The 7 main responsibilities of a construction manager

• Project management planning
• Cost management
• Time management
• Quality management
• Contract administration
• Safety Management Construction Management Professional Practice
  • Defining the responsibilities and management structure of the project management team
• Organizing and leading by implementing project controls
• Communications protocols
• Identifying elements of the project design and construction likely to give rise to disputes

The construction industry typically includes four parties

• The Owner
• The Designer (architects and engineers)
• The Builder (general contractor)
• The Government (local and state laws and regulations)

Traditionally there are two contracts between these parties as they work together to plan, design and construct a project

• Direct Contract #1 Owner-Designer
  • Planning, design and construction administration
• Direct Contract #2 Owner-Contractor
  • Construction
• Indirect Contract #1 Contractor-Designer
  • Third party relationship due to the previous two contracts

Construction Management designed business adds a third contract. The construction management company becomes an additional party engaged in the project to act as an advisor to the owner. The construction management’s role is to provide construction advice to the designer, design advice to the constructor, and any other necessary advice, on the owner’s behalf.

Construction manager at risk is a delivery method by which the construction management is committed to deliver the project within a guaranteed maximum price (GMP), in most cases. The construction management acts as a consultant to the owner in the development and design phase, but as the equivalent of a general contractor during the construction phase. When the construction management is bound to a GMP, the fundamental character of the relationship is changed. In addition to acting in the owner’s best interest, the construction manager must manage and control construction costs to not exceed the GMP.

Before the design of the project is completed, the CM is involved with estimating the cost of the project based on the scope of work desired by the owner and the designer. This keeps the project within the financial needs of the owner and allows the designer to make changes as necessary before final plans are completed. This saves a considerable amount of time, effort and money to redesign. The owner can make to decision to add or delete parts of the project based on cost during the design to cut down on “surprise cost” later.

Primary aspects of the Construction Manager

• Optimum use of available funds
• Control of the scope of work by owner
• Control of project scheduling
• Optimal use of design and construction firms’ skills and talents
• Avoidance of delays, changes and disputes
• Enhance quality
• Optimum flexibility
• Cash flow management
• Pre-construction budget management
• Maximizes awareness among the owner, designer, General Contractor
• CM accepts the risk
• Mediate between the architect (design) and the General Contractor (function) to insure a sound and aesthetic structure