No, we aren’t trying to quote the John Lennon song. We just want you to stop and think for a moment about the chaos that would ensue if there were no construction project managers. Someone could probably create a schedule and make sure a small construction project stayed within budget with quality work. But what would happen with large construction projects?
Without a Construction Project Manager
The construction project manager has a lot on their plate on a daily basis. They’re responsible for the safe and smooth operation of the jobsite. Here’s a brief overview of what each project would be missing if there were no project managers:
- Risk Management: Who would assess and address potential jobsite risks?
- Project Planning: Who would create the Gantt chart or plan the daily operations of the project?
- Communication: Who would willingly step up to create a proper flow of communication?
- Scheduling: Who would schedule work hours or the electrician and plumber?
- Budgeting: Who would plan and maintain the budget throughout each phase of the project?
- Reporting: Who would produce and present ongoing status reports?
Without risk management, the entire jobsite would become much more dangerous. Large construction projects are already dangerous areas to work, but without proper safety measures, they become deadly.
Without project planning, the project wouldn’t get very far. You would have a set of blueprints and a crew, but they would have no direction. Sure, everyone could just start working to build something, but what happens when tasks are done out of order? Demolition and rebuilding take time.
Without good communication flow, no one would know what was going on. The client would have to visit the jobsite daily to see the progress that was being made. They could speak to every supervisor and member of the crew to see how things were going in each area of construction.
Without someone to maintain the schedule, no one would know the best time to call the electrician, plumber, or other tradesmen. Scheduling must be done in advance so you aren’t waiting for several days for the tradesman to make time to fit you into their schedule.
Without someone to maintain the budget, a 6 month job could turn into a 12 or 15 month job. This means the client pays at least double what they would have otherwise.
Without someone to generate and present reports, an overview of the project is impossible. We wouldn’t be able to see any statistics on how well, or otherwise, the project is going.
Hire a Construction Project Manager Early
The best time to hire a construction project manager is early into the project. The earlier they come aboard, the better success they will have. If they’re there for the initial discussions and planning process, they will be able to more easily envision what the client wants and make it happen.