BPM 305 (TMA01) – PROJECT SCHEDULING AND CONTROL (MOHAMED ALI B1210887)

(a) Dis
Discuss
cuss the advant
advantage
ages
s and
and dis
disadv
advant
antage
ages
sooff usin
using
gaappro
pproxim
ximate
ate qua
quanti
ntitie
ties.
s.
(20 marks)

 Approximate quantities method represent composite items which are measured

by combining or grouping together typical bill-measured items (Ashworth, 1994,
p84). The method relates cost to the actual work to be carried out where only
major items of cost importance are measured.

The advantages of using approximate quantities are that it is easy to understand

and use, no formulas and regulation to learn, indicates or exhibits the prevalent
and updated practice and way developers are valuing and pricing construction
work, it is speedier and faster than complete measurement, ensures costing
more particular or distinct to each project in comparison to adopting other single
price rate for estimation and hence it is easier to manage the cost during client
conference
confere nce to fulfi
fulfillll their needs as the amount of work is calculate
calculated
d and valued
using lesser elements and features.

Illustration 1,

The stakeholder, end users, clients or customer may desire to explore and
review
revi ew numnumerou
erouss and divdivers
ersifi
ified
ed option
options
s alterat
alteration
ions,
s, modifi
modificat cation
ionss to the
prot
protototyp
ypee or des
desig
ign
n and
and want
wants s these
hese calc
calcul
ulat
ated
ed anand d priprice
cedd fasastt and
expeditious
expedi tiously.
ly. As such, with the use of the approxi
approximate
mate metho
method, d, the contrac
contractt or 
cost
cost mana
manage gers
rs or the qua
quantntit
ity
y advi
adviser
ser has readi
readily
ly ava
availilab
able
le,, orga
organi nize
zed
d anand d
prepared
prep ared acce
accessss or data
databas
basee for ble
blended
nded and synthe
synthesiz
sized
ed detail
details,s, ite
items
ms such as
ground
grou nd flo
floor,
or, wall,
wall, roof,
roof, door,
door, etc.
etc. The contra
contract
ct or cost managers
managers or the quanti quantityty
advise
adv iserr can the
these
se rates
rates to enh
enhanc
ance e or build
build up an amende
amended d and revis revised
ed cost
costing
ing
instantaneously for items and features such as ground suspended floor, eternal c cavity
avity
wall, roof pentho
penthouses,
uses, decorative
decorative door, etc. As compared
compared tto o tthe
he B Bill
ill of Quanti
Quantities,
ties,
the price
price and ccost
ost for ssuch
uch comp
compone onents
nts and
and feat
features
ures of tthe he bubuild
ilding
ing wwould
ould be
distributed
distributed across or bey beyond
ond several
several s separate
eparate and differen
differentt cra
craftsma
ftsman, n, tr
trades
ades anandd
categories within the BQ.

Concurrently, the disadvantage

Concurrently, disadvantages s encompass
encompass enlig
enlightenin
htening
g circums
circumstanti
tantial
al and
substantial information and facts about the assignment, job or project with a
degree and tendency of mistakes, errors or lapses if certain works or trades are
repressed or slipped off or inadvertently omitted. Thus, such in such instances or 
occurrences consume additional time than adopting single unit rate method even
with proven accuracy. Due to its inherent
inherent and disti
distinctiv
nctive
e for each indiv
individuals
iduals or 
offices to cluster or assemble different trades or items together resulting in
migrat
mig ratory,
ory, mobili
mobility
ty and portab
portabili
ility
ty issues
issues among
among indindivi
ividua
duals
ls and differ
different
ent or 
scattered offices.

Page 14 of 22