No one builds a house without first having a piece of land, and even after it, no one starts building until they have a plan of what they want to develop and what it would take to create it. This is why the first step of any construction project is planning. During this time, construction project managers have a role in defining the project's overall goals, feasibility, scope, and requirements. This process involves setting a project timeline, determining the budget, assessing potential risks, and stakeholder meetings. For example, during the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya, construction project managers collaborated with engineers, architects, and financial experts to develop a project plan. The plan outlined how the Standard Gauge Railway project would be executed, monitored and controlled. This project plan served as a road map for the construction project managers and other stakeholders as it detailed all the aspects of the project from start to finish. The developed project plan included environmental impact assessments, stakeholder reports, and consultations to ensure that the standard gauge railway being constructed was aligned with the laws of the land and that it met the community needs in the areas it was passing.
After getting land and planning to build a house, the next logical step is to design the house. During this second phase of construction, construction project management is responsible for coordinating design by ensuring that all the architectural, structural, and engineering designs are integrated and meet the project's objectives. In some construction sites, there is a change in designs due to one reason or another. The construction project managers are also responsible for managing design changes that come up as a result of unforeseen issues that require adjustments. For example, during the construction, there might be new
healthcare regulations that could affect the original design of a healthcare facility. In this case, construction project managers will have to have a second look at the project design and find a way to improve it, make adjustments, and still meet project deadlines.
Construction project managers have a role in creating a budget for the entire project and managing costs, or the project will fail. How do they do this? How do they manage costs during a project? It is not magic; it is simple math. Construction project managers create a budget and manage costs throughout the construction project lifecycle using the following technique:
Before a project begins, CPMs work on initial cost estimates to determine the project's overall financial feasibility. During this time, CPMs work with architects, engineers, and other experts to get accurate estimates for labour, materials, equipment, and other essential costs. In addition to working with experts, construction project managers analyze data from similar past projects to get a reliable cost baseline. This data could be historical cost data, industry benchmarks, and current market rates. If none of these methods gives a budget that can be used, CPMs sometimes use analogous estimating (based on similar projects) or parametric estimating (using statistical relationships between historical data and other variables); CPMs create an initial budget estimate.
Once the preliminary estimate is approved, CPMs develop a detailed cost breakdown for the project. For instance, if it were a house, it would be broken down into different rooms. All the rooms will then be assigned cost estimates, which are easier to manage and monitor. For each room, detailed labour, materials, equipment, and subcontractors costs will be calculated. To complete the breakdown, costs will include hourly wages, material prices, equipment rental rates, subcontractor fees and indirect costs such as administrative expenses, utilities, insurance, and site facilities. After all these costs have been broken down, a CPM sets aside a contingency budget to account for unforeseen expenses and risks based on the project’s risk profile and complexity. This detailed breakdown of costs helps construction project managers to remain on budget and manage expenses.
After preparing the cost estimates, construction project managers seek approval of the budget from the stakeholders. CPMs may need to make budget changes or justify costs when the stakeholders review the budget. Once the stakeholders approve, the budget becomes the cost baseline, a reference point for measuring actual project costs against planned costs throughout the project lifecycle.
With the go-ahead of the stakeholders on the budget, construction project managers actively monitor and manage costs throughout the process. They do this through a cost control system that tracks expenses in real time. This often involves using project management software that integrates with accounting systems to monitor actual costs against the budget. From what is being monitored, regular cost reports are generated to assess whether the project is staying within budget and also highlight cost variances to provide insights into potential cost overruns so that CPMs and stakeholders are in the loop and can plan in advance.
Imagine this: You have bought land, planned to build a house, designed the house, made a budget, and then given out the money, and then you do not see any progress in the house you are supposed to be building. How would you feel? I bet you will feel frustrated! Construction Project Managers help us avoid this. They oversee resource management, which is the allocation and management of human resources, materials, and equipment during the project's entire life cycle. For example, when building a house and there are delays due to supply chain issues, CPMs should ensure that the right resources are available at the right time to avoid delays and inefficiencies. They may do this by using just-in-time delivery methods and optimizing workforce allocation to ensure the project remains on schedule.
The construction industry is the only industry in the world that will “host” the future. Most of us live in houses built in the 70’s and roads constructed in the 60’s. The futuristic view of the construction industry makes it important for us to have construction project managers who see the risks that the project faces in the present and the future, as well as find a way to mitigate the risks in question. For instance, while constructing the bridge in Kirinyaga, Kenya, the CPM identified the risk of flooding during the rainy season. Imagine the damage a flooded bridge would cause to the neighbourhood and the people of Kirinyaga! To mitigate this risk, the CPM worked with engineers to design flood-resistant structures and adjusted the project schedule to avoid peak rainy periods.
Human beings tend to like being reminded to deliver on a project. Construction Project managers (CPMs) remind workers to deliver work on time to avoid accruing extra costs and stakeholder dissatisfaction. To do this work efficiently, CPMs develop project timelines, monitor progress, and adjust as needed to keep the project on track.
There are many construction rules and regulations in Kenya. A construction project manager is responsible for ensuring that construction work meets quality standards. This involves setting quality
benchmarks, conducting regular site inspections, material testing, and contractor evaluations, and addressing any issues that arise in the construction project to ensure adherence to quality and standards. A construction project manager is like a screw that holds a table together in the construction industry. It is important to have them to ensure the smooth running of a project. Besides, they manage the entire project, make all decisions and supervise everyone while you just walk by the site and look at the progress while making phone calls; who wouldn’t do that?
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