Would you like to know more about construction project management and tools? If so, then this article is for you. Let’s go through the definition of project management and the tools you need to achieve a solid success rate in the construction industry.
How do we define project management?
First of all, let’s start with what project management is. According to PMI, project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. Simply put, project management is the practice of identifying an idea, making a plan to unravel that idea, and then carrying out the plan until the idea has been completed.
What are the phases of construction project management?
Usually, there are four separate phases:
– Initiating: This phase aims to determine or specify the project itself.
– Planning: This phase also includes estimating. There will be a set-up plan and schedule for everyone participating in the project.
– Committing and monitoring: This phase will continue throughout the project, and project managers will track and monitor ongoing project processes to ensure that the project is carried out on time and within budget.
– Closing: The project is completed and handed over to project customers.
What exactly does a project manager do?
The project manager is responsible for the success or failure of the project. They oversee project planning, execution, monitoring, tracking, and accomplishment. Regardless of the specific field, the role involves several aspects and duties.
Before the project
– Composing a plan: Once an idea or project is decided upon, they must find a way or solution to make it happen. It is important to keep the project organized, but it is also important to think ahead.
– Setting a schedule for the project: Putting together a team that can understand the project's working process and complete the project. This also means that writing skills are needed in order to keep the project documented from beginning to end.
During the project
– Leading a team: Project managers must keep the team motivated, solve any problems that arise, and sometimes make critical decisions on behalf of other workers. Solid leadership skills are a must.
– Managing and tracking budget: Keeping track of job costs is critical for completing any project on time and according to budget. How the money will be spent and expenses controlled is key, so math and analytical skills are highly important.
– Engaging stakeholders: If there is any impact on the project, the project manager needs to give stakeholders a clear picture of what changes will be made and how this will affect them.
What are the best project management tools?
There are many different solutions, and it can be unclear which one to choose. A proper cloud-based solution will improve your team’s projects and tasks. Without the right tools for your needs, you will waste time and energy while doubling your efforts yet not optimizing your work. It is clear that managing your project on spreadsheets and keeping documentation in different folders is now outdated and inefficient. As construction project management software has improved over the years, it has worked to improve various processes and keep valuable documentation in order.
Project management software also offers an excellent overview of ongoing project processes. It allows all paperwork to be kept securely in one place, with easy access from anywhere and anytime. Another excellent benefit is the collaboration it will enable with other company team units, such as for accounting integration. This reduces paperwork, data delay, and data mismatches.
Conclusion
The above provides a brief overview of project management and tasks, but you can always do deeper research in your own time. While certain baselines exist with every project, these can also vary according to specific projects. By its very nature, project management is sophisticated and capricious. The right tools, techniques, and additional skills are, therefore, essential to achieving true success in your project field.