C0NSTRUTION PROJECT

MANAGEMENT
Project

A project is an assignment/task/job that has to be

undertaken and completed within a set time, budget,
resources and performance specifications designed to meet
the needs of stakeholder and beneficiaries.
Construction projects

1. Public Utilities: Power, water telecoms.

2. Public Works: Major roads, dams, irrigation and drainage

3. Transport: Minor roads, ports, waterways

4. Other: Housing schools, hospitals

 Project Characteristics:
1. To address a specific need or problem

2. A start and finish point

3. A number of interrelated and interdependent activities

4. A set life cycle

5. A budget

6. Requires resources.

7. Unique and requires a defined set of activities

8. Completed within a time frame

9. Requires management
For example

• The Canadian International Donor Agency (CIDA) has donated

K7.5 million to provide 3 bedrooms homes to 50 families living
in the Kamanga informal settlement. On 6 February 2004, the
agency signed a contract with the Department of Housing to
implement the project.
The following requirements, amongst others were set in the contract:
The 3 bedroomed houses must meet specifications in line with government
policy.

In order to ensure sustainability and affordability for the 50 families, the
head of each of the 50 families must be given skills development training in
small business development and small business start-up. This is to ensure
that the families will be able to afford rentals, maintenance of the homes and
to expand their homes to accommodate the growth of the families in the
future.

The project must be completed within three years and the handover of the
homes to the 50 families must be a high profile public event.
From the example we see:

• a clear task - build 3 bedroomed homes for 50 families;

• a set time – within 3 years;

• a budget – K7.5 million;

• performance specifications to meet the stakeholder needs – houses that meet the
specifications in line with government policy, training for the head of each
family;

• beneficiaries – 50 families;

• stakeholders – donor agency, Department of Housing

WHAT IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT?

Project Management is the use of knowledge, skills, tools,

and techniques to plan and implement activities to meet or
exceed stakeholder needs and expectations from a project.
 Project stakeholders

Project stakeholders are individuals and organisations who are

actively involved in the project, or whose interests may be positively or
negatively affected by the project.
 Project Stakeholders:
1. Owners

2. Users

3. Financiers

4. Operators

5. Interest groups (Public, environmental activists, land owners etc)

6. Constructors
Key stakeholders in the example above include:
Project Manager - the individual responsible for managing the project;

Project beneficiaries – 50 families who are going to receive the houses;

Performing organisation – the Department of Housing whose employees

are most directly involved in doing the work of the project;

Sponsor – Canadian International Development Agency.

In addition to these there are many different typical
stakeholders:
Suppliers and contractors – e.g. Construction companies, Skills
development and education and training organisations, legal firms,
events management company;

Project team members and their families;

Government agencies – e.g. local municipality.

Community representatives and organisations

Functions of Construction project management
o Specification of project objectives and plans including delineation of scope,
budgeting, scheduling, setting performance requirements, and selecting project
participants.

o Maximization of efficient resource utilization through procurement of labor,

materials and equipment according to the prescribed schedule and plan.

o Implementation of various operations through proper coordination and control

of planning, design, estimating, contracting and construction in the entire
process.

o Development of effective communications and mechanisms for resolving

conflicts among the various participants.
Design/development Phase:

1. Prepare Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

2. Project Plan
3. Project Schedule
4. Resource Schedule
5. Procurement and contracts
6. Risk management plan
7. Quality management plan
Illustrative Hierarchical Structure of Management Functions
 PROJECT ORGANISATION

ORGANIZING THE PROJECT TEAM

There is no single organizational approach to projects. Each project

is organized to accomplish the work effectively and efficiently.
Several factors influence the organizational approach to execute a
project.

• The complexity profile of a project

• The culture of the parent organization

• The preferences of the project manager

• The knowledge and skills of the team

• Parent organization with a project management office

The project manager considers the span of control for each manager.

The project manager does not want all the engineers on a project reporting to the
engineering manager and assigns senior engineers to report to the engineering manager with other
engineers reporting to the senior engineers.

The engineering manager can organize the engineering reporting structure so that the various engineering
discipline managers would report to him or her.

The structural, electrical, and mechanical engineering team leaders would report to the
engineer manager.

On a larger, more complex project, the engineer manager may establish area team leaders and have the
structural, electrical, and mechanical engineers report to an area team leader.
Most projects have similar functions that are important to successfully
managing the project. Included among these are the following

• Sponsor
• Project manager
• Controls
• Procurement
• Technical management
• Quality
• Administration
Typical Project Organizations
CLOSE-OUT
The Project Site Manager is responsible for the following activities involved with project close-out

involving the following:

Completing activities related to the close-out of construction.

Completing close-out activities assigned by the Client and Project Director

Project Closeout shall include a full synergy of the following areas:

Technical closure;

Administrative closure;

Financial closure

Archiving files