In the fast-paced world of construction, delivering projects on time and within budget is a challenging task. This is where construction managers step in. But what does a construction manager do, and how do they differ from project managers? In this blog, we’ll explore the role of a construction manager, their responsibilities and how they differ from project managers.
What Does a Construction Manager Do?
The role of a construction manager is to oversee and coordinate all aspects of a construction project, ensuring it stays on schedule and within budget. Their hard work has helped to produce everything from apartment complexes to shopping malls and factories. They are also instrumental in getting major infrastructure projects off the ground. These management professionals handle the many complications of coordinating and overseeing major projects, ensuring that these are completed on time and under budget, all while maintaining stellar safety and compliance.1
Overseeing Construction Projects
Construction projects have many moving parts, including a variety of team members, materials, equipment and tasks that need to be carefully coordinated to ensure maximum quality and efficiency. Construction managers provide broad oversight to keep everything running smoothly.
Depending on the role or specialization, these leaders may oversee specific construction phases or tasks, although higher-level construction managers may be responsible for the overall execution of the project. As the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) points out, this comprehensive role may integrate many functions, with construction managers often expected to guide core functions such as schedule, cost, quality, safety and scope.2
Coordinating Teams and Resources
Team coordination represents one of the most significant challenges of construction management, given the need to work with such a wide range of individuals. After all, construction projects may call for expertise from architects, engineers, safety officers, estimators, environmental consultants and many other specialists. General contractors and subcontractors also play a crucial role in keeping these projects on track.
Construction managers must ensure that these many different professionals all do their part to contribute to the overarching goal of creating a safe and functional structure. What’s more, construction managers must also coordinate a variety of resources, such as the tools, equipment and materials needed to keep the construction process running smoothly.
Construction Manager vs. Project Manager: What’s the Difference?
Construction management and project management are crucial to major construction projects’ success. However, these areas are sometimes confused, especially among those with a limited understanding of the construction industry. If you have big plans to enter this field, it is essential to clarify the role of a construction manager in contrast to that of a project manager. Keep in mind that your day-to-day work could look dramatically different depending on which pathway you select.
Focus Areas
The main difference between a construction manager and a construction project manager? The scope of the role. Project managers oversee far broader goals and initiatives, handling strategic planning and often taking the lead in stakeholder engagement.3 The construction manager’s role is central from the Notice to Proceed to the closeout, offering broad oversight and ensuring that previously developed plans are properly executed. These roles are complementary, however, and both are crucial to the success of each project.
Responsibilities in the Design Phase
Differences in the design phase can go a long way toward clarifying the overarching distinctions between construction management and construction project management. Compared to construction managers, construction project managers are more involved in the earlier phases of the construction project, including initial planning activities. According to construction management expert Jason Schroeder, the role of the project manager is to “orchestrate” the project, setting the stage for successful execution by the construction manager.4
How Construction Managers Keep Projects on Time
Construction projects maintain strict schedules, and while these can vary significantly depending on the type of project and its unique complications, there is a great deal of pressure on construction managers to keep everything running smoothly and avoid delays whenever possible. This begins with strategic scheduling, which may involve a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to identify critical components, plus a Critical Path to demonstrate the ideal sequencing of key tasks or activities.5
Scheduling and Time Management
The construction project schedule forms the ultimate roadmap, determining not only what will be completed and when, but also the overall order of events. Timing is crucial. Delays in one phase, like site preparation, can ripple through the project, affecting later stages such as foundation or building envelope construction.
The Critical Path Method plays a central role in this effort, providing greater structure while revealing the specific sequences of tasks that influence the project’s overall duration. This makes it possible to schedule activities based on what will ensure optimal use of limited time and resources. Construction managers or project managers may be involved in drafting or managing this critical path, using specialized software such as Primavera along with Gantt charts for visualization purposes.6
Managing Challenges During Construction
Scheduling represents one of many challenges construction managers can expect to tackle when overseeing complex projects. A variety of difficult-to-anticipate challenges can throw even the most strategically planned projects off track, leading not only to delays, but also potential overruns or even quality control issues. Construction managers must leverage well-developed problem-solving and negotiation skills to overcome these issues while striking the ideal balance between timing, budgetary concerns and building quality.
This begins with a strategic approach to risk management. While some challenges can be difficult to predict, effective risk management helps to reveal which issues are most likely and how they will be navigated without disrupting project flow or compromising deliverables.
How Construction Managers Control Costs
Construction costs can vary dramatically, but managers and project managers across many locations and specialties share a common challenge: making the most of seemingly limited budgets. From materials to labor and even administrative expenses, costs can add up quickly. This can be further complicated by significant lags between work completed and the financial records that reflect this work. Advanced budgeting techniques can mitigate these concerns, promoting informed decision-making and tighter control over finances.
Budget Management Techniques
Budget overruns are a common source of trouble in construction projects. These often occur in response to unanticipated expenses, often related to issues with site conditions or market fluctuations. These overruns are not only problematic from a financial perspective. They can contribute to project delays, which, in turn, can further increase labor expenses and other costs. This could also damage relationships with clients or compromise project quality.7
Construction and project managers help avoid overruns and other budgetary challenges through strategic planning. This means clearly defining the scope at the project’s outset and fully understanding potential technical challenges or other risks. Effective scheduling can limit budgetary issues, although projects may require contingency funds.
Collaboration With Stakeholders
Construction managers (and especially project managers) can expect to interact with a variety of stakeholders, offering updates on construction progress and, ultimately, making stakeholders feel as if they have an active part in shaping this process. Construction managers need to fully understand stakeholder objectives and expectations to communicate effectively with these stakeholders.
Experts at CMAA believe this collaboration is just as impactful as the “hard” components of construction management, such as “engineering, procurement, and construction activities.” CMAA also reveals how this effort can be complicated by the reality that different stakeholders will respond to different communication styles.8
Why Construction Managers Are Essential for Successful Projects
Construction managers form the backbone of the modern construction industry. These passionate and competent leaders know what it takes to turn ambitious ideas into actual structures while remaining within strict budget and timeline limits. These leaders hold a great deal of responsibility but can unlock amazing rewards as they see their vision take shape.
Balancing Quality, Time and Cost
Effective construction management represents the ultimate balancing act. Problem-solving is a critical part of this role, but in the effort to overcome one challenge, another area could potentially be compromised.
For example, when dealing with potential cost overruns, construction managers may need to adjust timelines or reconsider the use of certain materials, but this could have a negative impact on quality.
Careful trade-offs may sometimes be required, but construction managers can draw on high-level training and industry experience to make the best decision based on the situation at hand.
Leadership and Communication Skills
Overseeing vast teams that include many types of professionals and their various strengths or weaknesses, construction managers must draw on a wealth of leadership and soft skills to help guide and inspire the many individuals who bring construction plans to life.
Written and verbal communication skills are fundamental, as construction managers may need to adjust their style or tone to reflect different personalities or levels of understanding. Ultimately, their goal is to convey information in a concise, yet engaging manner.9
Prepare For the Construction Management Balancing Act With SJVC
Construction managers are indispensable for keeping projects on time and within budget. Their ability to manage resources, oversee operations and implement effective management techniques ensures the success of construction projects from the design phase to completion. If you’re ready to take on this critical role in the construction industry, explore SJVC’s Construction Management program and start your career today.
Sources:
1. U.S. Green Building Council. “Construction manager.” https://www.usgbc.org/professionals/green-careers/construction-manager
2. Construction Management Association of America. “What is Construction Management?” https://www.cmaanet.org/about-us/what-construction-management
3. Indeed. “Construction Management vs. Project Management: What’s the Difference?” https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/construction-management-vs-project-management
4. Schroeder, J. “5 Strategies Of A Successful Construction Project Manager.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swD_oRsnPR8&ab_channel=JasonSchroeder
5. Gray, D. “The Ultimate Guide to Construction Scheduling.” Procore. https://www.procore.com/library/construction-scheduling#work-breakdown-structure-wbs
6. Ashburn, B. et al. “The Fundamentals of Construction Gantt Charts.” Procore. https://www.procore.com/library/gantt-charts
7. Forbes, T. et al. “Mitigating Cost Overruns in Construction.” Procore. https://www.procore.com/library/construction-cost-overruns
8. Construction Management Association of America. “Stakeholder Management in Large Complex Programs.” https://www.cmaanet.org/sites/default/files/resource/Stakeholder-Management-in-Large-Complex-Programs_0.pdf
9. Schroeder, J. “Communication: The Secret Weapon In Construction Management.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2lHilKysZY&ab_channel=JasonSchroeder
