Project management for construction is a complex process that must combine the efforts of a number of individuals in order to be successful. According to Hendrickson (2000) "Like the five blind men encountering different parts of an elephant, each of the numerous participants in the process of planning, designing, financing, constructing and operating physical facilities has a different perspective on project management for construction" (Chapter 1). Hendrickson goes on to note that while specialized knowledge can facilitate the development of a construction project, those in charge of construction must have a clear understanding of the way in which each of the parts of the project fits together. What this effectively suggests is that project management in construction requires the use of a wide range of skills that require the project manager to be both facilitator and expert.With the realization that construction projects carry with them the challenge of being complex integrative tasks, project managers working on construction projects will ultimately encounter a number of problems and issues when undertaking these types of projects. Given the importance of project management to the overall success of the construction project, it is helpful for professionals to consider some of the specific issues that can promulgate distress in this setting such that steps can be taken to mitigate negative outcomes and improve project completion.
[...] is possible for a construction project to be delivered on time and within budget when the customer is unsure of his or her needs—the answer appears to be Discussion/Recommendations While the central question posed in this investigation has been answered, the reality of applying theory into practice is that oftentimes it does not work effectively. To illustrate this point one only needs to consider in the construction of the CVC undertaken by the federal government. In the context of this case, it becomes evident that the inability of the project owner to effectively develop the scope of the project had a detrimental impact on the ability of the manager to complete the project within the specified time frame and budget. [...]
[...] Given that project managers are fully aware of the implications of these issues with respect to the development of cost and time estimates it is evident that the construction management team should have addressed these issues when constructing a budget and a time schedule for this particular project. If these issues could not be effectively addressed in the context of the relationship established between the owner and the project manager formidable steps to further focus the project before initiating construction should have been undertaken by the project manager. [...]
[...] It is for these reasons that Laufer, Howell and Rosenfeld maintain that detailed work plans for short-term construction activities cannot: be completed early in the project development; cover an extensive amount of time; or be prepared by one individual or specialist working on the construction project. Although the information provided by Laufer, Howell and Rosenfeld provides a clear method for understanding how problems in construction projects can be identified, researchers looking at the broader context of the problems that can arise in construction management suggest that the very nature of construction is one that carries with it considerable risk. [...]
[...] By providing a clear overview of the management issues involved in the construction process, it will be possible to determine if it is indeed possible to meet budget and time constraints when an owner is unsure of his or her needs. Only through a careful consideration of the specific issues that impact decision making in the management of construction projects will it be possible to formulate a clear and cohesive answer to this question. Project Management in Construction—An Owner's View? [...]
[...] Conclusion In the end, the current literature on construction management clearly suggests that it is difficult, if not impossible, for managers and owners to effectively mitigate all of the problems that can occur in the context of project development. If project managers are to successfully complete construction projects, they must effectively realized the limitations that are imposed when voters do not provide construction teams with a clear scope and focus for the overall development of their project. Unfortunately, even though current models of cost estimation provide a wide range of methods for project managers to effectively assess the multitude of variables that can impact project development, specific methods for assessing the costs associated with the issue of client impact on the project has not yet been fully developed. [...]
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