market and the key
features of different types. Suggest the type of Construction Company for the
given scenario and justify its suitability.

(b) Explain the relationship that may exist between the companies working on the
construction project.

(c) Analyse the link which connects construction companies.

(d) Compare the main factors which differentiate between construction company
contracts and tenders.

LO3 Discuss the key stages in a construction project, and how Building Information
Modelling informs the different stages

TASK 3

(a) Identify, with examples, modern construction processes and sequences

used within today’s industry, highlighting the way they respond to
sustainability needs in the current scenario.

(b) Explain contract planning techniques used within micro and macro projects.
Choose the most suitable contract planning techniques for the current scenario
and justify their suitability.

(c) Identify where BIM impacts upon operations and construction companies in the
current scenario

(d) Analyse how construction has developed in terms of innovation, designs, and
within contracts for micro and macro projects, and the interrelationship with
BIM. How it will benefit the current scenario.
LO4 Analyse how the construction industry has developed suitable collaboration
strategies in support of greater recognition of health & safety

Task 4

(a) Explain how health & safety has now become an integrated part of the
construction process.

(b) Describe the government legislation which has benchmarked health &
safety within construction. In general and with reference to the current
scenario.

(c) Discuss the role of collaboration and communication in ensuring

safe working practices. By considering the current scenario as an example.

(d) Demonstrate how the construction industry has benefited through changes in
health & safety legislation.

(e) Evaluate the impact of health & safety legislation, how it has evolved the drivers
for it, and its advantages or weaknesses within construction.
Recommended Resources
Textbooks
GRIFFITH, A. and WATSON, P. (2003) Construction management: Principles and
practice. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
HARRIS, F. and McCaffer, R. (2013) Modern construction management.
Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
KYMMELL, W. (2007) Building information modeling: Planning and managing
construction projects. New York: McGraw Hill Professional.
OTTOSSON, H. (2012) Practical project management for building and construction.
Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Websites
www.ciob.org.uk Chartered Institute of Building
(General Reference)
www.rics.org Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
(General Reference)

*Please access HN Global for additional resources support and reading for this unit. For
further guidance and support on report writing please refer to the Study Skills Unit on
HN Global. Link to www.highernationals.com.