Managing a construction project can be quite complex as there are so many people, processes, resources, technology, etc. integrated into one package. The final goal is delivering a highly successful project to a client(s) on budget & time, whilst churning in substantial ROI or profits for subcontractors and project stakeholders.

But, getting to that milestone isn’t simple. Construction Project Planning or Construction Project Management is dependent on various parameters viz. budgeting, coordination, planning, tracking, managing, reporting, and more. In practice, a construction project manager takes the responsibility of more than 100 project responsibilities.

Whilst, all these responsibilities can make you overwhelmed, a construction project manager needs to stay composed, and be more manageable. Furthermore, technology serves as an important conduit to simplify complex processes like coordinate responsibilities, track project progress, enhance communication & coordination, and streamline the complete BIM project.

Key functions of Construction Project Planning

These functions can be applied to various construction domains viz. Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure, Hospitality, and more.

Key skills of Construction Project Managers

Construction Project Managers need to garner exceptional management skills to manage a BIM project. This can be done through years of expertise and experience, but modern construction professionals do not have to wait anymore.

A Project Planning Course or Construction Project Planning Course can be leveraged to get certified globally, and certified professionals can begin managing projects right after completing these courses.

Some of the key skills can be listed as –

·         Communication

·         People skills

·         Knowledge skill-set

·         Technical dexterity

·         Managerial skills & key stakeholders

·         Overseeing budget analysis

·         Control on-site construction  

Moving forward, once the bidding process and contract selection are complete, owners can handover the BIM project to contractors wherein the construction management team can begin their work.

Construction Project Planning consists of a globally accepted lifecycle viz.

Here are some of the construction project phases explained in brief –

Initiate – Define the objective and feasibility using project planning tools. Create a PID or Project Initiation Document that serves as a groundwork for the project plan

Plan – Create a project management plan using the following parameters – cost, time, and resources. Other plans or documents in the planning phase includes –

• Scope – define objectives, scope, benefits, etc.
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) – breakdown the scope into smaller sections for each team
• Communication – create and manage an efficient communication flow between various team members
• Risk Management – identify risks in terms of costs, time, change orders, lack of resources, etc.

Execute – execute the project plan whilst assigning roles and resources, it also involves project monitoring, tracking, schedule updates, modifications, etc.

Monitor – monitor project performance based on budget and time

The closing – final phase of the construction project through a complete handover to the owner

Some of the strategies that organizations can implement are listed as follows –

Managing Records – keep track of project documents, be it physical or digital copies

Managing Contracts – set project procedures and expectations for contractors and how contracts are monitored, payments are done, and modifications are taken care of

Procurement – set contract pricing, work scope, standardize documents, etc.

Commissioning – use the commissioning plan to set a direction for the commissioning process, and resolve problems based on responsibilities, scheduling, approvals, reporting, and project coordination

Control – track and manage cost, scope, and schedule. It also helps construction project managers create a project baseline to monitor performance

Documentation – tracking and securing documentation of the complete project is crucial. It includes logs, activities, or any other information that can help maintain the project after handover

Several construction project management techniques can be applied viz.

• Bar Charts or Gantt Charts – create a construction schedule using bar charts and Gantt charts
• Critical Path Method – determine the timeframe of each activity or task. Also used in categorizing important and non-critical activities or tasks
• Line of Balance Scheduling – used for repetitive tasks, assigning resources, meeting project milestones
• Q-Scheduling – used to create a sequence of project activities and their relationships. Also balances repetitive tasks like Line of Balance Scheduling

Conclusion

Effective construction project management benefits owners by enhancing the potential for successful project handover – within budget, on time, and free of complications. While project oversight evolves over the course of the project, it is intended to optimize industry practices, decision making, clear project controls, and reporting methods.