Time Management Practices in Construction Projects

The construction industry is riddled with disputes among project stakeholders that result from a variety of problems. These problems include incomplete design documentation, ill-defined scope and mathematical errors in risk assessment, and project cost baselines, with the failure of contractors to meet specific project baselines being an intense breeding ground for disputation.

Construction projects are well known for their complexity as they require the involvement of several stakeholders, all working towards achieving the shared targets, particularly a derivation from the project baselines. Hence, construction companies need the proper contribution of a multitude of professionals and skilled workers over the course of their projects. Failing to manage the people effectively can jeopardize the projects’ profitability and chance of success, especially in terms of meeting the schedule and budget baselines established for the projects.

With the main focus on human resources, time management involves organizing and executing a strategy to manage the time duration allocated to a particular construction task, ensuring the completion of the job on time and within budget.

The Importance of Time Management in Construction Projects and Some Relevant Strategies

The formulation and implementation of effective time management strategies is one of the pillars of the success of construction projects. They allow construction companies to successfully meet the time and budget allocated for the completion of the construction projects they are involved in. More than a tool in the field of construction management, it is key to attaining project success and profitability.

In the management of the time duration allocated to construction activities, effective time management strategies revolve around creating a proactive working environment and assigning the involved team members achievable goals, time-frames, and resources to both lower the overall expenditure of the construction project and ensure the construction project meets the project baselines, particularly the schedule and budget targets. Below is a list of time management strategies for construction contractors to assist them in meeting the project baselines.

Review the project schedule daily

It is a necessity that construction contractors review the project schedules developed for their construction projects daily to ascertain whether they are ahead of or behind the schedules. In the management of a construction project, the project schedule needs to be the construction contractor’s guidebook that dictates what task is supposed to occur, how long it takes for the job to be complete, and who is responsible for the conduct of the task. The contractors must be aware that any impact on a task within the project schedules will produce a ripple effect that shifts other tasks in the plans. Regardless of how long the time frames of their construction projects are, they should review, track, and manage the project schedules daily. In doing so, any tasks progressing slower than planned can be rectified promptly. It would also help with improving time and cost efficiency.

Be Proactive

A construction contractor, having just conducted a daily construction progress review, should swiftly react to any construction activity that is likely to be delayed. Upon formulating a rectification strategy, the contractor should delegate the tasks required to implement the plan to capable team members. It is also the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient resources for the strategy to be smoothly executed.

Additionally, in the case where the construction contractor has identified an opportunity to improve the project schedule, such as a possibility to shorten the time frame of the project or a particular task as a result of the early commencement and completion of a specific job, the construction contractor should promptly make the necessary adjustments to the project schedule by delegating the tasks involved to make such adjustments to the capable team member and setting up new goals for the team members to work towards it. Similarly, the construction contractor should be aware of any additional resources needed for the adjustments.

This practice will assist the construction contractor in creating a proactive working environment in which there is daily monitoring of the project schedule to prevent any issue that will impact the project baseline as the contribution of each of the involved team members is properly managed.

Productive Meetings

Under certain circumstances, meetings are necessary for task delegation purposes and for team members to meet up for discussion, but they should only be conducted for a well-defined purpose. Construction contractors need to spend time efficiently and effectively and carry out meetings having a definitive purpose.

The keys to conducting a productive meeting are to prepare a definitive agenda for the meeting, clearly state the goals of the meeting, and end the session with a list of actionable items and the respective due dates. This will ensure that every team member is well informed of what is supposed to be done and when it is to be done.

Additionally, after every meeting, the construction contractor should distribute the meeting notes and follow up on the delegated tasks according to the notes. All these documents shall be part of the project record.

Right Digital Tools

Nevertheless, construction contractors can rely on a collaboration application to streamline their time management processes. With the use of such applications, they can invite everyone involved in their project teams to the applications on which tasks are to be delegated, with the goals and due dates specified. This application will allow the construction contractors to follow up with their team members on the tasks the members have been delegated to undertake.

In the management of any construction project, collaboration software can serve as an essential communication tool contributing to the effectiveness of the time management process, and through such software, tasks can be assigned and followed up quickly. There are various strategies for time management strategies, but a construction contractor will definitely be benefited from using a collaboration application.

Contact Leopard Project Controls for your next Construction Scheduling Project.