UMD, USMx: Project Delivery Methods and Contracts in Construction Management

In this course we will review the owner’s primary goal in choosing a project delivery method to ensure that the planned project will meet the project goals and objectives, fit within the culture of their organization, and at the same time allow the project to be delivered on time, within budget, and achieve good quality.

We will review the primary project delivery method arrangements with their advantages and disadvantages, and cover the three major types of contracts. It is the owner’s requirement to analyze the project delivery method advantages and disadvantages. The best way to do this is to examine the project risks and major categories of project risk.

Next, we’ll address design. Good design is a result of collaboration among many different people, including the construction manager, architect, engineers, and owner. Although there is always a lead designer, the project is a combination of the collaborative process and consultation with other experts.

In this course we describe the roles and responsibilities of the construction management professional during the design phase:

• Understanding value engineering.
• Tasks that fall outside the design activities. These include investigations of local conditions, construction practices, labor markets, and the site conditions.
• Knowing when to bid a project. Significant time and costs are incurred in preparing a bid. To bid or not to bid.
• Know the construction phase, and how the work is the same no matter what contract form or project delivery method was chosen.
• Summarize the activities necessary to properly organize and prepare a project for construction.

The construction phase can be the most exciting part of the project cycle. Every day the job conditions change. There will always be problems to solve, logistical challenges to meet, and new people to work with. This is the job of the construction manager.