Construction management (CM) is a long and extremely demanding process. It’s the foundation for every building project and the key to its success.
The main purpose of construction management is to sharply control and monitor the progress of a project in terms of quality, cost and time. It covers a wide spectrum of responsibilities and it spreads to many different fields (construction, engineering, law, software etc).
For that reason, the role of a construction manager is considered to be fundamental. To ensure a project’s progress, a competent project manager with a plethora of competencies and skills is required. Building projects are in constant need for last minute changes and in that aspect, a strong team leader who can maintain stability and facilitate the coordination between the team members is a must.
Without further ado, let’s have a close look at the core processes and principles of construction management. It’s going to be a long but very informative journey!
Contents
- Construction management definition
- Construction manager: Duties and responsibilities
- The role of a general contractor
- Construction management 101: The key functions
- Winning a construction project
- Construction management phases
- Construction management and scheduling
- Choosing the right construction project management software
- Construction progress documentation
- Construction risk management
- Keeping up with risk in construction project management
- Construction management process on site
- Common causes of project failure
- Dispute resolution in construction management
- Managing change in construction project management
- 35 questions all construction managers should ask
- Top 5 construction management books
- Top 50 construction management schools
- Synopsis
Construction management definition
According to CMAA, construction management is ‘a service that implements specialized, project management methods to manage the design, construction and the planning of a project, from its start to its end‘. The project management process in construction can be extremely perplexed but its main core is always the same.
The coordination, planning, and completion of a project regardless of its type (e.g. commercial, residential, industrial, agricultural, heavy civil). Solid construction management requires good real-time communication between the various project stakeholders.
What makes construction management so challenging is the need for a thorough knowledge of a vast number of areas such as budgeting, business, law, and mediation. At the end of the day, though, the only thing that matters is the delivery of a successful construction project to the client.
Construction manager: Duties and responsibilities
In simple words, construction managers are the ones who are responsible for the project to proceed according to the existing plan. The primary mission for construction managers is to manage their project in a way that will ensure its completion on the agreed budget and time.
Furthermore, they should make sure that the whole project is complying with the set building plans, codes and other regulations.
As CMAA reports, a construction manager has up to 120 different responsibilities during the execution of a building project. These 120 responsibilities can be divided into the following categories:
- Set the budget and run cost assessments.
- Plan the work time schedule.
- Select the right construction methods and strategies for their project.
- Maintain a close and good relationship with the clients.
- Negotiating contract agreements with workers and other project agents.
- Take good care of the workers on site.
- Work together with the numerous consultants of the project.
The role of a general contractor
The completion of the design stage signifies that the construction manager is now ready to search for the contractor who will handle the project. Matt Plaskoff, Founder and CEO of One Week Bath, explains that the typical responsibilities of a general contractor are to coordinate more than three trades on a project.
In an effort to provide some additional details, Matt Plaskoff highlights that general contractors’ responsibilities cover four vital areas:
- Overall liability for the project
- Coordination of the trades
- Allocation of the resources
- Problem-solving expertise when issues emerge
There are two types of general contractors. On the one hand, it’s those who will execute based on the vision of the architect and the designer. On the other hand, there are design-build contractors who are responsible both for the execution and the creation of the project’s design. It is apparent, then, that general contractors are playing a fundamental role during the building process and that their role varies depending on their involvement during the design stage of the project.
Construction management 101: The key functions
Every construction project has certain objectives that need to be met. It goes without saying that many times these objectives may overlap. In such cases, the role of a construction manager is fundamental. S/he is the one who will have to provide clarity in regard to the given objectives and prevent costly disputes that could hinder the uneventful progress of the project. With this in mind, we could summarize the key construction management functions to the following four:
- Clearly setting the objectives and the scope of the project. Planning also a massive number of different parameters such as scheduling, establishing performance standards, budgeting, and choosing the participants of the project.
- Improving resource allocation by ameliorating the procurement process and equipment management.
- Executing numerous operations as a result of the effective coordination and monitoring of the entire process (eg. design, contracting, planning, etc).
- Building strong communication channels in order to either avoid or resolve project conflicts.
Winning a construction project
The bidding process can be long and challenging. A parameter that can affect the perplexity of the bidding process is, of course, the total number of contractors who are bidding for the job. A bidding process starts when the project owner shares information regarding the project with contractors and subcontractors in an attempt to plead for bids.
First things first, cost estimation is built based on the available material take-offs and blueprints. Like that, a client can have an overview of the budget that will be required for the general contractor to execute the project successfully. There are two main types of bids that contractors can anticipate:
- Open bid: Open bids normally attract a lot of attention and they are very common when it comes to public construction projects. In open bid projects, every contractor has the opportunity to place an offer.
- Closed bid: Close bids are normally preferred in private projects. In this case, the client (the project owner) can invite a particular group of contractors to place their offer.
As soon as project owners receive all bids, there are certain selection methods that they can follow in order to decide who will eventually get the project. The same selection methods apply both to open and closed bids:
- Low-bid selection: Price is the most decisive parameter in the first bid selection technique. The contractor who places the lowest bid is the winner of the process.
- Best value selection: This is a more inclusive selection method as the client is taking two distinct elements in consideration: the price of the bid and the qualifications of the contractor. In other words, it’s a value for money selection approach.
- Qualifications-based selection: Similarly to the first method, in this case, there is again only one decisive factor. But this time instead of money this time is qualifications that matter the most. Except for their bid price, contractors should submit a report that documents their experience, their workflow and the management plans that will allow them to keep the project within the set schedule and budget.
The final stage of the bidding process is the selection of the contractor who will execute the project. As soon as the contractor is chosen, the two sides (client and contractor) should find the payment model that fits better with their project. There are four distinct models they can choose from:
- Lump-sum: This is the number one choice in most of the construction projects. The client agrees with the contractor on a set price which the first should pay regardless of the project’s outcome.
- Unit price: When the two parties can’t agree on a specific price, a unit price is decided for every phase of the project.
- Cost-plus fee: That’s the most beneficial agreement for contractors. Simply put, in this case, the client is the one who should cover any additional costs during the building process.
- Guaranteed maximum price: There is a standard price decided by the contractor and the project owner which cannot be surpassed.
Construction management phases
Now that the bidding process has reached its end, the construction project should officially begin. The management of a building project is quite different than the management of another type of project. Nevertheless, there are some core project management principles that remain the same. A construction project typically consists of five basic phases:
1. Initiation
Prior to the beginning of a building project, a construction manager should compile a business case that examines the feasibility of the project. A feasibility report is necessary for many projects. After its submission, the different project sides can determine whether it’s a good idea to proceed with their plan. If everybody agrees that they should go on with the project, the construction manager puts together a PID (Project Initiation Document) which covers the scope of the business as well as business needs.
2. Planning
This is where all the core guidelines are established. The manager of the project is building a PMP (Project Management Plan) which includes information about several crucial aspects of the project, such as an execution roadmap and cost estimations.
What is challenging when it comes to planning is that it’s a long process that is never over. There will always be project alterations until the project is completed.
Construction planning can be much easier and cheaper with construction software.
Planning is also a heavy phase in terms of documentation. More specifically, there is a need for four different types of documents in the course of the planning stage:
- Communication plan: A strong and very thorough communication scheme should be built. The document should cover the different aspects of communication in order to establish a smooth information flow during the execution of the project.
- Scope document: It is regarded as one of the most basic documents for every construction project. It includes and comprehensively analyses the purpose, the advantages, the needs and the key elements of the project.
- WBS (work breakdown structure): This is a document that represents the scope of the whole project in a straightforward and understandable manner.
- Risk management plan: A risk management plan document entails all the potential threats for the project. It is a powerful document which can help project managers to plan in advance and handle the project resources in a way that doesn’t put the whole elaborated plan in danger.
3. Execution
This is where the execution of the construction project actually begins. This stage of the process typically consists of two distinct processes: a) the project execution and b) the project controlling and monitoring.
Read more here: Construction project management processes – Everything you need to know
During this phase, the project team continuously ensures that all the tasks progress as they should. Meetings are held on a regular basis in an effort to cover every aspect of the construction process.
4. Monitoring
Construction managers dedicate most of their time to supervising the project and adjusting its schedule according to the latest changes and issues that have emerged. In that way, a manager can maintain project control.
5. Closure
Last but not least, the closing phase of the project. This stage represents the completion and delivery of the project. At this point, the construction manager examines whether the project has met its initial objectives and whether the initial budget estimations were successful. In the end, s/he compiles a report which presents the final outcome of the project and which can be a valuable source of knowledge for future building projects.
Construction management and scheduling
As Matt Ghinn, Project Director at VolkerFitzpatrick, mentions the programme is king in construction. You have to deliver on time, otherwise, it’s going to cost you a lot of money and put your project under extreme pressure. That being said, construction projects are in need of digital solutions that can provide visibility across the supply chain and allow the numerous project stakeholders to monitor closely every single detail around the project. Briefly, here are four fundamental components of scheduling in construction management:
1. Real-time task allocation
Creating, assigning, and prioritising tasks in real-time during the development of a construction project is of paramount importance. In that way, you can make sure that all problems are addressed on time and that costly delays can be avoided. Simply put, it’s the first step toward avoiding misunderstandings in the sector.
2. Online progress tracking
The digitization of the construction industry is gradually progressing and it goes without saying that scheduling is part of this process. In that sense, being able to monitor progress online and in real-time can help you accelerate the project’s progress and shorten the project’s cycle.
It is essential to track construction progress in real-time, with the right digital tool.
3. Push schedule to workers
As soon as tasks have been assigned and a clear plan of action has been established then it’s time to communicate this work plan to all workers involved. Through a reliable construction software this can happen in real-time allowing the team to coordinate their next steps faster and effortlessly.
4. Notify all subcontractors on mobile
When it comes to scheduling in construction management, one of the most common problems is the lack of trust across the supply chain. As a result, subcontractors end up delaying their assigned tasks in the fear of previous subcontractors not completing their work on time.
This leads to significant project delays and to construction sites being abandoned for weeks before the next task begins. This is where digital tools come in the picture. Allowing subcontractors to monitor the progress of the numerous tasks by using their mobile can speed things up and bring back some trust between the different project stakeholders.
Don’t miss out: Punch list for construction – The ultimate guide
Choosing the right construction project management software
By now, it’s evident that construction management can be remarkably perplexed. The bright side is that digital tools have simplified the construction process a lot during the last years. And that’s only the beginning. As technology progresses, digital tools are expanding their presence in the industry.
That being said, it’s very important to know what to look for when you search for the right construction project management software. In a nutshell, here are a few elements that you want to keep in mind:
Real-time communication
Being able to communicate the latest information about your construction project in real-time is considered to be fundamental. Live construction management can help both the construction manager and the project team to remain well-informed about the latest issues and changes in the project. Thanks to this, they will be able to tackle any costly project delays and prevent harmful mistakes before they happen.
Furthermore, real-time communication can decrease the administrative burden. For instance, by the use of a reliable real-time project management tool, a construction manager would be able to create automatically progress reports. No more time wasted every day in order to create them manually. What is more, digital tools can accelerate the material ordering process keep everybody in the team updated about the current needs on-site.
Lastly, the project plan can be hosted in the cloud where the different project agents and stakeholders can have access whenever they need to. LetsBuild is an excellent example of how digital tools could empower communication in construction:
Connecting site and office
One of the biggest dangers during a construction project is poor coordination between the people who work on-site and those who work in the office. By implementing trustworthy construction digital tools, a project manager can maintain better control of everything that takes place on-site.
At the same time, the workers can easily report back to the office any problems that they may have encountered. In that manner, a stronger bond between the two project sides is created, productivity is boosted and project delays are easily avoided.
For all the above to happen, though, a construction manager needs first to search the market carefully and find the right reporting tool which can enable the connection between the office and the site. Here are some of the most indispensable features that a project manager in construction needs to look for when it comes to mobile field reporting:
- Simple to use: It has to be an easy to use app, so every member of the project can use it fast and without any problems. Moreover, the simpler it is the more possible for the workers to use it.
- Real-time updates: We already mentioned this above, but it is really vital. Both project stakeholders and the personnel on-site should be able to receive instant notifications when there is a change in the project schedule. Like that, everybody can stay on the same page and remain productive.
- Daily progress reports: Being able to create daily reports about the progress of the project is another element that should always be part of your mobile field reporting tool.
- Photo reporting: Pictures can speak volumes and in that sense, being able to take photos on site and add them automatically on your progress report is powerful. Construction apps, such as GenieBelt provide construction managers with the opportunity to take and upload photos on their projects:
Providing a live overview of the project
We noticed earlier that construction projects can be really messy. Especially when we are referring to large-scale building projects, construction managers can easily lose track and put the development of a project in danger. A top-performing reporting construction software can tackle this problem and help project stakeholders to regain control.
That being said, live project overviews and functional Gantt Charts are regarded as crucial parts of the building process. Such tools can help the project manager to monitor their projects and constantly remain informed about their status.
This will allow them to receive alerts about any problematic situations and will offer them valuable project insight. Here is how a Gantt Chart looks like in LetsBuild:
Project insights
Data is another extremely important element on our list. The biggest gift of digitisation for construction is project intelligence. Thanks to the use of construction software, project managers can effortlessly preserve critical project information based on which they can decide the next steps for their team.
On top of that, they can generate and collect valuable project intelligence which can be very useful for future projects. Predictive analytics could be a great example. Just by analysing the captured data for the weather conditions of a particular area, a project manager can adjust project tasks accordingly.
Like that, you can feel confident that no bricklaying tasks will take place under ice-cold temperatures for instance. Below you can see how a weather report looks like in LetsBuild:
The programme is king
Matt Ghinn, Project Director at VolkerFitzpatrick, referred to the programme as the king of the construction process and he couldn’t be more right.
“Within the industry, the programme is king. If we don’t deliver on time, it’s going to cost us more money or alternatively costs someone more money. So having been using LetsBuild to provide that visibility up the chain, sales managers, senior managers can see what is going on the project”, says Matt Ghinn.
Taking control over the supply chain is crucial and reliable construction management software can help you with that. Through the submission of real-time updates, you can keep all project stakeholders on the same page and ensure that there are no project misunderstandings which could lead to budget overruns and high rework time.
On top of that, the capturing and scientific analysis of the available data could help decisively with increasing standardisation in construction, introducing the concept of repeatability and avoiding any latency risks.
Construction progress documentation
Many different tasks are executed on-site on a daily basis. That being said, it’s really important that everything is well-documented and that any points of concern are reported. It comes as no surprise, then, that a normal day on-site requires the update of numerous documents. In short, these are the construction progress documents that are updated daily:
- Diaries: Keeping a project diary is regarded as a ‘must-do’ for every project agent. Summaries of everything that happens on-site are included in project diaries. Many times, they are used as the basis for the resolution of project disputes. It is worth mentioning that handwritten diaries can be accepted in court as evidence.
- Logs: There are different types of logs. All of them are used in order to monitor the progress of routine activities on site. Some examples of construction logs are the following: 1. Phone logs 2. Delivery logs 3. Transmittal logs 4. Request for Information logs (RFI)
- Daily field reports: Daily progress reports are regarded as a more official project document. It describes everything about the day’s tasks, weather, delivered materials or equipment, and site visitors that day.
- Other documents: There also a few more documents that should be filled on-site every day. A nice example could the labor planning documentation (PERT CPM).
Excessive paperwork is one of the most critical problems of almost every project in construction. Thankfully, with the advent of digital technologies, things are beginning to change. The automatic generation of daily field reports and the ability to keep detailed track of your daily task activities on your mobile have accelerated decisively the documentation process in construction.
Construction risk management
It is no secret that construction projects and risks are going hand and hand. With that in mind, a solid construction risk management plan is seen as a must-have. Nevertheless, in order for a risk plan to be successful, the project team has to be familiar with the different types of risk that might emerge along the way:
- Low or negative margins combined with a high risk of profit.
- Health and safety risks.
- Project disputes.
- Budget overruns and substantial delays in the completion of a project.
- High rework rates.
- We need to generate a high ROI based on the funds invested in the project.
- Lack of transparency or miscommunication across the supply chain.
- Data breach.
- Bureaucracy and heavy administration demands.
- Unforeseen factors such as extreme weather phenomena and social turmoil.
The above risk factors manifest why construction is such a tough industry and why investing in communication between the various stakeholders while monitoring closely the development of the project is crucial. A common practice for keeping up with risk in construction is the introduction of a 10% contingency to cover risk. But that doesn’t always work given the fact that unpredicted sources of trouble can always emerge in the course of a project.
Keeping up with risk in construction project management
This is also why a reliable risk assessment process can make a big difference in the long-run. As you can see in the following diagram by Stakeholdermap.com there are a plethora of parameters that should be taken into consideration:
By now, it’s evident that identifying risk is just one of the steps for an effective construction management process fortified against risk and hazardous situations.
Construction management process on site
Throughout the build process, there will have been issues which occur. Sometimes it is a design conflict between two components, such as a window where an internal wall is to go; sometimes it is non-availability of the specified material; at others, it is defective workmanship. Many of these the sub-contractors will put right themselves, or be instructed to do so by the main contractor. Some, however, are fundamental.
They will affect the timely completion if the original specification is adhered to. They may even drive a contractor to insolvency. It is on these occasions that the contractor is blessed if he has a construction professional on the client’s team. He can, quite openly, say ‘I have a problem’.
There is then an immediate understanding of the problem and its implications for the project as a whole. When this happens during the construction phase, as well as during the de-snagging, the client-side project manager has to retain a sense of proportion. Proportionality becomes critical. Will the defect impede the intended use of the building? Or can it be got around by a little lateral thinking?
More important, will sticking on the letter of the contract delay timely completion, hand-over and occupation of the building? These are times for an outbreak of common sense and a spirit of give-and-take. Forgive the main office ceiling being 50 m/m too low and have the bike rack, which everyone forgot about, in exchange. This is the spirit of partnering with your contractor.
Common causes of project failure
A construction project can be led to failure for a vast number of reasons. Below you can take a glimpse at some of the most noteworthy failure factors including also some vital questions that every project agent should always keep in mind:
Fragmented supply chain
The lack of a clear hierarchy and a straightforward flow of information can result in a confused and highly fragmented supply chain. Having too many decision-makers in one place can eventually hinder collaboration and lead to a disoriented project team.
This is one of the most common obstacles that construction project managers need to overcome today. The rise of digital tools can be a significant game-changer in the long run and re-establish trust between project agents. This could gradually lead to a more efficient construction industry with fewer delays and budget overruns.
Power of habit
One of the biggest enemies both for a construction project and the entire sector is habit. The reluctance of construction agents to change the way they work and support a new more digitised approach is a big challenge for the sector in the effort to embrace an open data-ecosystem.
Lack of trust in contractual relations
Contractual relations are often a source of danger for the smooth development of a construction project. There are many cases where a construction site remains inactive for weeks, even months, due to miscommunication or lack of trust between subcontractors.
Just to give an example, subcontractors may not believe that their colleagues will complete their tasks on time, so they delay the beginning of their activities in order to save resources.
This leads to a chain of delays which have a serious effect on the final cost of the project. These are only a few of the factors that could make a construction project fail. The industry seems to be in a stalemate but the advent of digital solutions seems to change gradually things for the better. Despite the encouraging progress, though, construction disputes can still emerge.
Dispute resolution in construction management
The larger a construction project is, the higher the probability for a legal conflict to arise. A construction manager should always be ready to provide project stakeholders with solutions to project disputes that may emerge. In a nutshell, here are the three main ways in which a conflict in construction can be resolved:
- Mediation: The appointment of a mediator can be the way to go many times in construction. A mediator is a neutral party who helps the two conflicting parties to find some common ground and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. This is a soft type of dispute resolution, as no attorneys are involved.
- Minitrial: A minitrial is more demanding than a mediation both in terms of money and time. An attorney or an independent advisor is involved. The resolution of the dispute can come after an agreement between the two parties in dispute or the advice that the third independent party will provide. Minitrial agreements are non-legally binding and can be canceled.
- Arbitration: Arbitration is the most pricey method of conflict resolution and it can take a significant amount of time. Both parties have an attorney and the right to call witnesses. All the evidence have to be presented during the hearing. In the end, the arbitrator will announce the final verdict. The decision is binding for the two disputing sides.
Unfortunately, disputes will always be part of the picture in construction. However, the collection and smart use of project data can prevent many unpleasant disputes and ensure that the conflicting parties will eventually reach an objective and fair decision.
Managing change in construction project management
One of the highest obstacles for the digitisation of the sector has to do with the resistance to change that many industry stakeholders manifest. This is also one of the biggest bets for the entire sector. Fighting the power of habit within the industry. It’s a long and extremely demanding process and there are normally five main phases in a change initiative according to the British Office of Government Commerce:
1. Identification of the change
The first step is, of course, to figure out the type of emerging change. Is it change that has been forced or a shift initiated by the organisation. Like that, the identification of any points of concern can be easier. A few points that the team, or in this case the entire industry, should take into consideration are why this change is required, who is the one pushing for it and how it could affect the way people in the industry communicate, design, and eventually build.
2. Initiation of the change
As soon as the identification part is done, then it’s time for all the involved parties to come together and agree on how the new plan will be implemented.
3. Change planning
That’s the moment where we pass from theory to action, as the new specifications are translated to an exhaustive and functional plan. The prioritisation of the numerous projects and a detailed planning of the entire programme is taking place at this stage.
4. Implementation of the change
That is potentially the most challenging part of the process, given the fact that the various stakeholders should start implementing what has been designed. There are two main pillars for the implementation to be successful:
- The development of new working routines and strategies.
- Making sure that the transition to the new reality takes place in the smoothest way possible.
5. Deployment and analysis of the change
Last but not least, it’s time for examining whether the new practices are working as they were initially planned. Change can always be the stimulus for further change and in that aspect, it’s important to invest in culture at this point. Convincing people that this change can bring value to them and make their job easier is the point that makes the real difference in technology-related change initiatives.
Based on the steps suggested above by the British Office of Government Commerce, it doesn’t take much to understand that data culture should be one of the primary areas of focus for the construction industry.
By achieving this paradigm shift in regard to how open project agents are to adopt and engage with digital technologies the industry can pave the way for an era with increased productivity, improved margins, and contractual relationships based on trust.
35 questions all construction managers should ask
Being a construction manager is probably one of the toughest jobs in the market. There are countless details that should be taken into consideration for a project to run smoothly. That’s why there are certain questions that project managers in construction need to ask in order to keep their projects under control.
- Source: Tup Wanders via Flickr.com
In short, these are 35 questions that every construction manager should be ready to ask:
a) About the scope of the project
- Does the project brief identify the scope of the project, and provide all the necessary information in regards to the required project documents (e.g. bid documents, master plan, job cost reports?
- Has the project brief been reviewed and updated in close collaboration with all the different project agents?
- Is there a complete and detailed list of the numerous project works? Have the distinct tasks been assigned to the project stakeholders in a clear and understandable way?
- Have you established an effective collect requirements process (e.g. timeframes, budget etc.)?
- Are project limitations and constraints successfully identified and analysed?
- Has detailed and comprehensible standards and quality report been built?
- Is there an effective project risk management strategy in place?
b) About the procurement process
- What payment model (e.g. lump sum, guaranteed maximum price, cost-plus-fee, unit price) was chosen?
- Is the consultant selection process (e.g. engineering consultants) completed?
- Are all client-consultant agreements properly executed?
- Are all payments to consultants being carefully managed?
- Have you received all the necessary material and service requirements by the client and the project stakeholders? Are those requirements included in the project schedule?
- Are all project reports (e.g. feasibility report) and drawings (e.g. sketch drawings) finished, checked and approved?
- Is the project contract documentation reviewed and signed?
- Are site visit requirements set by consultants successfully met?
- Are contractors properly informed about those requirements?
c) About the cost of the project
- Is a TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) ran and managed?
- Have any cost concerns been addressed timely?
- Have project stakeholders been informed about these cost issues?
- Are contract payment orders executed on time?
- Is there a functional alternative plan to protect the budget of the project in case that cost pressure emerges?
d) About the time-schedule
- Is the project program established and analysed in detail by the project team?
- Is the progress of the project closely monitored and are any delays reported on time?
- Is there a functional alternative plan to keep the project rolling in case that task delays emerge?
e) About the communication process
- Do all team members have a good understanding of their role and duties during the project?
- Is real-time communication with the other project stakeholders possible?
- Are progress meetings held on a periodic basis? Are the meeting minutes accessible to the whole team?
- Is there a well-established and coherent hierarchy through the whole construction process?
- Are progress reports generated and distributed regularly?
- Has the project team found and implemented an efficient, yet easy to use, scheduling tool?
- Is there good collaboration with the local authorities (e.g. project is progressing according to the local building regulations)?
There you have it! 35 questions that can turn your construction management process into a success. But we aren’t done yet. Keep reading in order to find out what are the best books and universities for construction management.
Top 5 construction management books
You may think that construction management books are old-fashioned, but the truth is that books remain a valuable source of knowledge. With that in mind, we did our due diligence and we present below the top 5 five books about construction management:
5. Contract and Commercial Management – The Operational Guide (IACCM Series. Business Management)
The International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM) have published a great book on how to manage contractual relationships in a smart and productive way. If you want to acquire valuable knowledge on how to communicate effectively with project partners, customers, suppliers, and subcontractors, then this book is the perfect choice for you.
4. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods
Our next choice is a book written by Edward Allen and Joseph Iano. It provides readers with an excellent overview of the different construction materials and the best ways to use them. Learn some smart tips about thermal insulation, masonry, and concrete. But that’s not all. The book has also some great ideas about material and building management.
3. Running a Successful Construction Company (For Pros, by Pros), by David Gerstel
David Gerstel did an amazing job on this one. Thanks to his long experience in the building industry, he put together a roadmap for construction company management. In this book, you can find tips and information on how to run a building firm in a proactive and beneficial manner.
2. Building Construction: Project Management, Construction Administration, Drawings, Specs, Detailing Tips, Schedules, Checklists and Secrets Others Donʹt Tell You
In the second place of our Top 5, we have chosen a book written by Gang Chen. It is considered to be one of the most valuable knowledge sources for construction management. The author offers to the readers an insight into the construction sector. He reveals essential tips and principles on how to manage issues and bottlenecks that emerge during the building process.
1. Construction Management JumpStart: The Best First Step Toward a Career in Construction Management
This is a ‘must-have’! Barbara J. Jackson guides us through the whole construction management process and clearly explains the numerous phases of a building project. More analytically, the book focuses on subjects such as cost estimation, winning a construction project, safety, risk management, and scheduling. Last but not least, it provides information about BIM and the change that it is expected to bring on the industry.
Top 50 construction management schools
Books are great but in order to become a construction manager, you also need the right university degree. Finding the right construction management school can be tough, but there is no reason to worry. Recently, it’s becoming more popular to get an online construction management degree.
Some of these construction colleges offer this opportunity as well. If you want to pursue your construction career, we would recommend considering options of masters in construction management. Also, don’t forget to look after construction management internships and working on a great resume for construction management job title.
Here are the 50 best construction management schools and colleges. The selection was based on the six metrics below:
Here are the 50 best construction management schools. The selection was based on the six metrics below:
- International student ratio
- Academic reputation
- Faculty/students ratio
- Employer reputation
- International faculty ratio
- Citations per faculty
| Event | Location | Date from | Date to | Theme of the event | Contact | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European ConTech Summit | United Kingdom, London | 30.01 | 30.01 | Construction Technology | info@geniebelt.com | Link |
| Intermazs | Poland, Poznan | 30.01 | 02.02 | Building and Interior | info@mtp.pl | Link |
| Budma | Poland, Poznan | 30.01 | 02.02 | Construction | info@mtp.pl | Link |
| Die Häuslbauermesse | Austria, Innsbruck | 02.02 | 04.02 | House and Energy | e.straitz@cmi.at | Link |
| ASTA Constructor | Finland, Tampere | 02.02 | 04.02 | Housing construction and renovation | asiakaspalvelu@ tampereenmessut.fi | Link |
| Baumesse Chemnitz | Germany, Chemnitz | 02.02 | 04.02 | Construction | Link | |
| GETEC - Gebäude.Energie.Technik. | Germany, Freiburg | 02.02 | 04.02 | Energy Efficiency, Reconstruction and Building | Link | |
| Cevisama | Spain, Valencia | 05.02 | 09.02 | Architectural Ceramics, Bathroom & Kitchen Furnishings, Raw Materials, Glass and Machinery | Link | |
| Cottage. Landscape Design | Russia, Ekaterinburg | 07.02 | 09.02 | Construction | vystavka@uv66.ru | Link |
| Bauen + Wohnen Salzburg | Austria, Salzburg, | 08.02 | 11.02 | Building, energy savings and design | bauen-wohnen@reedexpo.at | Link |
| For Pasiv | Czech Republic, Prague | 08.02 | 10.02 | Energy efficiency | international@abf.cz | Link |
| Construction and Interior Design / Rakenna & Sisusta | Finland, Turku | 09.02 | 11.02 | Building, Living and Interior Decoration | Link | |
| Infacoma | Greece, Paiania | 09.02 | 10.02 | Construction, Insulation, Sanitary Ware and Heating | exhibitions@helexpo.gr | Link |
| Aqua-Therm Novosibirsk | Russia, Novosibirsk | 13.02 | 16.02 | Air Conditioning, Heating and Cooling | elena.zelenina@reedexpo.ru | Link |
| WorldBuild Siberia / SibBuild | Russia, Novosibirsk | 13.02 | 16.02 | Construction and Architecture | sergeeva@sibfair.ru | Link |
| Door Fair Turkey | Turkey, Istanbul | 15.02 | 18.02 | Wooden, Steel, Automation, Industrial Door and Door Side Industry | info@demosfuar.com.tr | Link |
| Häuslbauermesse | Austria, Klagenfurt | 16.02 | 18.02 | Building and Renovation | office@kaerntnermessen.at | Link |
| ImmobilienTage | Germany, Augsburg | 16.02 | 18.02 | Building, Renovation, Homes and Financing | info@boehme-event.de | Link |
| Bau im Lot | Germany, Augsbur | 16.02 | 18.02 | Building and Renovation | info@messeaugsburg.de | Link |
| Bautec | Germany, Berlin | 20.02 | 23.02 | Building and Construction Technology | gaebel@messe-berlin.de | Link |
| Roof+Timber Dach+Holz | Germany, Cologne | 20.02 | 23.02 | Timber Construction, Interior Works, Roof and Wall | kontakt@ghm.de | Link |
| Batibouw | Belgium, Brussels | 22.02 | 04.03 | Building Trade, Renovation and Decoration | info@fisa.be | Link |
| Ambient Construct | Romania, Cluj-Napoca | 22.02 | 25.02 | Constructions | expo-transilvania@expo-transilvania.ro | Link |
| Cottage & Landscape | Ukraine, Odessa | 22.02 | 24.02 | Landscape Architecture, Cottage Construction, Materials and Equipment | info@expo-odessa.com | Link |
| Int'l Exhibition on Building and Home/Flat Arrangement | Ukraine, Odessa | 22.02 | 24.02 | Building and Home | info@expo-odessa.com | Link |
| Interbud | Poland, Lodz | 23.02 | 25.02 | Construction | piotr.tokarski@interservis.pl | Link |
| INservFM | Germany, Frankfurt/Main | 27.02 | 01.03 | Facility Management and Industry Services | Link | |
| WorldBuild Krasnodar / Yugbuild | Russia, Krasnodar | 27.02 | 02.03 | Building | info@krasnodarexpo.ru | Link |
| Composite-Expo | Russia, Moscow | 27.02 | 01.03 | Composite materials and technologies | info@composite-expo.com | Link |
| Unicera | Turkey, Istanbul | 27.02 | 02.03 | Ceramic, Bathroom, Kitchen | ozcan.zora@cnr.net | Link |
| BIM Show Live 2018 | UK, Newcastle | 28.02 | 01.03 | Experience keynotes, panels, and interactive seminar sessions from construction experts | info@bimshowlive.co.uk | Link |
| House and Garden | Russia, Moscow | 01.03 | 04.03 | Housing, Gardening, Building | Link | |
| Wooden House | Russia, Moscow | 01.03 | 04.03 | Building Technology, Machinery, Materials, Interior Construction | Link | |
| LBA - Landes-Bau-Ausstellung Sachsen-Anhalt | Germany, Magdeburg | 02.03 | 04.03 | Building Technology, Machinery, Materials, Interior Construction | info@expotecgmbh.de | Link |
| Habitat Jardin | Switzerland, Lausanne | 03.03 | 11.03 | Garden, Construction, Renovation and Real Estate | patrick.hofer@habitat-jardin.ch | Link |
| Ecobuild | United Kingdom, London | 06.03 | 08.03 | Design, Construction and Built Environment | info@ecobuild.co.uk | Link |
| Bulgaria Building Week | Bulgaria, Sofia, | 07.03 | 10.03 | Building | exhibitions@iec.bg | Link |
| Eurasia Window Fair | Turkey, Istanbul | 07.03 | 10.03 | Windows, Facade Systems and Raw Materials | Link | |
| House I - Māja I | Latvia, Riga | 08.03 | 11.03 | Building | roberts.brede@bt1.lv | Link |
| Romtherm | Romania, Bucharest | 08.03 | 11.03 | Heating, Cooling, Air Conditioning and Insulating | romexpo@romexpo.ro | Link |
| Construct Expo | Romania, Bucharest | 08.03 | 11.03 | Materials, Systems and Equipment for Construction | romexpo@romexpo.ro | Link |
| com:bau | Austria, Dornbirn | 09.03 | 11.03 | Architecture, Construction, Energy and Real Estate | marina.stecher@messedornbirn.at | Link |
| Construction - Byggeri | Denmark, Fredericia | 13.03 | 16.03 | Building | INFO@BYGGERIMESSEN.DK | Link |
| MCE | Italy, Milan | 13.03 | 16.03 | Heating, Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration, Plumbing Technology, Water Treatment and Bathroom Fittings | info@reedexpo.it | Link |
| STIMexpo | Russia, Rostov-on-Don | 14.03 | 17.03 | Building and Architecture | info@donexpocentre.ru | Link |
| Façade | Russia, Kaliningrad | 15.03 | 17.03 | Construction | secretar@balticfair.com | Link |
| Vira Ukraine | Ukraine, Odessa | 15.03 | 18.03 | Architectural and Building | syurko@expohome.com.ua | Link |
| Jyväskylä Building Exhibition | Finland, Jyvaeskylae | 16.03 | 18.03 | Building | info@jklmessut.fi | Link |
| Bud-Gryf | Poland, Szczecin | 16.03 | 18.03 | Building | office@mts.pl | Link |
| Energie Habitat | France, Colmar | 16.03 | 19.03 | Energy | info@energiehabitat-colmar.com | Link |
| Expobuilding | Belarus, Minsk | 20.03 | 23.03 | Building | office@belexpo.by | Link |
| InterBuildExpo | Ukraine, Kiev | 20.03 | 23.03 | New Building Materials and Equipment and Building Technologies | build@kmkya.kiev.ua | Link |
| Neues BauEn | Germany, Friedrichshafen | 21.03 | 25.03 | For Builders, Real Estate Owners and Power Savers | Link | |
| Fensterbau / Frontale | Germany, Nuremberg | 21.03 | 24.03 | Window, Door and Facade | Link | |
| For Habitat | Czech Republic, Prague | 22.03 | 25.03 | Housing and Estate Agencies | junusmetova@gmail.com | Link |
| Moldconstruct | Moldova, Chisinau | 22.03 | 25.03 | Architecture, Technologies, Equipment, Installation, Tools, Fittings and Materials for Construction | info@moldexpo.md | Link |
| Confort Construct & Instal | Romania, Arad | 22.03 | 25.03 | Technologies and construction materials, inner design, architecture | ccia@ccia-arad.ro | Link |
| Homebuilding & Renovating Show | United Kingdom, Birmingham | 22.03 | 25.03 | Homebuiling, Renovating and Home Improvemen | alicia.maragh@futurenet.com | Link |
| Country Living | Russia, St. Petersburg | 23.03 | 25.03 | Country Housing Construction | zagorodom@primexpo.ru | Link |
| Bois & Habitat | Belgium, Namur | 23.03 | 26.03 | Building with wood | Link | |
| Smart Cities | Bulgaria, Sofia | 27.03 | 29.03 | Intelligent Buildings, Energy, Mobility, ICT & Emergency Management | office@viaexpo.com | Link |
| Scaffolding & Formwork Exhibition | Turkey, Istanbul | 29.03 | 01.04 | Industrial Construction | info@demosfuar.com.tr | Link |
| Water & Heat | Belarus, Minsk | 03.04 | 06.04 | Plumbing, Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning | expo@expoforum.by | Link |
| WorldBuild | Russia, Moscow | 03.04 | 06.04 | Building and interior | worldbuild@ite-expo.ru | Link |
| Estbuild | Estonia, Tallinn | 04.04 | 07.04 | Building | fair@fair.ee | Link |
| Green | Slovenia, Gornja Radgona | 04.04 | 07.04 | Sustainable Technologies and Green Lifestyle | skuncak@gmail.com | Link |
| Megra | Slovenia, Gornja Radgona | 04.04 | 07.04 | Civil Engineering and Building Materials | skuncak@gmail.com | Link |
| Home world | Lithuania, Kaunas | 05.04 | 08.04 | Exhibition of building materials, decoration, interior, furniture | kaunas@expo.lt | Link |
| Norsk Hytteliv | Norway, Skjetten | 05.04 | 08.04 | Cabins and Cabin Equipment | post@hyttemessen.no | Link |
| Nordbygg | Sweden, Stockholm | 10.04 | 13.04 | Nordic Building & Construction | info@stockholmsmassan.se | Link |
| Coneco | Slovakia, Bratislava | 11.04 | 14.04 | Building | incheba@incheba.sk | Link |
| Construma | Hungary, Budapest | 11.04 | 15.04 | Building | hungexpo@hungexpo.hu | Link |
| Bursa Construction | Turkey, Bursa | 11.04 | 15.04 | Building and Construction | tuyapbursa@tuyap.com | Link |
| Own House | Finland, Helsinki | 12.04 | 15.04 | Home Building and Renovation Fair | asiakaspalvelu@messukeskus.com | Link |
| Construction Exhibition | Lithuania, Klaipeda | 12.04 | 15.04 | Building Industry | info@expo-vakarai.lt | Link |
| Holzhaus | Russia, Moscow | 12.04 | 15.04 | Wooden House-Building | Raisa.Gazaryan@ite-russia.ru | Link |
| Building Holland | Netherlands, Amsterdam | 17.04 | 19.04 | Building and Housing | info@buildingholland.nl | Link |
| WorldBuild St. Petersburg / InterStroyExpo | Russia, St. Petersburg | 17.04 | 19.04 | Building | build@primexpo.ru | Link |
| Construction.Finishing.Design | Russia, Saratov | 18.04 | 20.04 | Construction and Design | office@expo.sofit.ru | Link |
| SEEBBE | Serbia, Belgrade | 18.04 | 21.04 | Building Technology, Machinery, Materials, Interior Construction | seebbe@sajam.rs | Link |
| Belorussian Construction Week | Belarus, Minsk | 19.04 | 21.04 | Windows, doors, roofs, glass, ceramics, furniture, construction | me@minskexpo.com | Link |
| Country&House Expo | Russia, Novosibirsk | 19.04 | 22.04 | Cottage construction and residential finishing, life support system and landscaping | sergeeva@sibfair.ru | Link |
| Domexpo | Slovakia, Nitra | 19.04 | 22.04 | Building | Link | |
| Bauen+Wohnen | Switzerland, Wettingen | 19.04 | 22.04 | Building, Living, Gardening and Lifestyle | info@fachmessen.ch | Link |
| Wiosna | Poland, Cracow | 20.04 | 22.04 | Construction | biuro@centrumtargowe.com.pl | Link |
| Dom | Poland, Kielce | 20.04 | 22.04 | Residential Building Materials and Interior Fitments | biuro@targikielce.pl | Link |
| Instalacje | Poland, Poznan | 23.04 | 26.04 | Installations and Equipment | konrad.flesman@mtp.pl | Link |
| Intermat Paris | France, Paris | 23.04 | 28.04 | Equipment and Techniques for Construction and Materials Industries | laura.sanchez@comexposium.com | Link |
| Building - Graditeljstvo | Croatia, Zagreb | 24.04 | 27.04 | Construction and Equipping | zagvel@zv.hr | Link |
| Building Fairs Brno | Czech Republic, Brno | 25.04 | 28.04 | Building | rtichy@bvv.cz | Link |
| DSB | Czech Republic, Brno | 25.04 | 28.04 | Timber Construction | rtichy@bvv.cz | Link |
| Resta | Lithuania, Vilnius | 25.04 | 28.04 | Construction and renovation | info@litexpo.lt | Link |
| Materials | United Kingdom, London | 25.04 | 26.04 | Materials for Architecture, Construction and Design | info@materials2018.co.uk | Link |
| Expokos | Kosovo, Prishtine | 08.05 | 10.05 | Construction, Technical, Energetic and Furniture | info@ceokos.com | Link |
| Maszbud | Poland, Kielce | 08.05 | 10.05 | Construction Equipment | biuro@targikielce.pl | Link |
| Autostrada Polska | Poland, Kielce | 08.05 | 10.05 | Road Construction Industry | biuro@targikielce.pl | Link |
| TurkeyBuild -Yapi | Turkey, Istanbul | 08.05 | 12.05 | Building, Construction Materials and Technologies | international@ite-turkey.com | Link |
| WorldBuild Kyiv / KyivBuild | Ukraine, Kiev | 15.05 | 18.05 | Building and Interior Construction | Y.Boyko@pe.com.ua | Link |
| Architect@work | Denmark, Copenhagen | 16.05 | 17.05 | Architects and Interior Designers | denmark@architectatwork.com | Link |
| TEKTÓNICA | Portugal, Lisbon | 16.05 | 19.05 | Building and Construction | jorge.oliveira@ccl.fil.pt | Link |
| Low-rise House Building Show | Russia, Krasnoyarsk | 16.05 | 19.05 | Construction & Finishing Materials | Link | |
| Baikal Week of Constuction Technologies | Russia, Irkutsk | 23.05 | 26.05 | Construction technologies, equipment, materials and services | info@sibexpo.ru | Link |
| bauma CTT Russia | Russia, Moscow | 05.06 | 08.06 | Construction Equipment and Technologies | e.martynova@ctt-expo.ru | Link |
| Stone+tec | Germany, Nuremberg | 13.06 | 16.06 | Natural Stone and Stoneprocessing Technology | Link | |
| Homebuilding & Renovating Show | United Kingdom, Glasgow | 16.06 | 17.06 | Homebuiling, Renovating and Home Improvement Show | alicia.maragh@futurenet.com | Link |
| Vision London | United Kingdom, London | 21.06 | 22.06 | The Future of the Built Environment | info@visionlondon.com | Link |
| Housing | United Kingdom, Manchester | 26.06 | 28.06 | Housing | sarah.payling@oceanmedia.co.uk | Link |
| Budpragres | Belarus, Minsk | 04.09 | 07.09 | Equipment, instrument and technologies in construction | Link | |
| Bauen & Modernisieren | Switzerland, Zurich | 06.09 | 09.09 | House Reconstruction | info@fachmessen.ch | Link |
| Bauen Kaufen Wohnen | Germany, Dresden | 08.09 | 09.09 | Construction and Real Estate | Link | |
| For Arch | Czech Republic, Prague | 18.09 | 22.09 | Building | international@abf.cz | Link |
| Lignumexpo | Slovakia, Nitra | 18.09 | 21.09 | Materials and Wood, Processing Technologies | Link | |
| Construct&Interior Expo | Moldova, Chisinau | 20.09 | 23.09 | Architectural Projects, Design, Building Materials, Technologies and Equipment for a Modern House | info@moldexpo.md | Link |
| Homebuilding & Renovating Show | United Kingdom, London | 21.09 | 23.09 | London Homebuiling, Renovating and Home Improvement Show | alicia.maragh@futurenet.com | Link |
| Stroytech - Стройтех | Bulgaria, Plovdiv | 24.09 | 29.09 | Exhibition of Building Materials, Machines and Technologies | Link | |
| Cersaie | Italy, Bologna | 24.09 | 28.09 | Ceramics for the Building Industry and Bathroom Furnishings | cersaie@cersaie.it | Link |
| Tecnargilla | Italy, Rimini | 24.09 | 28.09 | Technologies and Supplies for the Ceramic and Brick Industries | g.crasta@tecnargilla.it | Link |
| Marmomacc | Italy, Verona | 26.09 | 29.09 | Stone, Design and Technology | Link | |
| RoBau | Germany, Rostock | 28.09 | 30.09 | Building and construction machinery and technology | willkommen@messeundstadthalle.de | Link |
| Euro-Lift | Poland, Kielce | 02.10 | 04.10 | Lifts | biuro@targikielce.pl | Link |
| Bauen+Wohnen | Switzerland, Lucerne | 04.10 | 07.10 | Building and Living | info@fachmessen.ch | Link |
| UK Construction Week | United Kingdom, Birmingham | 09.10 | 11.10 | Construction | info@ukconstructionweek.com | Link |
| The Build Show | United Kingdom, Birmingham | 09.10 | 11.10 | Building and Construction | info@ukconstructionweek.com | Link |
| Finnbuild | Finland, Helsinki | 10.10 | 12.10 | Building | asiakaspalvelu@messukeskus.com | Link |
| Building Industry Solutions | Poland, Warsaw | 11.10 | 13.10 | Building | m.baszak@warsawexpo.eu | Link |
| Bauen + Wohnen | Germany, Hanover | 13.10 | 21.10 | Building, Renovation and Financing | info@fh.messe.de | Link |
| Road | Russia, Moscow | 16.10 | 19.10 | Road construction | begunova@crocus-off.ru | Link |
| SAIE | Italy, Bologna | 17.10 | 20.10 | Building | info@bfchina.net | Link |
| Tartu Building Fair | Estonia, Tartu | 18.10 | 20.10 | Building | info@tartunaitused.ee | Link |
| House. Apartment | Latvia, Riga | 19.10 | 21.10 | Home refurbishment and interior decoration | roberts.brede@bt1.lv | Link |
| London Build Show | United Kingdom, London | 23.10 | 24.10 | Construction | marketing@londonbuildexpo.com | Link |
| Artibat | France, Rennes | 24.10 | 26.10 | Construction | commercial@artibat.com | Link |
| Road Construction | Belarus, Minsk | 30.10 | 01.11 | Planning and Construction of Roads | me@minskexpo.com | Link |
| Homebuilding & Renovating Show | United Kingdom, Harrogate | 02.11 | 04.11 | Homebuiling, Renovating and Home Improvement | alicia.maragh@futurenet.com | Link |
| Roadtechexpo | Ukraine, Kiev | 06.11 | 08.11 | Road construction and maintenance | plast@iec-expo.com.ua | Link |
| Eurobuildexpo | Ukraine, Kiev | 06.11 | 08.11 | Building | plast@iec-expo.com.ua | Link |
| Denkmal | Germany, Leipzig | 08.11 | 10.11 | Conservation, Restoration and Old Building Renovation | barthauer.a@hwk-leipzig.de | Link |
| Haus & Bau | Austria, Ried | 09.11 | 11.11 | House and Building | office@messe-ried.at | Link |
| Haus.Bau.Ambiente. | Germany, Erfurt | 09.11 | 11.11 | House building, Living and Modernizing | Link | |
| Haus | Bau | Energie | Germany, Friedrichshafen | 09.11 | 11.11 | Building Modernization | info@messe-sauber.de | Link |
| Construtec | Spain, Madrid | 13.11 | 16.11 | Building | lineaifema@ifema.es | Link |
| Piedra | Spain, Madrid | 13.11 | 16.11 | Natural Stone | servifema@ifema.es | Link |
| Veteco | Spain, Madrid | 13.11 | 16.11 | Window, Curtain Walls and Structural Glass | servifema@ifema.es | Link |
| Glass | Poland, Poznan | 14.11 | 17.11 | Glass Industry | info@mtp.pl | Link |
| Kamień-Stone | Poland, Poznan | 14.11 | 17.11 | Stone Industry | info@mtp.pl | Link |
| Bauen+Wohnen Bern | Switzerland, Bern | 15.11 | 18.11 | Construction, Renovation and Living | bschuler@fachmessen.ch | Link |
| Bau+Energie Messe | Switzerland, Bern | 15.11 | 18.11 | Building and Energie | info@fachmessen.ch | Link |
| The Sleep Event | United Kingdom, London | 20.11 | 21.11 | Design, architecture and development of hotels | Link | |
| Everything for Home, Hotel & Restaurant | Russia, Kaliningrad | 22.11 | 24/.1 | Building Materials, Furniture and Interior | secretar@balticfair.com | Link |
| Fastener Poland | Poland, Cracow | 27.11 | 29.11 | Fastener and Fixing Technology | los@targi.krakow.pl | Link |
Synopsis
All in all, it is apparent that project management in construction can be quite painful and demanding. Construction managers should always be prepared to guide their team through tough situations and to make sure that every aspect of the project is progressing according to the plan. Hopefully, this article can provide some value to the construction industry and help the readers solve some of their daily pains on site.
