Читать книгу Construction Management JumpStart - Barbara J. Jackson - Страница 108

One of the best definitions that I have come across over the years is from Charles Patrick's Construction Project Planning and Scheduling. According to Patrick, “Construction management (CM) entails the planning, scheduling, evaluation, and controlling of construction tasks or activities to accomplish specific objectives by effectively allocating and utilizing appropriate labor, material, and time resources in a manner that minimizes costs and maximizes customer/owner satisfaction.”

Although this definition explains the function of construction management, the discipline or profession of construction management is not quite so easy to understand. That's because construction management is not just a single task or activity. It comprises several tasks and is usually delivered by a construction management team. At the same time, an individual member of a construction management team performing even one of the CM functions is said to be doing construction management. Is it any wonder that the general public is by and large unaware of construction management as a distinct career?

If that isn't confusing enough, let's also consider the different ways the construction management function is offered as a service to the consuming public. In the most traditional sense, the construction management function is simply provided alongside the actual construction services. In other words, when an owner hires a general contractor to perform work for them, they get that contractor's construction management services as part of the package. The general contractor uses these skills to keep the project running on time, within budget, and in accordance with the plans and specifications provided by the owner's design professionals. However, if there are errors or omissions in the plans and specifications that were not discovered prior to construction, the contractor is not liable for any resulting cost overruns or time delays.

On the other hand, construction management may be contracted by the owner as a professional service separate from the work of the general contractor. In this case, part of the construction manager's job is to review the plans and specifications before construction begins. Doing so will reduce unwanted consequences and repercussions resulting from a lack of oversight by a construction professional. Construction management in these circumstances is usually provided as a distinct service or project delivery method.

I realize that much of this may seem a bit confusing right now, but later in the chapter I will spend time discussing the various project delivery methods and the functions of construction management. For now, I just want you to understand that many different people perform construction management services. This group of people includes general contractors, subcontractors, project managers, construction managers, construction estimators, general superintendents, job foremen, safety officers, quality control managers, and many other construction professionals. It takes a whole team of players to manage the construction project.