Essentials for Solid Project Management

Planning. Monitoring. Collaboration. Communication. Though much can be said about project management, when you boil it down to the essence, it’s about getting these four actions right, each day, every day. In the thick of a construction project though, it’s easy to lose the forest for the trees. Refresh your bird’s eye view with these pointers on project management from industry pros. 

Stop The Domino Effect: More Planning

At Construct Connect, Deirdre Pearson observes that when planning, monitoring, collaboration and communication are all done right, the result is a project that closes on budget and schedule, whereas, if just one of these slips, “the schedule and margin follow.”Given the domino effect of project breakdowns (according to KPMG’s 2023 Global Construction Survey, less than half of construction projects come in on schedule), it makes sense that investing more attention in the planning process can pay off in a big way. This is especially true for construction companies as they take on more complex projects on the path to growth. Reminding us that a well-built plan “produces a step-by-step roadmap that maximizes efficiency, defines deliverables, and locks in the project milestones against which the schedule and budget will be measured,” Pearson recommends a plan that answers these seven questions before any shovels hit the ground: 

1. What equipment will be needed, and when does each piece show up on site?
2. How much labor is required at each phase, and which crews cover which scopes?
3. Which subcontractors are confirmed for which trades?
4. When do materials need to be ordered, delivered, and staged?
5. What does the safety plan require for this site and these trades?
6. How will the team communicate (daily, weekly, by exception)?
7. What are the top risks, and what is the response plan for each?

Pearson also warns against short-changing matters of risk, and advises: “A formal risk assessment with named owners and response plans for each major risk turns a static schedule into one that can absorb hits without unraveling.”

Collaboration: Clear Roles and Goals

A common problem that occurs on construction projects is making a leap into an exciting new build with a lot of energy and “go team go,” only to find a few weeks in that frustration is flying high and deadlines have slipped. As Kate Zabriskie at Construction Business Owner explains, the root cause of the breakdown is likely failure to provide the clarity on roles and goals that effective collaboration demands:

• When roles and responsibilities are unclear, accountability fades. If something goes wrong, the response becomes “not my job”…..Blame circulates, and soon the team is more focused on defending actions than solving problems … .

• Clarity isn’t just nice-to-have — it’s what keeps teams aligned, productive and, yes, drama-free. When everyone understands the bigger purpose behind their work, their unique role and the tactical steps needed to get there, teams don’t just function — they thrive….

• Tasks are the tactics that bring goals to life. Clear tasks provide a road map that makes daily work straightforward. Vague instructions like “make customers happy” create hesitation. But if the task is specific — “send follow-up emails to five top clients this week”— each step brings the team closer to the goal. Clear tasks are what keep the wheels turning and make meaningful progress possible.

For sustained success on every project, construction business coach George Hedley further advises leaders to put repeatable systems and processes in place, and offers these examples: 

• pre-job planning meetings
• weekly job cost production scorecards 
• tool and equipment checklists, 
• regular training sessions
• pre-installation inspection reports
• detailed subcontracts with inclusions and exclusions clearly identified

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