Question

QI: Think of a construction project-a highway connecting two major cities. Write down the steps involved in its planning and the steps involved in its scheduling.

Answer 1

Think of a construction project-a highway connecting two major cities. Write down the steps involved in its planning and the steps involved in its scheduling.

Planning and scheduling are two major parts of project management. Planning involves planning of mobilisation of resources, planning on sequence of activities, defining the scope to higher management, prepare an initial estimate, cost controlling, client co-ordination, submission of various reports, billing to client, scrutiny of subcontractor bills, etc.,

Step of Planning includes

1. Creation of Work Breakdown Structure [WBS] - The major works to be broken down to simpler works till zero level. A chart will be prepared by planning which will give clear details of the project.

2. Planning resources – once WBS is ready, number and type of resources [plant & machinery, manpower, material and money] required will be clearly known. Accordingly, the requirement is made as a report or document.

3. Read tender documents and understand employer requirement and contractual conditions – with the help of contracts team, main requirement for the project is noted and resources are allocated to execute the same

4. Schedule –

a. Create WBS

b. Finalise methodology of works

c. Finalise the cycle time

d. Finalise the resources required

e. Finalise the sequence of execution of works

f. Consideration of monsoon and monsoon effects

5. Once the schedule is in place, timeline of resource required for mobilisation is prepared and same will be used

6. Legal approvals are noted down and given to administration department to execute the same

7. Scope definition and Progress updation at frequent intervals will be done by planning.

8. Billing to client at regular intervals as mentioned in contract

9. Working closely with execution team on their requirement and providing the same

10. Cost control all throughout the project

11. Optimisation of cost in the project

12. Closing of project