The 4 Stages of Construction Management

The most evident problem in project management

in the construction industry is coordination among
the numerous allocated groups and task forces to
carry out a certain activity or programme. In the
already capital- and labor-intensive construction
industry, successful collaboration can only be
achieved via the integration of the correct
technology and processes. Let's break down the
topic into four construction phases.

Stage 1: Design

There are 4 subparts to designing a construction project which is administered by the Project
Manager who makes sure the design meets the regulations.

a. The concept: It entails the needs, goals and project objective. Decision are made based on
the size of the project, site allocated and the final design for the build. Design dimensions
and critical data is processed in this stage.

b. The schematic design: It shows all of the different parts, materials, sizes, colours, textures,
and so on. The floorplan, elevations, and even a site plan are all included.

c. Develop the design: Primary research is conducted in this stage to explore

i. Materials Selection
ii. Equipment Required
iii. Quantity Determination
iv. Material take off

d. Documentation: These are the final construction drawings and specifications. It is hence
used by Contractors to bid for the tasks.

Stage 2: Preconstruction

Once the bids are accepted, the following tasks are carried out next:

a. Assigning a Project Manager

b. Determining the work force:

First we need to hire a Contract Manager who directly reports to Project Manager. Secondly,
a superintendent is required to keep everything on track in terms of materials, deliveries,
and equipment. Also, a field engineer is required to document the developments.

c. On-site inspection:
The delineated site must be ready for construction after getting environmental clearance.

Stage 3: Procurement

Goods and equipment are purchased in this stage. Depending on the organisation of the
construction company, this may be the duty of the general contractor or subcontractors.
Purchase orders are made which serves as contract between the customer and the seller.
Stage 4: Construction

A preconstruction meeting is held to deal with work hours, material storage, quality control and site
access. Scheduling of process and payment is done next. Work orders are put in place with
transparency to avoid misunderstanding between Project manager and contractors.

What is Construction Project Management Software? 

Construction project management software streamlines the planning, scheduling, construction,

resource management, and reporting processes. It boosts productivity and streamlines the process
while adhering to a strict timetable and budget.

Construction management software is designed to help project managers keep track of all aspects of
their projects by organising their diverse components and automating tasks to improve efficiency. By
delivering data-rich reports, a building project management tool keeps stakeholders informed.

Because there are so many papers associated with each construction project, file storage and
management is also a major function of construction project management software. Real-time data
is also necessary for fostering cooperation, planning, scheduling, and resource management. One of
the most widely used project management programmes is Microsoft Project. Alternatives include
Wrike, Mavenlink, Jira, Tara AI, Buildertrend, Workflowmax, Buildtools, Caspio, Knack and Procore.

(Source: https://project-management.com/top-10-project-management-software/)

Examples of software used in Construction Project Management

A Construction Project Management software should include the industry specific features in order to
collaborate, assign tasks and track progress throughout the project timeline.

The leading project management softwares provide a strong foundation of PM capabilities that enable users to
efficiently manage an entire project. It also offers many connectors for features and data sources outside of
the project management application, either directly or via APIs. Many popular apps and services used by
businesses today, such as G Suite, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Dropbox, can be easily integrated with a
customizable solution. Many project management suppliers, such as Zoho Projects, Wrike, Asana, and others,
have numerous interfaces to link to a variety of other business software types.

Choosing the Right Construction Project Management Software: To manage a construction project, a manager
has to face a huge task of making sure everything goes as planned. The tasks involved with construction
management need expertise, the right construction management software, and experience. As a construction
project manager, your duties will cover multiple areas. He/her need to be in touch with several teams,
including clients, vendors, and regulators involved in the project.

Hence in accordance to the project type, a checklist is needed to deploy the best fitting Construction PM
software. The questions in the checklist are as follows

1. Will the system make things easier for you?

2. Will the platform aid in project management in real time?
3. Is it possible to integrate the software with other products?
4. Is the software transparent?
5. How many licences and fees will the software require to run?
6. Is the software a viable solution to industry issues?
7. Is the software designed to be used on a number of different computers?
8. Is it possible to use the system on a mobile device?
9. Will a merger transition jeopardise the security of my data?
10. Are you looking for a web-based or on-premise solution?