Construction Project Management
Construction project management refers to planning a project from the beginning to the end according to the stakeholders’ requirements. The definition of construction project management is that it is the process by which a project is brought to a successful conclusion.
The Construction Management Association of America was installed in 1982 and it is the only organization dedicated to the interests of professional Construction and Program Management, according to the website. It provides education on Construction project management for college students as well as scholarships and it releases a bi-monthly webzine that provides a myriad of information with regard to construction project management.
Construction project management is divided into seven categories: Time Management, Cost Management, Quality Management, Contract Administration, Project Management Planning, Safety Management and Construction Management Professional Practice.
Construction project management must include specifying the objectives, coming up with a budget, creating a test plan, implementing the changes, communication and finally, fulfilling the objectives that the project manager has understaken.
Construction project management is taught at degree levels. Information on the various programs may be obtained by either the American Council for Construction Education or the Associated Schools of Construction, Wikipedia states on its Construction Project Management page.
Construction project management business models, begins with the Design stage where the Architect and the Engineer work together in order to build a working model. This process has become even easy of late with the introduction of Virtual Design, for example: the Computer Aided Design software, CAD.
Under planning and scheduling for construction project management, according to Wikipedia, the methodology included is: work breakdown structure, project network services, critical path method, resource management and resource leveling.
The official American Council for Construction Education curriculum demands that students have prior knowledge in construction project management before applying for the baccalaureate degree. The curriculum will teach General Education, Mathematics, Science, Business and Management, Construction Science and then Construction within 20 semester hours where one semester hour equals 15 instruction hours.
Construction Science is not the same as Construction. Construction science teaches the fundamentals of Design Theory, Construction Surveying and is focused on teaching the architect on how to create a suitable business model.
Construction however, handles the financial and legal aspects of construction project management with subjects such as Estimating, Safety, Construction Law, Accounting and Finance.
After the 20 semester hours of the American Council for Construction Education, students will be tested on the core subject matter both with oral and written examinations. In addition to the examinations students will also be required to submit presentations both orally and written. The course will be integrated with communication skills such as composition, speech and understanding in English. Both Humanities and Social Sciences with regard to psychology, the arts, music, literature and sociology will also be added to the program so that students have a well rounded education.
