Topic 1 - Introduction to Project Management

Question 1

What are the 5 process groups of project management?

Answer 1

1. Initiating
2. Planning
3. Executing
4. Monitoring and Controlling
5. Closing

Question 2

Why is construction project management needed?

Answer 2

• profits are determined by the project managers ability to save money by good planning and decision making
• the more uncertainty in the project, the greater the need for more project management
• conditions such as technical complexity, timely completion, resource limitations, and substantial costs puts a lot of emphasis on having good project management

Question 3

Construction Project Stages

Answer 3

Planning:

1. concepts/needs/ideas
2. design
3. planning

Execution:

4. construction
5. delivery/close-up
6. operation

Question 4

Key project participants?

Answer 4

Owner

• public
• private

Designer
-architects/engineers

Construction

• general contractor
• specialty contractor
• trades
• material suppliers
• equipment suppliers

Others

• financial institutions
• insurance companies
• government agencies

Question 5

Who is a Principal-in-Charge? What does he do?

who is an officer in charge?

Answer 5

Architect
-individual who makes the desicion regarding signing a contract and may be involved in obtaining it

Contractor

Question 6

Role of Superindenent?

Answer 6

same as PM, but on a physical construction level

• 1 super per project, while 1 pm might do many projects
• on smaller projects, may be the only member of the contractors management

Question 7

Project engineer role?

Field Engineer role?

Contractor Foreman role?

Answer 7

Reports to PM
-submits agreements, material submittals, liek a project coordinator

Reports to pm

• same as project engineering, but on-site and more hands on
• QA QC
• part of labor force (not management)
• directs labor creq

Question 8

Project delivery methods?

Answer 8

DB - design builds

DBB - design-bid-build

Question 9

DBB - Design bid build

Answer 9

Design
-complete design

Bid
-find fixed price bids

Build

• select contractor
• design team ensures construction is to specification and authorizes payments

Question 10

DB - Design Build

Answer 10

Select contractor before design is complete

Design

Build

• single entity (joint venture, subcontract, or single firm) delivers design and construction
• single point of contract/responsibility

Question 11

Difference between DB and DBB?

Answer 11

DB has fast delivery and saves cost

Question 12

Relationships in DBB

Answer 12

Owner - Architect/Engineer and Owner-General contractor have a contractual relationship

Architect/Engineer – General contractor
observation only

Question 13

Relationship in DB

Answer 13

Owner — design/builder contractual relationship
-1 entity takes care of design+build (joint venture, subcontract, or single firm)

Design-builder has a design team (architect/engineer) and construction team (general contractor)

Question 14

Design/Construction Manager (D/CM)

Answer 14

Owner + prime contractor contractual relationship

Owner + Design/construction manager contractual relationship

Design/construction manager has an architect and construction team

Design/construction manager’s construction team works (non contractual) with prime contractor(s)

Question 15

Professional Construction manager (PCM)

Answer 15

Owner + prime contractor contractual relationship

Owner + professional construction manager contractual relationship

Owner + Architect/engineer contractual agreement

Professional construction management works (not contractual) with architect/engineer

Professional Construction manager works (not contractual) with prime contractor(s)

Question 16

Public Private Partnerships (P3)

Answer 16

• public works with private sector
• private sector assumes a major share of responsibility in terms of risk and financing for the delivery/performance of infrastructure, from design and structural planning to long term maintenance
• long term and performance based approach

Question 17

Method of contractor selection

Answer 17

Combination of competitive bidding and negotiated contract

Question 18

Fixed Sum contracts

Answer 18

Lump sum

• fixed price for a scope of work
• requires reliable project definition and stable project conditions
• built in incentive for contractors to work efficiently

Unit price

• fixed price for each work item
• requires a detailed work-item breakdown structure
• effective when there is uncertainty, particularly with quantities
• so u give a unit and an estimated quantity at a unit price(this is what they bid), then they bid their own unit price for quantity given

Question 19

Cost-Plus-Fee Contracts and methods

Answer 19

• owner provides reimbursement to the contractor for actual costs plus fees
• called “reimbursable”
• effective when work scope and quantities are unclear

Methods

• cost + %
• cost + fixed fee
• cost + Guaranteed max price (GMP)
• cost + sliding fees (Fee = R(%) * (2*Target cost - Actual Cost)

Question 20

Resources in Construction Project Management (5M’s)

What are the objectives?

Answer 20

1. machines
2. materials
3. money
4. manpower
5. methods

-objective is to use availabe resources (M’s) to finish the project on time, within the budgeted cost, and according to required specificatins (quality)