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Construction project managers oversee all aspects of the building process,

working closely with engineers and architects to develop plans, establish timetables, and
determine labor and material costs. They are responsible for ensuring the project is
completed on budget and within scope. They also hire and manage subcontractors and
employees, gather permits, and ensure all aspects of the project are up to code. The
main construction project manager responsibilities are overall project planning,
distributing resources, time management, risk management, creating benchmarks,
managing the budget, managing staff, and managing relationships with key
stakeholders.

In this case there is a relatively new yet very ambitious general construction
project manager (PM) was given an assignment for a repeat industrial client. The project
was bid lump sum at $50 million by a staff estimator. It was the largest lump sum
project ever undertaken by the GC at that time. There was a $1,000,000 bid error. The
officer in charge (OIC) directed the PM to get every change order possible. The PM was
not to worry about the possibility of future work with the client. During the one year of
construction, the PM lost his project engineer and was not allowed to replace him with
any experienced help. He had to hire from outside. He also did not receive any home
office supervisory help. The OIC would meet him for lunch once a month at a remote
site. Why did the OIC distance himself? Why assign this project to a new PM? The PM
worked seven days a week – sacrificing health and family time to bring the project back
into the black. The project was ultimately brought in with a clear fee of $600,000, but
relations had been damaged; the GC did not get to work with the client again. Later in
the PM’s career with other contractors, he was not welcomed back on this client’s site.
The PM did what he was asked to do, didn’t he? He was successful, wasn’t he? Did the
PM make any errors? What would you have done?

First of all the project manager did his best and he tried to do all the things
ordered to him with best of his capabilities. He tried every possibility to seek help from
the OIC. He even hired a new one. And we shouldn't forget he was newly appointed. The
GC did not get to work with the client again. Later in the Project manager career with
other contractors but he was not welcomed back on this clients site.

The problem of this was due to the communication gap of owner and the
manager. The owner was clever enough to use him and do the project at less cost. He
was too selfish to do this and spoil his career. What sort of risks and coordination issues
is an owner assuming by not placing all of the work on one site under one GC? Does
this save or cost the owner money? Multiple options are available with the owners which
will lead competition among the contractors and he can get his work done at a very low
price by manipulating the situation. The contractors and project managers perform their
best but don't get the salary they deserve. Do these sorts of multiple contracts also
place risks on the contractors or designers? Does this also provide for contracting
opportunities for the contractors? Yes it can be advantageous and disadvantageous
both. Many can get work. There won't be monopoly. Everyone will get to do work and
have equal chances of getting the contracts. But they cannot increase the price
otherwise owners won't give them contracts. When might this not only be an acceptable
delivery method for the project owner, but a preferred one? The PM did what he was
asked to do, didn’t he? Yes He was successful, wasn’t he? Yes Did the PM make any
errors? What would you have done? No. But he has to keep patience so that he will get
success anyway. He should keep doing his good work.

Conclusion

In this case I conclude that ambition is important for a competitive workplace

such as construction project but if you are too ambitious construction project manager
it can lead to a project failure. But when project manager have a personality traits such
as good leadership, good communication to his/her members, coping skills, effective
problem solver as well, team building or team management can lead to a successful
project.