Construction project management: 5 strategies for managers

Construction project management differs from a typical project management role in other industries. According to The Construction Management Association of America, construction project managers have about 120 responsibilities, which means they must be strategic and thoughtful about working in an environment affected by constant change.

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To ensure that every responsibility is met and that every architect, contractor, and vendor stays on schedule and within budget, an effective construction project manager must use tools and strategies to help them manage their multifaceted work.

Fortunately, construction management has become more technical with the development of new software platforms to simplify and automate many processes. But simply hiring a work management tool or platform is not enough: project managers must also find the best way to implement and maintain those tools.

Here are five strategies to help you be even more successful:

1. Define and formalize processes

The goal of process optimization is to reduce risks, streamline operations, improve worker output, increase efficiency, use resources more effectively, and improve quality assurance.

Clearly defined processes provide a clear roadmap of how to work, what are the parameters to take into account, and what and where to measure. They also allow us to know when we are deviating from what was planned and correct accordingly.

That is why it is convenient to start working on the processes, and then build based on that.

To achieve this more effectively, a second step is to digitize these processes. It will help you be more efficient when starting, transiting, and completing your project.

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2. Create a communication flow

Communication is essential for every phase of any project. Establish a flow of communication with everyone on the ground, and with all plan stakeholders and vendors. This transparency will make the process easier and reduce the number of emails and phone calls each time an issue arises.

One of the simplest ways to create a communication flow is a job execution platform. By syncing comments, photos, documents, and calendars on a single platform, you can monitor updates, quotes, and schedule changes as they take place.

A robust platform also allows you to broadcast these changes to other managers, construction sites, and the technical office in real-time through instant alerts, automated actions, and easy-to-view dashboards providing a method of project management with fewer emails and less paper. This means more time to spend on other tasks that need your attention.

3. Make a habit of continuous planning

Planning is typically the second of the five project management phases, but construction project managers should start planning well before actual construction begins, and continue to review and develop plans until the project is complete. The design, preconstruction, and acquisition stages of a project require extensive planning, and each may need to be reviewed as the next stage unfolds.

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Anything can happen at a work. If you encounter unexpected environmental issues during the pre-construction phase, you may need to change your design. Even minor adjustments can affect the overall plan and timeline.

This remains true during construction. While you'll be working with experienced professionals in electrical engineering, plumbing, scaffolding, and carpentry, they still need focused direction to coordinate efforts among themselves.

To plan, a digital tool can be your ally. An example of this is monday.com, a fully customizable cloud project management software. It allows site or project managers to manage stakeholder access to processes so that different business owners and contractors only see what you want them to see. For example, if plumbing contractors need to share fixture measurements, they can submit an update on the same platform. You can also grant limited access to the information that users can see or modify in each project, maintaining full control over permissions.

You will often need to work with stakeholders along the timeline to develop and refine plans as delays or equipment failures arise. A tool like monday.com allows you to plan and work in the same place, collaboratively.

4. Budget projects with a work execution platform

In construction, permits, wages, materials, and equipment needed for projects are often traded between a variety of financial sources and vendors. From the initial bidding process to project closeout, you are responsible for tracking and monitoring all costs, especially as it relates to initial budgets.

<<< Budgeting construction projects: a project in itself >>>

Even relatively small construction projects contain hundreds of moving parts and individual costs, so to stay effective it's really helpful to lean on software that can also help you manage costs, as you move through key budgeting phases. Plus, through your software platform, you can access standardized project management templates that you can tailor to your needs, so you don't always have to start from scratch for every project.

The platform you choose should allow you and responsible contributors to be able to enter costs, budget changes, and other calculations to keep track of them, alleviating the need to coordinate with each participant or calculate the total budget.

5. Adopt automated reporting systems

No construction project manager has time to answer hundreds of emails a day or use the phone to call and address all budget and progress questions, without neglecting their other activities. In addition to concentrating feedback and schedules, you can reduce additional correspondence by implementing automated, real-time reporting systems.

<<< Construction management for SMEs in the construction industry >>>

Managing construction projects requires the weekly distribution of multiple spreadsheets and status reports, and automated delivery tools will save significant time down the road. This automation will ensure that the correct reports reach the right people on time, allowing you to focus on other tasks and communication. Other reporting systems, such as health and safety management, can prevent risks, track incidents, and streamline workplace analysis when issues arise.

Monday.com benefits not only construction project managers, but also their teams, subcontractors, partners, and stakeholders. The platform helps teams improve visibility and streamline workflows through real-time updates, automated reporting, and integration with other applications.

And now that you've read this article, how do you plan to manage your construction company's projects?