Modern Construction Management

by Harris, Frank; McCaffer, Ronald; Edum-Fotwe, Francis

• ISBN13: 9781405133258
• ISBN10: 1405133252
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-07
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This well established undergraduate textbook has been thoroughly revised and updated to cover the latest practices in PFI/PPP, risk management, supply networks, sustainability, lean construction, KPIs, and value management. Modern Construction Management now addresses in particular the contractor's role - often neglected in other textbooks - and throughout it emphasises essential skills and core topics for career development and progression in construction. Two substantial chapters are devoted to self-learning with problems, worked examples and tutorial exercises and the book's comprehensive, clear and pragmatic approach ensures it retains its position as the core textbook for students of construction management, civil engineering and quantity surveying. The material in the book is supported with a comprehensive list of questions and solutions that can be employed as a learning aid. These can be found at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/harris/

Author Biography

Frank Harris, Frank Harris, BEng, MSc, PhD, DSc, CEng, MICE, FCIOB is Emeritus Professor of Construction Science at the University of Wolverhampton
Ronald McCaffer, BSc, PhD, DSc, FREng, FICE, FCIOB, MASCE, MCMI Professor of Construction Management at Loughborough University
Francis Edum-Fotwe, BSc, MSc, PhD, MASCE is Lecturer in Construction and Project Management at Loughborough University.

Table of Contents

Preface	x
Introduction	1	(5)
Structure of the book	1	(1)
Objectives and contents	2	(1)
Section 1	3	(1)
Section 2	3	(1)
Section 3	4	(1)
Section 4	4	(2)
Quality management	6	(25)
Summary	6	(1)
Introduction	6	(1)
Notions of quality	6	(1)
Quality transition	7	(1)
Quality control and inspection	8	(2)
Quality assurance	10	(8)
Total Quality Management	18	(6)
A systems approach to managing quality	24	(5)
References	29	(2)
Section one: Project production management (S/NVQ Levels 3 to 4)	31	(118)
Production process improvement	33	(32)
Summary	33	(1)
Introduction	33	(1)
Productivity	33	(1)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)	34	(2)
Energy consumption	36	(1)
Sustainability	36	(2)
Productivity improvement	38	(9)
Employee participation	47	(16)
References	63	(2)
Planning techniques	65	(34)
Summary	65	(1)
Planning in construction	65	(1)
Who plans?	65	(3)
Planning techniques	68	(17)
Other planning techniques	85	(6)
Modern construction planning	91	(4)
Data exchange	95	(3)
Reference	98	(1)
Workforce motivation	99	(14)
Summary	99	(1)
Introduction	99	(1)
Motivation theories	99	(3)
Payment systems, remuneration and performance	102	(10)
References	112	(1)
Cost control	113	(13)
Summary	113	(1)
A cost control procedure for construction works	113	(11)
Points to consider when choosing a cost control system	124	(2)
Plant management	126	(23)
Summary	126	(1)
Plant acquisition	126	(1)
The financing of plant	127	(2)
Systematic plant selection	129	(1)
The essential characteristics of a decision situation	129	(9)
Setting hire rates	138	(6)
Marginal costing	144	(1)
Plant maintenance	145	(1)
Monitoring of maintenance	146	(1)
References	147	(2)
Section two: Business management (NVQ Levels 4 to 5)	149	(154)
Project procurement	151	(34)
Synopsis	151	(1)
Introduction	151	(1)
The construction process	152	(2)
Appointing the team/parties to the contract	154	(2)
Project manager/leader	156	(3)
The contract	159	(3)
Health and Safety	162	(3)
Categories of contract	165	(1)
Separated and co-operative contracts	165	(3)
Management oriented contracts	168	(4)
Integrated contracts	172	(7)
Discretionary contracts	179	(5)
References	184	(1)
Estimating and tendering	185	(31)
Summary	185	(1)
Introduction	185	(1)
Parties involved in estimating and tendering	186	(2)
The estimating process	188	(1)
BOQ estimating	188	(3)
Collection and calculation of cost information	191	(7)
Project study	198	(1)
Preparing the estimate	199	(6)
Tendering adjustments	205	(2)
Submitting the tender	207	(1)
Estimating in management contracting	207	(3)
Use of estimating software	210	(3)
Methods of estimating	213	(2)
References	215	(1)
Competitive bidding	216	(23)
Summary	216	(1)
Introduction	216	(1)
Part 1. A brief review of bidding strategy	217	(6)
Part 2. The importance of accuracy in estimating	223	(7)
Part 3. Some ways of using the existing theories	230	(6)
Recent developments in bidding	236	(1)
References	237	(2)
Budgetary control	239	(7)
Summary	239	(1)
Introduction	239	(1)
Preparation of budgets	239	(7)
Cash flow and interim valuations	246	(21)
Summary	246	(1)
The need for cash flow forecasting by contractors	246	(2)
The requirements of a forecasting system	248	(5)
Capital lock-up	253	(1)
The factors that affect capital lock-up	253	(5)
Interim valuations and cash flow	258	(4)
Measurement of work in activities	262	(1)
Computers and cash flow	262	(3)
Cash flow forecast by standardised models	265	(1)
Concluding remarks	265	(1)
References	266	(1)
Economic assessments	267	(36)
Summary	267	(1)
Introduction	267	(2)
Interest	269	(2)
Economic comparisons	271	(3)
Profitability measures	274	(4)
Inflation	278	(4)
Accuracy of future estimates	282	(5)
Financial modelling	287	(4)
Cost--benefit analysis	291	(1)
Some worked examples	292	(8)
Reference	300	(1)
Appendix A13.1 Tabulations of interest and time relationships	301	(2)
Section three: Administration and company management (NVQ Level 5)	303	(100)
Company organisation	305	(25)
Summary	305	(1)
Introduction	305	(1)
The function of a manager	305	(2)
Company organisational structures	307	(8)
Departments/functions	315	(13)
Management attitude	328	(1)
Reference	329	(1)
Market planning and business development	330	(12)
Summary	330	(1)
Introduction	330	(1)
Market planning	330	(1)
The business development process	331	(10)
References	341	(1)
International construction logistics and risks	342	(8)
Summary	342	(1)
Introduction	342	(1)
The international environment	342	(6)
Conclusions	348	(2)
Information resources and ICT systems	350	(24)
Summary	350	(1)
Introduction	350	(1)
The construction company's business	350	(1)
Processes involved in construction business	350	(3)
Information needs to support business processes	353	(1)
Management of contractors' information resources	354	(3)
Construction information systems	357	(3)
The construction information manager	360	(1)
ICT in construction	361	(1)
ICT change within construction	361	(1)
Enablers of current construction IT	362	(1)
Using ICT resources in construction	363	(9)
Construction in a wireless world	372	(1)
Information security	372	(2)
Financial management	374	(29)
Summary	374	(1)
Introduction	374	(1)
Types of businesses	374	(4)
Types of capital	378	(7)
The control of capital	385	(3)
The company accounts	388	(14)
References	402	(1)
Section four: Self learning exercises	403	(241)
Questions and solutions	405	(156)
Questions	407	(48)
Solutions	455	(106)
Questions and solutions -- operational research (OR)	561	(83)
Summary	561	(2)
Questions	563	(10)
Solutions	573	(71)
Bibliography	644	(10)
Abbreviations and acronyms	654	(5)
Index	659