Objectives of Construction Management

An important part of any project, quality construction management helps ensure construction projects remain on time, on budget, and meet all goals for safety, scope, function, and quality. In order to ensure success, the Construction Manager must implement a variety of specialized project management methods. 

This guide explores the main objectives of construction management and reasons why project owners should leverage Construction Managers to maintain project efficiency, productivity, and safety. 
 

Definition of Construction Management 

Construction management is a professional service that helps project owners implement more effective practices. Typically performed by a Construction Manager, this service involves oversight and control over tasks that influence budgeting, planning, coordination, and quality. Construction management is a valuable service for larger projects such as commercial properties, industrial facilities, and transportation infrastructure. 
 

What Are the Main Objectives of Construction Management? 

After commissioning the project, owners hire Construction Managers to ensure everything goes as planned. The main goal of construction management is to manage and control the progress of construction projects. The Construction Manager oversees every stage of the project on the owner’s behalf. Here are the main objectives that construction management aims to achieve: 
 

• Meet the project owner’s expectations: A Construction Manager’s primary objective is to meet the owner’s scheduling, budgeting, and output quality expectations. These professionals implement systems and procedures to ensure all activities go according to plan. 
   
• Stay within or under the budget: Construction management professionals weigh various proposals for construction equipment, materials, workers, and assets to ensure that they balance quality and affordability correctly. 
   
• Establish the best strategy: Construction Managers determine a unique sequence of actions and operations to enhance results and timeliness. 
   
• Monitor compliance with legal rules and regulations: In addition to managing construction tasks, these professionals also review whether designs, equipment, strategies, and tasks are aligned with legal requirements. 
   

What Are the Four Functions of Construction Management? 

Construction management includes four main functions that help professionals fulfill project requirements and objectives. 
 

• Safety management: Safety management involves developing procedures for identifying potential hazards on a construction site and implementing safeguards to avoid them. These are performed before employees begin working on the site.
   
• Time management: Construction Managers help ensure projects finish on time by organizing jobs, assigning responsible employees, delegating tasks, prioritizing risks, overseeing projects, and clearly communicating with the relevant professionals. 
   
• Cost management: Cost management involves setting an initial budget and monitoring expenses over time to avoid overspending. Construction managers aim to make accurate estimates by accounting for all tasks, risks, materials, and employees present. 
   
• Contract administration: As the last function of the construction management process, contract administration promotes communication between the client and the construction management team to exchange information and discuss last-minute changes. This may also include documenting everything that happens during the different construction phases and performing regular inspections to ensure the project is aligned with the contract’s terms and legal regulations. 
   

What Are the Five Components of Construction Management? 

The construction management process has five main phases, each including detailed steps for completing construction projects on schedule and according to project requirements. 
 

1. Planning and design: Also called the initiation phase, planning and design lays out the steps a construction team must follow before the project can receive approval. These may include outlining project objectives through a feasibility study; creating a design that shows the space, materials, textures, colors, and equipment needed; and compiling a document that contains the final design and specifications. 
    
2. Pre-construction: In pre-construction, the Construction Manager works with a Project Manager to choose construction team members. The Construction Manager also gathers documents for contractor bids and building permits while the project team prepares the construction site for review by city authorities so that labor can begin. 
    
3. Procurement: During this phase, the Construction Manager will work to procure construction services, equipment, and materials within the project’s budget and schedule. 
    
4. Construction: When construction finally begins, the Construction Manager will conduct regular quality control inspections, coordinate construction teams, process and approve orders, arrange permits, and perform other important construction activities that help ensure the project runs smoothly. 
    
5. Post-construction: As the project comes to a close, the Construction Manager will perform a post-project review to ensure all tasks were completed, check whether there are any issues present, and submit the relevant project documents and reports to the owner. 
    

Benefits of the Construction Management Process 

The critical functions of the construction management process benefit construction projects in multiple ways. 

• Enhanced project efficiency: The improved organization of procedures and tasks leads to more efficient processes that help ensure activities are completed on schedule.  
   
• Improved performance parameters: By incorporating proactive risk prevention and mitigation efforts, the construction team may improve project performance and build safer, better-quality infrastructure. 
   
• Optimized resource management: Improved construction management practices help save time and money, leading to more efficient project delivery. 
   

Importance of Hiring an Experienced Construction Manager 

In order to ensure the greatest success, owners of construction projects must consider the prior experience and skills of the Construction Manager they choose. It takes a wide range of skills and competencies to ensure sufficient progress and successful completion of even simple construction projects. 

Construction Managers must deal with a multitude of changes including regulations, design, and unforeseen conditions such as extreme weather. It is important the Construction Manager can maintain stability, regardless of the situation. Construction Project Managers have multiple skill sets, including budgeting, safety, local laws and regulations, business, and more, to reach the necessary objectives. Here are some reasons why hiring an experienced Construction Manager is important.
 

Owners Have More Control 

Traditional methods do not allow the owner to take an active role in the construction project. This can create problems, especially for owners responsible for projects paid for with taxpayer dollars. While most people assume owners want nothing to do with the project until completion, it is becoming more common for owners to want and/or need access to their projects. Properly implemented construction management ensures owners maintain access and control while enabling projects to run smoothly. 
 

Construction Managers Align the Owner’s Priorities With Contractors’ Execution 

Construction Managers represent the owner’s interests in the project, helping to ensure the project stays aligned with the owner’s objectives and priorities. Construction Managers help coordinate between the owner’s needs and the contractors’ execution to resolve issues during the life of the project, avoiding disruptive disputes. 
 

Construction Managers Develop Comprehensive Strategies for Each Phase 

Construction management is not a one-size-fits-all type of program. The project owner can decide how much or how little they want the Construction Manager to be involved. However, it is important to note that the greatest benefits come when Construction Managers are brought in during the initiation phase of the project.

During the initiation, design, and planning phases, the Construction Manager creates the project plan and develops a comprehensive strategy for completing each additional phase of the project on time and on budget. This is extremely important to the project’s overall success. 
 

Construction Managers Promote Clear and Effective Communication 

The Construction Manager maintains communication and provides guidance to the project team and ensures the smooth and uninterrupted execution of each phase. This aspect of construction management is extremely important, as success depends on the collaboration of all members of the team. Construction Managers must communicate clearly and in ways that everyone on the team can understand. They must also be able to listen and accept constructive feedback from their team.

Benefit From Construction Management Services With Spire 

At Spire, we understand the challenges owners face when searching for reliable and experienced Construction Managers. Our construction management services help keep projects running smoothly from design to completion. Please contact us for more information about our comprehensive construction management services. 

The content included in this article is for informational purposes only and does not reflect the opinions or recommendations expressed by any individual unless otherwise stated.