The Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) Program prepares students to effectively deliver and manage the capital facilities and infrastructure that provides the setting for human and social activity, while also supporting worldwide economic development. The program applies the most advanced engineering and management techniques at the highest level of environmental stewardship. Our curriculum builds upon a student’s technical background to develop managerial and financial expertise to be a forward thinker through a mix of fundamental and advanced areas of study. We expose students to the activities and issues of planning, financing, procuring, constructing, technology and innovation as well as managing the built environment in a suite of graduate-level courses. Columbia students apply and discover concepts, methods, and strategies for improving the delivery and management of constructed facilities and systems. This breadth introduces our students to the variety of managerial functions found in the modern construction industry and prepares them for positions of leadership and responsibility within industry, government, or academia. Taking advantage of our location in New York City, the home of the leading design and construction companies, our students are able to connect with our alumni and leverage industry relationships to advance their careers and magnify their impact on our field.
- Digital transformation and Innovation in Construction: e.g. technological and innovative trends in construction industry (such as the use Drones, Modularization, 3d Printing, VR/AR), digital transformation strategies for construction firms, data strategy and use cases, digital industry landscape, cybersecurity for civic infrastructure, data analytics and visualization
- ESG, Sustainability and Net-Zero Efforts: e.g. sustainable trends, policies, and best practices, sustainability indexes of cities, site resiliency, affordable housing,
- Advancement in project delivery methods: e.g. project delivery systems, financing decisions, public-private partnerships, integrated project deliver methods, rise of design-build
Construction management is a professional service that provides a project’s owner(s) with effective management of the project’s schedule, cost, quality, safety, scope, and function. Construction management is compatible with all project delivery methods. No matter the setting, a Construction Manager’s (CMs) responsibility is to the owner and to a successful project.
At its core, a capital project is made up of three parties (excluding the CM):
- The owner, who commissions the project and either funds the project directly or finances it through a variety of methods.
- The architect/engineer, who designs the project.
- The general contractor, who oversees day-to-day operations and manages subcontractors.
The CM represents the owner’s interest and provides oversight over the entire project directly for the owner. His/her mandate is to work with all parties to deliver the project on time, at or under budget, and to the owner’s expected standard of quality, scope, and function.
CMs are uniquely qualified through combined education and experience to work with the owner, architect, general contractor, and other stakeholders to determine the best possible sequence of construction operations and develop a detailed schedule and budget, while also establishing plans for project safety and security and helping the owner manage risk. This requires using project management information systems (PMISs) and complex planning techniques, like critical path method, as well as knowledge of construction methods.
A 2013 study by McGraw-Hill Construction and supported by the CMAA Foundation showed that using professional CMs saved money, avoided or mitigated problems, and produced higher quality results for owners.
Professional CMs use industry-standard practices to manage projects successfully. The CM Body of Knowledge and Standards of Practice address all six areas of construction management services: schedule, cost, safety, quality, function, and scope.
Types of construction management
Construction project management is run by a construction project manager. This person plans, coordinates, budgets and supervises the construction project.
Construction projects are highly structured endeavors. Whether the project consists of building a shopping mall or a single-dwelling residence, each project has many moving parts that must be precisely coordinated.
Just like any other project, construction project management has phases. From designing to planning to scheduling to the build itself, each phase is complicated and part of a more complex overarching process.
That’s why there’s construction project management software. But is project management software robust and dynamic enough to carry the weight of a construction project? Before answering that question, it’s important to first have an understanding of what exactly construction management is.
What is Construction Management?–Construction management is a professional service involving oversight and control over tasks and activities in the construction phase. Typically handled by a Construction Manager (CM), it covers all essential elements of the construction process, including its schedule, cost, quality, function, and safety. This service is ideal for large-scale construction projects such as industrial facilities, commercial properties, transportation infrastructure, and other capital projects.
Purpose
Construction management aims to deliver high-quality construction projects in the allotted time and budget while meeting safety standards and the owner’s expectations. It establishes systems and procedures to ensure all construction activities are completed according to plan.
For this to work, the CM collaborates with all key stakeholders involved in the project: owners, architects, engineers, and general contractors. They are also responsible for the following tasks:
- determining what the project needs in terms of its construction;
- developing and weighing proposals for construction materials, assets, equipment, and workers; and
- aligning construction costs within the set budget.
In other words, construction management handles all aspects of construction work to guarantee its success and satisfy the client’s requirements.
Construction Management vs. Project Management: What’s the Difference?
Aside from the project owner, the top-level aspect of a construction project often involves two key players: the project manager (PM) and the construction manager (CM). These people work alongside each other to plan and coordinate tasks and provide status updates to the owner. While their jobs overlap with one another, there are striking differences between their duties.
The table below compares construction management and project management in terms of their scope, purpose, the expertise required, and responsibilities.
Benefits
It goes without saying that effective management is crucial when handling construction works, but how exactly does it benefit construction projects?
The primary strength of construction management lies in organizing workflows to ensure that tasks and activities go according to plan. This practice promotes a systematic order of carrying out jobs while avoiding disjointed processes. The latter, according to the most recent McKinsey Global Construction Productivity Survey, is one of the main drivers of poor construction performance. In other words, construction management improves overall productivity and boosts project performance.
The advantages of construction management also flow into other aspects of the construction process. In particular, it helps construction teams:
- Save time and money
- Optimize resources for a more efficient project delivery
- Prevent, mitigate, and manage risks in the construction process
- Build safe and better-quality infrastructure
Functions
Construction management consists of the following functions and tasks to fulfill the objectives and requirements of the construction project:
- Cost management –track and control funds throughout the construction process to ensure it stays within the allocated budget.
- Schedule management – map out and consistently follow a master timeline for construction tasks to complete projects on time.
- Quality management – develop, implement, and monitor quality assurance and quality control protocols in all levels of construction work to meet the owner’s standards, purpose, and objectives.
- Safety management – establish procedures to ensure safety within the construction site and building before occupancy.
- Change management – assess, carry out, and document necessary modifications or alterations in the original construction plan.
- Inspections – perform regular inspections throughout the construction process to verify its quality, safety, and legal compliance.
- Documentation – maintain a record of all correspondences, procedures, approvals, and change orders throughout the construction process
Phases of Construction Management
Planning
In the planning phase, the CM develops a construction management plan comprising all relevant information about the construction project. It informs project teams and stakeholders about the owner’s vision and goals for the project and guides them throughout the construction process.
In addition, the CM also carries out the following activities:
- Collaborating with the designers of the project to evaluate and agree upon the feasibility of the owner’s objectives, targets, and specifications
- Determining the delivery method suitable for the project
- Assessing potential risks and setbacks during construction and devising strategies to avoid or mitigate them
- Planning strategies for managing waste from the construction site
Preconstruction
The preconstruction phase includes all necessary preparations before proceeding with the construction itself. The hiring process begins in this phase as the CM works hand in hand with the PM to choose the members of the construction teams.
Moreover, the CM also compiles the required documents for building permits and contractor bids, such as technical specifications, design drawings, and contracts for construction management.
Procurement
In this phase, the CM plans the procurement procedure for the construction equipment and materials in line with the project’s budget and schedule. During bidding, the CM will review all submitted proposals and negotiate the best terms for the construction’s goals and targets. www.eagletutor.in
Construction
As mentioned in the previous sections, the bulk of the CM’s work goes into the construction phase. The CM pays close attention to the following construction activities to make sure the project runs smoothly and gets delivered as planned:
- Conducting regular quality control and site inspections
- Running safety program audits on the work premises
- Processing and approving change orders
- Managing costs and work payment schedules
- Arranging necessary permits and insurance
- Responding to Requests for Information (RFIs)
- Coordinating construction teams for on-time completion
- Documenting change orders, inspections, corrective actions, communication, and other processes
