Lecture 1: Project Management

Question 1

What is a Project?

Answer 1

An endeavor that is undertaken to produce the results that are expected from the requesting party

Question 2

Components of a Project

Answer 2

Scope: work to be accomplished, quantity and quality, fundamental to budget and schedule, failure to define = problems
Budget: How much money can owner spend? How much for design? For construction? Increasing overruns = decreasing profits
Schedule: Sequencing and timing of activities, basis for project management, necessary for tracking and control

Scope + Budget + Schedule = Quality

Question 3

Phases of a Project

Answer 3

1. Project conception
2. Conceptual design
3. Preliminary design
4. Final design
5. Procurement
6. Construction
7. Project close-out

Question 4

Project Conception

Answer 4

Owner’s needs for project, usually with rather vague concept (written descriptions, sketches), list of required spaces and equipment, owner usually has difficulty explaining exactly his need but has well defined pieces of the project in mind

Question 5

Conceptual Design

Answer 5

Draw up a design services contract, prepare detailed program description including the needs and desires of the owner, establish a pre-design construction estimate, prepare a schematic design or alternatives, perform feasibility study

Question 6

Preliminary Design

Answer 6

Design contract must be signed by this stage, program and budget and main design direction have been established in previous phase

Question 7

Detailed Design

Answer 7

Plans (working drawings, show a graphical representation of every item in the facility sized and located to the fraction of an inch), specifications (written description of every material in the project), preparation of construction contract documents

Question 8

Procurement

Answer 8

Construction contracts, special equipment, bulk materials

Question 9

Construction

Answer 9

Complete work, monitor and track, manage risks, align with goals

Question 10

Project Close-Out

Answer 10

System testing, final inspection, as-built drawing, lessons learned

Question 11

Steps in Project Management

Answer 11

1. Definition: intended use, conceptual component
2. Scope: define work, identify quantity and quality
3. Budget: define budget, identify costs
4. Planning: assign staff, identify tasks
5. Scheduling: sequence activities, link costs/resources to activities
6. Tracking: measure work and time and costs, compare “actual” to “planned”
7. Close-out: final inspection, archive document, transfer to owner

Question 12

Project Success Criteria

Answer 12

Meet safety goals, finish within budget, meet quality goals, finish on schedule

Question 13

12 Golden Rules of Project Management

Answer 13

1. Fain consensus on project outcomes
2. Build the best team you can
3. Develop a plan and keep it up to date
4. Determine what you need to get things done
5. Have a realistic schedule
6. Do not try to do too much
7. Remember that people count
8. Gain support of management and stakeholders
9. Be willing to change
10. Keep others informed of what you are doing
11. Be willing to try new things
12. Become a leader