I currently work for Civil Engineering Consultancy firm based in Derby, UK and I am studying at a local University. At the moment I am doing a Project Management module and would like some help/assistance.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using internal teams and external consultants as project managers?
Are there any contractural implications in using Project Managers?
What is the relationship like between the PM and the design/productionteams?
What advantage does a client have by using a PM to secure there aims and objectives?
In what ways are quality and standards improving in the construction industry?
Why do you think the Construction industry is changing, and why will it continue to change?
What is the concept of best practice in PM and its use to develop benchmarks and KPI's for the construction industry?
In what ways can a PM add value to the construction process and product?
Thanks a lot for your time, any help would be brilliant.
Robidi
The whole problem as I am seeing it now, squinting at this industry through a pair of ageing eyes is the corruption of that very boring, tiresome and almost cop-out title - "Project Manager".
External consultant Project Management, I believe, is certainly the way forward. Provided that first, the consultant has served a seven year apprenticeship in a trade (Now alarmingly called the Tool Sector!) provided that the consultant has then worked his way up to Senior Site Manager and provided that he has then progressed to Contracts Manager.
I am in no way disrespecting those who carry the label "Project Manager" but, similar to all industries, there are those that are good and there are those that are bad. There are those who know what a ‘queen closure' is and could tell you on the spot, whilst there are those who wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between a ‘queen closure' a ‘plumb-cut' or a wheelbarrow.
If the latest project that I have been carrying out End of Defects Inspections on is typical of how it's done today, we are in very serious trouble - where most, if not all of those very impractical individuals that I met, should never have been given that very obscure title in the first place!
Back in my murky days when I was called Contracts Manager, I was wholly responsible for everything that occurred, on my sites - but at the same time I was expected to know all about construction i.e. the terminology, I used to undertake all of the setting out, I used to transfer the required levels (OBM's & TBM's) and, along with the Bricklayer Foreman, would make up all of the gauge rods and lay out and agree the ‘Bond'. I was expected to know ‘Rise and Going', I was expected to know ‘Sweat the joint' along with all manner of terms handed down by previous experts of the craft.
Nowadays - if the hi-viz fits, and my bum doesn't look too big in this, I am called ‘Project Manager' but, I couldn't run a bath so how can I be expected to run a project?
I would dearly like to answer all of your points raised Robidi but don't have the time, one thing though, you ask - "In what ways are quality and standards improving in the construction industry?" My answer to that question would be they're not, in fact they're regressing.
Next time you are near to a library, go grab a copy of "The Honeywell Files" and also a copy of Robert Tressell's "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" you will then immediately understand my reasons for disliking that onerous and wholly inaccurate title ‘Project Manager' coupled with the fact that us British, culture-wise, are no longer strong enough to force change.
My best wishes to you with your studies.
Regards
MVM
Molevalleyman,
have you been looking in my window
" External consultant Project Management, I believe, is certainly the way forward. Provided that first, the consultant has served a seven year apprenticeship in a trade (Now alarmingly called the Tool Sector!) provided that the consultant has then worked his way up to Senior Site Manager and provided that he has then progressed to Contracts Manager."
i dont wish to know whos this is
" Nowadays - if the hi-viz fits, and my bum doesn't look too big in this, I am called ‘Project Manager' but, I couldn't run a bath so how can I be expected to run a project? "
I can only agree with the ceniment as a private Project Management Consultant to a lot of top ten contractors i spend a lot of time fixing the mistakes of others otherwise know as project managers
you did however forget the bit that at your time of life you should know well ,,,,,,,,,,,,, do the work of ten men while sweeping the floor and making the tea for the encesant knowalls paying " a site visit "
Forced to be political , cos someone killed practical LONG LIVE PRACTICAL
From a contractual point of view I believe there shouldn't be any problems, providing the consultants are up to the task and the client pays the bills. Man management and construction isn't rocket science, be firm but also be fair. If something is wrong - sort it immediately. Most site meetings that I attend lately have so many ‘experts' attending (all around 14 years of age). I wonder where the client's money is going?
Are there any contractual implications in using Project Managers?
There are bucket loads but all would need to be agreed prior to the appointment - I would approach a respected and well known Chartered Surveying Practice, go along and chat with a senior partner, they will enlighten you as to the do's and don'ts regarding that particular question.
What is the relationship like between the PM and the design/production teams?
Shouldn't be any problems, at the end of the day and if it's a design and build project, the ball would be the design / production teams court, but it would be up to the Contract's Manager to advise them correctly.
What advantage does a client have by using a PM to secure their aims and objectives?
A great financial advantage, particularly if it goes pear-shaped.
They're not - they are getting worse, because the building industry is now short of knowledgeable building leadership, half of whom couldn't knock a nail in.
The industry is changing because it is losing trained experienced builders who are being replaced by ex-airline accountants and project Managers - that stupid title for anyone wearing a Hi-viz who knows how to fill in a tick-chart, has a degree in astro-physics and Lego but, unfortunately knows very little about building construction.
Key performance indicators are for wimps, administrators and trainee surveyors - the only way to control the job is from the Site, from the front, from the ground up, by getting dirty, getting the job finished to a good standard and getting it handed over - Oh, and by getting a Clerk of Works - he'll sort it all out for you!
A decent knowledgeable Contract's Manager is priceless, whereas many of the youngish variety of newly labelled Project Managers that I meet today are quite lifeless from the neck up, so make sure you hire a Contract Manager who is at least sixty years old - Experience counts!
Your welcome and good luck!
Molevalleyman
Oh you are so cynicle , so damn right , do you ever think youve been in this job to long, like when you see the 12 year olds with degrees and CIOB membership and no fizicle work experiance, but a piece of paper saying I AM A SIGHT MANAGER. A manager of what is the question.
Hi Rock.itt
I wouldn't say I'm being cynical, "disappointed" or ‘disillusioned' would probably be the stickers that I would choose to wear on my safety helmet at the moment due to me in no way, agreeing with what is being allowed to happen in our industry today.
I began my career in Construction in1966, but unlike Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Nobby Stiles and the rest of those brilliant exponents of "how it SHOULD be done" fame instead, chose to be a Carpenter and Joiner and I was invited to learn my trade with Trollope and colls (1778 - 1987) a brilliant, forward thinking organisation who, despite the fact that I was wearing leg-irons / callipers (so couldn't possibly play for England in the World Cup Final) - took me on.
That situation alone demonstrates how one can overcome inconvenience; I didn't want ramps, handrails, and lifts to work or anything else associated with Part M or DDA, I simply wanted to learn a trade so, whilst not being able to go onto site, to climb ladders with half a standard of four by two (100 x 50 for the graddies) on my shoulder, I spent my time in the Joiners Shop, but when I finally escaped from the leg-irons, Construction sites were as welcome to me as spending any day out at Wembley!
I progressed through several years as a Chippie, onwards to General Foreman, then to Senior Site Manager and then to becoming a Contracts Manager in an industry that, didn't only believe in itself, but was good at what it did, without the need for rain-forest's worth of paper being used by endless ‘pretenders' writing out endless reams of crap simply to justify their excuse for why it has failed.
I know quite a few Graduates, Boys and Girls and all very nice people who, if and when they are given adequate space and adequate instruction, when they can be encouraged to climb down from that make-believe podium that society for some very obscure reason, has placed them upon, will eventually, become leaders in an industry which, lets face it, has the potential to be good again. But one word of advice, start at the bottom and work up, that way you will learn. Don't assume that because you have a degree in CD Rom Centre Hole boring, you are the saviours of the Construction Industry, you're not...well not yet, but if you listen and learn, one day you will be.
My old Dad (Bless Him) gone now, was shot down over Germany and spent 3 years in a POW camp but despite the fact that he had lost a leg, despite the fact that he was burned so very badly, managed to bring me, my three brothers and one sister up advising "Always be prepared to listen to another mans story, you will learn something"
Well Rock.itt me-old-mate, this isn't a lesson, it's simply advice to our newbie's, I'm sure shared by you - learn to walk before you try running.
I know that in the past we have disagreed but we seem to be relitavly on the same page on many issues we are both under the agreement that for many reasons our industry is being scewed up. A lot of grads as you say are real nice guys , i know i end getting to know a lot as a lot of companyies employ people like myself and then throw a grad in to the sharks as cheap labour forgetting that these guys still need to be on that thing called a learning curve, which as you well know takes years.
I feel sorry for many of the youngters as no one seems to want to take the time to finish there education , on site, so a lot get throw to the sharks end up with the I AM SO GOOD IVE GOT MY OWN SITE syndrome then fall flat on there arse through no falt of there own. A lot are led to beleive that the papre with there name on is all they need, cos thats what they are led to beleive,
I recently had a graduate engineer tell me she could run site safety , she had a weeks site knowledge, she looked gobsmaked when i told her that i might let her run the safety of the site , a rail sight at that, in about 3 years or so when she at least had a working knowledge of the works to be done, a piece of paper does not mean you have the knowledge , real education is being out there for many years leaning from the shitty stick end and lots of education.
My first introduction to real construction was 28 miles of central reservation on the M1 , we had the 2 fast lanes and 2 rows of road cones , and back then they did not bother about things like lane restriction speed limits, safety was a burly paddy with size 60 feet and a big right hook, and it worked in 18 month no one died, working like that is a real education.
I am a great beliver in education , god knows i have qualifications coming out of every oriface but they are just to meet regulations, the real qualification is they years of expertise, i see from your write up like myself you began with the shitty stick to start your education , much better than 3 years in a class room i think you will agree, but at some point companies have to take stock that these guys need more than a class room before being given a tital, poeple like ourselves have the years behide us and have earned the tital in what ever form, inheriting or buying the tital of Lord does not make you royal.
your last sentance is spot on alot try to run and the rest are forced to , someone needs to empose a speed limit for the ske of some of these youngeters survival.