Management of Construction Projects

Brian Cooke

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781118555163
• eBook ISBN: 9781118555156
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Construction & Architectural Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Construction Management is a wide ranging discipline, but ultimately it is a demanding, hands-on discipline concerned with the management of people, plant and materials, all mobilised to complete a building project safely, on time, on budget and to the client's satisfaction.    

Management of Construction Projects is a highly illustrated series of case studies based on seven live construction management projects, demonstrating the very practical nature of managing projects. The detailed case studies cover a variety of construction projects, varying in value from £1million to £117 million, including a major inner city office block, a portal framed factory unit, a university refurbishment project, a superstore & car park and a new school building. The case studies emphasise detailed on site management procedures and identify a predominantly functional approach to managing projects. A number of related chapters covering practical and theoretical aspects of construction management support and illustrate the individual case studies.

With a strong emphasis on the practical nature of the subject, Management of Construction Projects is an ideal introduction to the subject for all students on construction and related degree and diploma programmes. It will be of particular interest to students preparing for the CIOB EPA programme and the new NVQ courses at level 4 and 5 in construction management. 

Chapter 1
Organisation of the Construction Process

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Contents

1. 1.1 Overview of the size of the companies included in the case studies
2. 1.2 Approach to the management of projects included in the case studies
3. 1.3 Organisation principles applied to construction firms
4. 1.4 Functional relationships and line management
5. 1.5 Roles and responsibilities of site management personnel
6. 1.6 Background experience and qualifications forconstruction personnel
7. 1.7 The project manager
8. 1.8 The site manager
9. 1.9 The planning engineer
10. 1.10 The project surveyor
11. 1.11 The procurement manager
12. 1.12 The site engineer
13. 1.13 The clerk of works

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1.1 Overview of the size of the companies included in the case studies

The range of construction firms related to the case studies have been categorised as follows, with respect to organisation size.

• Small firm: 1–49 direct employed staff and operatives
• Medium firm: 50–299
• Large firm: 300–1199
• “Big” firm: over 1200

Project 1: Hotel and office – Galliford Try

Project 2: Industrial factory – Pochin Construction

Project 3: Co-operative office – BAM Projects

Project 4: School project – Mansell (Balfour Group)

Project 5: Retail unit / Car Park – Morgan Sindall

Project 6: University refurbishment – Wates Construction

Project 7: Housing project – G. Construction

Company	Direct employees	Project value £M	Size/category
Galliford Try	2500	12.0	Big
Pochin	250	14.0	Medium
BAM	2500	117.0	Big
Mansell	1000	4.0	Large
Morgan Sindall	4000	11.0	Big
Wates Construction	3500	12.0	Big
G. Construction	10	1.0	Small

1.2 Approach to the management of projects included in the case studies

The majority of organisations in the project case studies undertook a functional approach to the management of their projects. BAM, however, indicated in their company data that they have adopted a matrix organisational structure for the management of projects (see later notes on matrix management).

On contracts up to £5 M in value the project manager / site manager was responsible for direct control of the project. They were supported by visiting personnel undertaking the functions of quantity surveying / planning / design team co-ordination and safety management.

On the larger projects, over £10 M in value, all these functions were site based.

A site organisational structure is indicated for each of the projects in the case studies.

The number of permanent site staff is shown, together with the number of visiting personnel.

It is common practice to place a planning engineer and design team co-ordinator on a major project and allow them to service additional smaller projects from the same contract base.

The site planning engineer had often been involved in the project from the tendering stage. Planning responsibilities often include preparation of:

• pre-tender programme
• contract programme
• procurement programme
• programme progress updates during construction
• programming to completion.

In all the programming stages of a contact Power Project or Team Plan was the commercial software package used. Separate notes are included on using linked bar chart software in practice.

In all the case studies, the site based quantity surveyors were under the direct control of a commercial manager based at head office.

On the larger projects, over £10 M, a senior project surveyor and up to two assistant surveyors were engaged on site. The surveying functions undertaken by the team included:

• liaison with the design team co-ordinator
• preparing monthly payment applications
• dealing with variations to contract
• payment to work package contractors
• preparing cost/value reports for senior management (which took at least 10 days per month t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1: Organisation of the Construction Process
• Chapter 2: Developing Construction Teams
• Chapter 3: Project Planning – Linked Bar Charts and Procurement Programmes
• Chapter 4: Contracts
• Chapter 5: Materials Management
• Chapter 6: Mechanical Handling and Risk Assessment
• Chapter 7: Managing Construction Defects
• Chapter 8: Hotel and Office Project Development
• Chapter 9: The Merlin Project
• Chapter 10: The Co-operative Head Office Building
• Chapter 11: Chinley School Project
• Chapter 12: Retail Unit and Car Park
• Chapter 13: University Refurbishment Project
• Chapter 14: Managing a Small Business
• Index
• End User License Agreement