Planning & Management

Question 1

What is the top-down approach to fee estimating?

Answer 1

This begins with estimating the total fee needed to complete the project using rules of thumb ( percentages of construction cost, square foot cost) and historic data.

Once direct labor is determined, that fee is allocated to the different phases of the project.

Question 2

What is the bottom-up approach to fee estimating?

Answer 2

This estimating approach starts by breaking the project down into tasks and assigning estimated time required to complete each task. From there tasks are assigned to specific staff members and appropriate billing rates are applied to each task.

Question 3

What does the job of project management include?

Answer 3

this role includes:

• Project planning,
• Scheduling
• Monitoring
• Coordinating & Directing
• Updating documentation
• Closing out the job
• Following up with clients

Question 4

What is the partnering method as it relates to project management?

Answer 4

Rather than responsibility of managing the project being that of a single person, various stakeholders (architect, owner, contractor, vendors) in a project participate in the decision-making process.

Question 5

When assembling the project team, the project manager should consider what issues?

Answer 5

These issues should be considered at what time?

• Type and complexity of the project
• Size of the project
• Staff availability
• Experience Levels
• Billing rates
• Personalities

Question 6

What are the 2 commonly used methods for scheduling design and construction projects?

Answer 6

Bar chart or Gantt chart and Critical Path Method are two methods of what task?

Question 7

On a Gantt chart, what are dependencies?

Answer 7

In this scheduling method, this relationship is when one task/action cannot begin before another can start.

Question 8

What is a Gantt chart and what is it used for?

Answer 8

This is a method commonly used in scheduling design and construction projects. A Gantt chart lists all of the tasks/activities that must be done in order to complete the project in chronological order along the vertical axis of a bar chart; the time period that the entire project will cover is represented by the horizontal axis. For each task, a horizontal bar is drawn from the tasks start date to the completion date. IF one task must be completed before another can begin an arrow is drawn from the end of the earlier task to the beginning of the later task.

Question 9

What is the critical path method (CPM?

Answer 9

The critical path method (CPM) is a common scheduling method. While it can be used for design projects, it it more often used with construction projects. A CPM chart graphically depicts all the tasks needed to complete a project, the sequence in which the tasks must occur, and each task’s duration, earliest and latest possible starting times, and earliest and latest possible finishing times.

Question 10

In the critical path method of scheduling, what is the critical path?

Answer 10

This is the main sequence of tasks (critical tasks) that must start and finish on time if the project’s final deadline is to be met.

Question 11

What is the float of a task based on the Critical Path Method?

Answer 11

This is the maximum length of time that a noncritical task can be delayed or extended before it causes a delay in the overall project.

Question 12

What is a work plan?

Answer 12

This is a detailed project schedule, breaking down into its component tasks and assigning staff members and other resources to each task. This is one of the earliest and most important tasks a project manager must complete.

Question 13

Why is a work plan sometimes called a fee projection?

Answer 13

This is sometimes called a fee projection because in part, it details how the fee that the firm receives - after deductions for profit, overhead, and other expenses - will be used to pay staff members and cover other costs over the course of the project.

Question 14

What is included in a good work plan/ fee projection?

Answer 14

This tasks includes the following items:

• The scope of services in the agreement
• A breakdown of the services to be provided into phases and individual tasks.
• Dependencies
• Milestones
• The staff needed to do the work.
• Allocation of time and fees to phases and individual tasks.
• What work will be done by consultants, and what fees and other costs will be associated with their work.

Question 15

Between the Top-Down and Bottom-Up fee assessment approach, which is more accurate?

Answer 15

The Bottom-Up approach is more accurate but usually both are used and compared to determine the fee estimate.

Question 16

What are some of the actions a project manager can take to better the everyday direction of the team coordination?

Answer 16

Ways to help better the direction of team coordination include:

• Communication - work assignments, instructions, reward & punishment, social.
• Always clarify the expectations of project team members.
• Never give responsibility to an employee who does not have enough authority to make decisions and carry out actions.
• Be sensitive to the manager-subordinate relationship.
• Stay calm when people get angry.
• Commit to resolving conflicts as they occur.
• Provide ways for staff members to grow and advance.
• Give recognition when it is due.
• Evaluate the performance of the staff members on the project team.
• Open up communication among team members.
• Model the behavior you want to see.
• Don’t shut the client out.
• Direct the client’s interest to areas where his or her contributions will be most valued.
• Establish an environment in which initiative is encouraged.

Question 17

What are Project Soft Costs?

Answer 17

These project costs include permitting, legal fees, insurance, contingencies, testing, and inspections.

Question 18

What are Project Hard Costs?

Answer 18

These project costs include the cost of construction and FF&E.

Question 19

What are typical Project financial sources?

Answer 19

These include funding, tax credits, and grants.