CONCEPT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT

WHAT IS A PROJECT?
Project Management Institute of USA, defines a project as a Temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. The UK Association for Project Management defines as a discrete undertaking with defined objectives often include Time, Cost and Quality. The British Standard Institute defines a project as Unique set of coordinated activities , with define starting and finishing points undertaken by an individual or organization to meet specific objectives with defined schedules, cost and performance parameters.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROJECT
It is temporary , having a start to and a finish. It is unique in some way. It has specific objective It is the cause and means of change. It involve risks and uncertainty. It involves the commitment of human ,material and human resources.

COMPLETION OF A PROJECT
Project may finish : By reaching the project objective. By discovering that the objectives cannot be reached. By terminating the project arbitrary.

PROJECT LIFE CYCLE

A Project having several phases. They are: Beginning ,Middle and End. Occur sequentially. Experience technical transfer.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The PMI defines Project management as The application of knowledge ,skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirement. The UK Association for Project Management defines it as Planning, Organization, Monitoring, and Control of all aspect of a project and the Motivation, of all involved to achieve the project objectives on time to Cost ,Quality, and Performance.

PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS
Project Stakeholders are individuals and organizations that are actively involved in the project, or whose interest may be affected as a result of project execution or project completion. In a Civil Engineering Construction Project Stakeholders will be. Client Consultant and Contractor.

PROJECT MANAGER
The PM is the person responsible for accomplishing the project objectives. The Project Management Team has a professionally responsibility to its stakeholders, including customers, the performing organization and the public. Primary responsibility of the Project Manager is to ensure that all work is completed on time , within the budget and scope , and at the correct performance level.

 That is PM role is to manage the project ,not do the work. This is because PM job is not a technical job. It is about getting people to perform work that must be done to meet the objective of the project. So the skills that a PM needs are people skills. Therefore the skills need to do this aspect are Planning, Organizing,Motivating,Controlling and Communicating.

. Many Project Managers who have strong technical background find it difficult to deal with people effectively. They are things "oriented not people oriented. The Project Managers job is mostly about dealing with people , and it is absolutely essential that you exercise ,Leadership as well as Management Skills

PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESS

A Process is way of doing things. There are FIVE process that are used to manage a Civil Engineering Projects. They are: 1.Initiating 2.Planning & Design 3.Excuting 4.Monitoring & Control 5.Handover.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
In Project Management following interpersonal relationships are needed. 1Effective communication. 2.Influencing the Organization. 3.Leadership 4.Motivation 5.Negotiating and Conflict Management 6.Problem Solving.

PROJECT TEAM
. There are many groups of people involved in both Project and Project Management Cycle.eg:In a Civil Engineering Project they will be Client, Consultant & Contractor. The Project Team is the Group of people responsible for Planning & Designing(Consultants) & Executing(Contractors)

 Project Manager is the person responsible for ensuring that the Project Team Completes the work. This he will do by using the management skills such as Planning, Oganizing,Motivating,Controlling and Communicating. The Project Manager also responsible for secure acceptance and approval of each stage of the project form the Client who is the main Stakeholder of a Civil Engineering Project. Also he is responsible for communication , including statues reporting and making sure the project is delivered in budget on schedule and within scope.

 Project Team Members are responsible for executing tasks and producing deliverables as outlined in the Project Plan and directed by the Project Manager. A Project Manager of a particular Project would consider the task well done if the project finished on time ,according to its specified performance and within its budgeted costs. These three objectives(Time, Quality, Costs.) are the basic parameters for measuring project success or failure.

SUCCESS/FAILURE CRITERIA OF A PROJECT

Success or a Failure of a project is depend on several criteria In relation to the initial project definition. Initial project definition period is clearly too early for anyone to measure the success or failure of the project but it is the time in the projects life history when the foundation for success or failure laid.

 Failure during project fulfillment period. When authorization has been given for the project to start, it is the Consultant and Contractor who take over most of the responsibility for success or failure. The success of the Consultant or Contractor will usually be judged according to how well they achieve the three primary objectives, Time ,Quality and cost. Failure during the benefit realization period. In most industrial and manufacturing projects the project owner should start to realize the expected benefits immediately or shortly after the project is successfully finished and handed over.

Concept of Project Management

In the owners point of view a Construction Project includes following stages. +Planning +Designing +Financing +Constructing +Operating of physical facilities.

 Specialized knowledge in each of above discipline can be very beneficial , particularly in large and complicated projects , since experts in various specialties can provide valuable service. How ever it is advantageous to understand how the different parts of the process fit together. Waste, excessive cost and delays can result from poor coordination and communication among these specialist.

 It is particularly in the interest of owners to insure that such problems do not occur. And it is important all that all participants in the process to heed the interest of the owner because ,.in the end , it is the owner who provide the resources for the project. To safeguard owners from such situations process of Project Management is important rather than the historical roles of various specialist such as Planners,Archtects,Engineers,Contractors and others.

 It is through the understanding of entire process of Project Management that these specialists can respond more effectively to the owner's desire of their services. Project Management not only can aid the construction industry , but also be the engine for the national economy. To understand the Concept of Project Management it is important to understand the construction industry, its operating environment which affects its activities.

THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE

A Project is conceived to meet market demands or needs .The Project Life Circle includes: Conceptual Planning & Feasibility Design and Engineering(Construction Plans & Specifications) Procument and Construction.(Completion of Construction) Startup for Occupancy(Acceptance of Facility) Operation & Maintence(Full filament of Useful Life) Disposal of Facility.

 Some owners may have in-house capacities to handle the work in every stage of the entire process. Most owners choose to handle some of the work in-house(Conceptual Planning & feasibility) and to contract outside professional services for other components of the work needed.(Design & Engineering and Construction)

 The Project Life Circle may be viewed as a process through which a project is implemented from cradle to grave. Various stages of the Project Life Circle are integrated to obtain the final out come. Although each stage requires different expertise , it is usually includes both Technical & Managerial activities of the specialist.

 Very often, the owner retains direct control of work Planning and Programming stages, but increasingly outside Planners and Financial Experts are used as Consultants because of the complexity of the project. All stages from conceptual planning, and feasibility studies to the acceptance of a facility for occupancy may be broadly lumped together and referred as Design/Construct process. Operation & Maintence of a facility will go on long after the completion of the project and its responsibility lies on the Owner and he should consider the Life Cycle Cost of the facility.

SELECTING A SUITABLE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE

There is no single best approach in organizing Project Life Cycle. All organizational approaches have advantages and disadvantages. It is important for the owner to be aware of the approach which is most appropriate and beneficial for a particular project. When selecting owners should be concerned with the LIFE CYCLE COST of constructed facility rather than simply the initial construction cost. Saving small amounts of money during the construction may not be worthwhile if the result is much larger OPEARTATING COST or not meeting the functional requirements for the new facility satisfactorily.

 Therefore owner should very concerned with the quality of the finished product as well as the cost of construction itself. Since facility operations and maintenance is a part of Project Life Cycle , the owners expectation to satisfy investment objective during the project life cycle will require consideration of the cost of operation and maintence. Therefore the facilities Operating Management should also be considered as early as possible , just as the construction process should be kept in mind at the early stage of Planning & Programming.

Role of Project Manager

The management of construction projects require knowledge of modern management as well as understanding of the Design & Construction process. Generally Project Management is distinguished from the General Management of corporations by the Mission-Oriented. A Project Organization will generally be terminated when the mission is accomplished.

 By contrast the General Management of business of a industrial corporation assumes a broader outlook with greater continuity of operations. Nevertheless the one significant similarities as well as differences between that of modern management techniques deployed for General Management may be adopt for Project management as well. A working knowledge of General Management and familiarity of the special knowledge relevant to the project are very important for a Project Manager . Supporting discipline such as Computer Based Systems and also play an important role in Project Management.

 Function of Project Management for Construction Project includes following. Specifications and Project Objectives, Plans including Scope, Budgeting ,Scheduling Performance requirements, and selecting project participants. Maximization of efficient Resource Utilization through procument of labour,materials,and equipment according to the Project Schedules.

 Implementation of various operations through proper coordination and control of Planning Design, Estimating, Controlling the entire construction process. Development of effective communications and mechanisms for resolving conflicts among the various parties. The Project Management Institute focuses on Nine distinct areas requiring Project Management knowledge. They are :

 1.Project Integration Management: to ensure that various project elements are effiecntly coordinated. 2.Project Scope Management: To ensure that all the work required is included.

3.Project Time Management: To provide efficient project Schedule.

4.Project Procument Management: to obtain necessary resources from external resources. 5.Project Cost Management: to identify needed resources and maintain budget control.

 6.Project Quality Management: to ensure functional requirements are met. 7.Project Human Resource Management: to develop and effectively employ project personal

8.Project Risk Management: to analyze and mitigate potential risks. 9.Project Communication Management: to ensure effective internal and external communication.