CLARITY IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

An emphasis on clarity is very important in project management. It involves establishing clear project goals, objectives, tasks and overall direction. Every player involved in the project including the client, consultants and the contractor must have a shared understanding of the scope in terms of what needs to be accomplished and how it will be achieved.

The common way on how this is achievable is asking questions while on site regardless of your capacity. Making careless assumptions often lead to serious mistakes and misunderstandings. A common scenario is how tasks are prioritized. This is a challenge for some contractors, since they fail to differentiate between urgent and important tasks and important but not urgent tasks.

For instance, commencing of the works before the building permit expires to prevent extra charges of reapplication, qualifies to be an urgent and important task. Erecting a boundary wall before construction of the main house is important but not urgent. This is also a concept of Parkinson`s law which states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion.

We advise that you incorporate these pro tips whilst managing your construction projects:

• ?Set clear project objectives which you are sure that everyone is aligned on what needs to be achieved. They should be specific, relevant, attainable and time-bound.
• Thorough detailing of the project scope; making it clear about the boundaries of the project in terms of what is included and excluded.
• Developing a responsibility matrix where all the players know their responsibilities within the project and understand their roles in the project.
• Embracing transparent communication at all times. This can be easily achieved through site meetings where information is shared regarding progress updates and whether expectations are being met or other new ones are set.
• Regular documentation of the day works which can easily act as a point of reference or confirmation about a particular work methodology. Contracts also must be embraced to establish one focal point of clarification.

When this is achieved, all players will be on the same train and expecting to arrive at the same destination. Picture this as having a flock of sheep in a yard and as the herdsman, you have spotted the best spot for them to feed on and created a common passage for their safe transit and arrival.

Through clarity:

• Every player understands the deliverables expected and makes his/her best contribution.
• There is a higher rate of accountability resulting from the responsibility matrix and this also prevents confusion and duplication of efforts during delivery.
• Conflicts are easily resolved since every one is briefed with the same information and the site diaries or contract agreement act as a point of reference.

It is also important to advocate for the training of construction workers in terms of handling equipment and work methodology including material specifications and general workmanship. The language used on site is different than the common one. You direct a casual to place spacer blocks on beams, he places a stone pebble. Again, the overall beam size is 450 mm and the guy prepares the reinforcement layout with and depth of 450mm thus the beam ends up being 500mm and inflating the cost due to additional concrete.

Yes should mean yes and understood as yes only, the military way.

Clarity affords focus!

Published by Rickfes Construction.

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