CLE211 - Construction

Management
(Planning and Scheduling Time
Management)
Dr. Senthil Kumar K
Assistant Professor,
SMBS,VIT Chennai.

Planning for Construction Projects

Planning Looking ahead
Planning is necessary to ensure proper utilisation of
human resource and material resource to achieve
the objectives of the project.
If at any stage of the project, the work is not
proceeding according to the early planning, then
revised planning approach is to be adopted.
Rethinking is an important feature of planning.

Project Characteristics
Approach to project time planning depends on
the characteristics and complexity of the project;
and accordingly for the purpose, the projects
were classified.

a) With respect to the type of work, construction

projects may be broadly categorized as:
1) Building projects;
2) Infrastructure projects;
3) Industrial projects; and
4) Other projects.

b) With respect to project completion time, projects

may be categorized as:
1) Long duration projects (over 5 years)
2) Medium duration projects (3 to 5 years)
3) Short duration projects (1 to 3 years)

4) Special short-term projects (less than 1 year).

c) With respect to project value, projects may be

categorized as:
1) Mega value projects;
2) Large value projects;
3) Medium value projects; and
4) Small value projects.

d) With respect to speed of project execution,

projects may be categorized as:
1) Fast track projects
2) Normal pace projects.

 In any Project, the plan includes

Estimates

Budget
Time schedule
Sequences of completion of each part of the project
Manpower planning
Plant and equipment

Objectives of Planning
1. Proper design of each element of the project.
2. Proper selection of equipment and machinery.
3. Proper arrangement of repair of equipment and
machinery near the site of work to keep them ready
to work.
4. Procurement of material well in advance.
5. Employment of trained and experienced staff on the
project.
6. To provide welfare schemes for the staff and
workers

Objectives of Planning
7. To provide incentive for good workers.

8. To arrange constant flow of funds for the completion

of the projects.
9. To provides safety measures such as light and water,
etc.

10. Proper arrangement of communication.

Principles of Planning
The plan should
understandable form.

provide

information

in

The plan should be realistic.

The plan should be flexible.
The plan should serve as a basis for project
monitoring and control.
The plan should be comprehensive.

Stages of Planning
Preplanning - Objective, general frame work, cost
benefit analysis, investment alternatives.
Detailed Planning detailed design, detailed work
drawings, specifications, detailed bill of quantities.
Project break down or work breakdown structure

(WBS).
Monitoring and Control monitoring the progress
according to proposed schedule.

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Breaking up of the entire project into small
component jobs and also establishing the sequences
of various operations and allocation of time duration
to the different activities in the project.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) technique that
divides the project in an hierarchical order till the
desired level of detail is reached.
a) Total project;
b) Sub-projects;
c) Work packages;
d) Tasks; and
e) Minor tasks/activities.

WBS shall be prepared with respect to

stages of a project
functional or technological disciplines
organizational structure
physical location

Preparation of WBS shall take into account the

following:
Each
WBS
deliverable.

component

shall

have

All works in the scope of the project shall be

included in the WBS.
Each descending level of WBS shall represent
more detail.

 WBS shall be prepared in a tree format or an

outline-style.
The prepared WBS shall be numbered with the
help of a coding system which may be alphanumeric in structure such that each activity is
identified by a WBS code which reflects its
position in the WBS structure, in the project and
any of the classification that it represents.
A standardized WBS code structure shall be
implemented in each organization.

Stages of Planning by Different Agencies

Planning by the owner
Planning by the Contractor
Pre-tender planning
Contract planning
Pre- Contract planning
Post- Contract planning

Short term planning

Planning by the Site Engineer

References
Construction Management Sengupta.
Construction Management and accounts - J.L.
Sharma
IS 15883 (Part 1 to 5) : 2009
NPTEL - Construction Planning and Management
Fundamentals of Construction Planning and
Management M.R.Sharma
Construction Engineering and Management
S.Seetharaman