Every construction manager/contractor undertakes a construction project expecting to complete it successfully. But several factors contribute to projects remaining unfinished. So, how to attain construction management effectively? Experts suggest working smarter, not harder, to ensure that every aspect of your construction project – from planning to controlling – turns out just fine! The Construction Management Association of America reported that project managers in this industry often handle over a hundred responsibilities simultaneously. Hence, these professionals should improve their strategic thinking capabilities to prevent sudden changes in the schedule from disrupting the workflow.
Strategies to complete a construction project
But what kind of challenges become hindrances for a project manager in the construction industry? One survey by McKinsey published in 2016 indicates that bigger projects often take 20% more time than originally scheduled. This publication also suggested that such projects exceed the budget, causing project managers to become financially paralyzed. However, contractors should demonstrate a sense of oversight and diligence to overcome these problems. We’ll explain here how you can make any construction-related undertaking prosperous by implementing our below-mentioned strategies. Just ensure that you’ve preplanned for every possible accident to finish the project effectively. So, here goes:
Hire consultants
First, we suggest contractors and construction company owners employ the services of consultants to complete the project without delays or accidents. From litigation to personnel, these well-experienced professionals can enable builders to counter every common challenge in the construction industry. So, which service should managers leverage to finish a project as per the schedule and under the budget? They should contact the best construction consulting services by HSE with offices in many cities. These consultants offer services including BIM modeling, risk analysis, construction estimating, and other facilities. These services are tailored to enhance the success of your project and finish work on time.
Plan continuously
We suggest project managers start planning months before the project even starts. But this planning should continue until the project has been finished for revisions and modifications. For instance, some projects encounter environmental challenges that require quick design changes. Managers may also collaborate with the stakeholders to develop construction strategies thanks to unforeseen equipment delays and failures. That’s why constantly-changing plans have become a reality today.
Time management
We expect project managers to manage their time smartly by prioritizing the most crucial activities over the ones with secondary importance. So, they shouldn’t occupy themselves with problems that don’t need immediate solutions. For example, managers don’t have to answer every email they receive or attend every call on their phones. So, we suggest delegating these secondary responsibilities to subordinates. Managers must receive constant feedback from them to ensure productivity.
Create a team
You can’t finish a project without assembling the ideal team! Project managers should align people’s qualities with the skills required for the project. They should clarify what’s expected of each team member while explaining their responsibilities individually. As project leaders, managers must mentor their subordinates and offer input to maintain everyone’s profitability. That’s why we expect managers to have fool-proof leadership capabilities so they may tackle every challenge.
Protect employees
It’s estimated that almost 150,000 on-site accidents happen in construction annually, which leads to thousands of workplace injuries. Therefore, don’t neglect the safety of your workers. Workplace fatalities and injuries don’t just cause delays, but they may also result in lawsuits filed against contractors. So, the workforce’s well-being should remain every project manager’s topmost priority while they refrain from using any hazardous shortcut as well.
Ask questions
Project managers mustn’t forget to ask relevant questions and prevent anything from disrupting the workflow on-site. Therefore, we suggest they improve their observation capabilities to manage the project successfully. They should visit the location regularly while conversing with contractors and designers to ensure they’ve understood all aspects of the project. Managers must familiarize themselves with everyone’s duties since the construction industry constantly introduces innovations today.
Budgeting properly
Some British studies have shown that almost 70% of construction endeavors exceed their budget. It has also been observed that nationwide construction projects exceed their budget by 16%. So, we suggest project managers immediately include a 20% contingency in their budgets to tolerate any unexpected expenditure. It can become a safeguard for both contractors and stakeholders while protecting them against unforeseen situations.
Document effectively
Managers must not forget to streamline documentation endeavors to make information accessible to people conveniently. That’s why we suggest going paperless ad embracing digitization so people may remain informed in real-time. Moreover, managers should stay vigilant about the project exceeding the budget or being constantly delayed. Thus, appropriate documentation must be prepared to be seen by the stakeholders when some unforeseen situations occur. That’s how you can prevent any conflict.
Use automation
Why don’t project managers leverage technology to streamline communication? They must reply to several emails, return many calls, and address a bunch of questions regarding the project daily. Implementing an automated reporting system enables them to diminish correspondence effectively. This system ascertains that reports reach the right person while you focus on more crucial duties. These systems can also prevent workplace hazards while tracking the project’s progress.
Reviewing activities
A project manager’s prudence doesn’t allow them to ignore what’s happening on-site. We expect an astute manager to continue reviewing construction activities to detect an issue before it becomes a nuisance at the end! Moreover, construction business owners also shouldn’t leave everything for contractors to handle. Sometimes, negligent owners ignore conflicts that gradually become serious claims without anyone managing them properly. Therefore, while project managers remain responsible for handling these workplace disputes, business owners should also conduct sovereign reviews to recognize conflicts. It helps them address complications that may have been caused by the project manager’s negligence too.
Conclusion
Statistics show that 70% of projects undertaken by organizations often fail thanks to their negligent and incompetent project managers. A British survey published last year further added that nearly two-thirds of larger projects remain unfinished! Detailed studies have revealed that 20% of projects fail in their first year in the construction industry. Then what makes them fail? The culprits are time, money, and people! So, contractors can prevent failure by budgeting effectively, peer-reviewing the design, and creating a reasonable schedule. Moreover, managers must keep communicating and reviewing construction activities. That’s how they can finish a construction project fruitfully without any delay, injury, or excess spending.
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