providing owners with
Project Management
OWNERS FACILITIES OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATORS FINANCE END USERS
Why hire a project manager? Many CEOs wonder why their capital construction projects can’t be managed internally (by someone on their current staff) or simply by the architect or general contractor. While this may seem like a good idea at first, it all comes down to expertise, focus and time. Project Manager vs. Internal Staff. A Project Management firm like Broaddus & Associates allows owners to quickly add and remove staff based on project needs rather than experiencing delays associated with recruiting and hiring personnel. Additionally, there may be costs associated when hiring an internal project manager such as recruiting fees, relocation costs or other on-boarding such as training. Often internal staff assigned to manage a particular capital project lacks the sufficient training and expertise to manage all aspects of the project. In today’s busy construction market, experienced project managers are very difficult to find. A project manager with recent relevant experience willing to relocate for the duration of a project is even rarer. And, once your capital construction project is complete, what will you do with your internal project manager? Project Manager vs. Architects/Contractors. Architects and contractors are very capable at their individual responsibilities, and unlike project managers their responsibilities are limited to one component of the entire project. A project manager, however, is involved from the early planning phases through move-in and warranty period. The project manager will assist in developing the entire scope of the project based on client objectives and it focused on the client’s best interest. Because architects and contractors are charged with specific responsibilities, it can be more difficult for them to step back and take a more strategic view of the project from the owner’s perspective. Architects, engineers and contractors can sometimes dictate means and methods as a project manager, significantly increasing the owner’s risk. Research has shown that the owner’s Project Manager is as important as having a good architect or contractor. At Broaddus & Associates, our Project Managers put the owner’s interest first!
what is the impact of a project manager? Research shows that properly engaging a project manager is the most significant factor that can influence the success of a project.
An experienced project manager understands the importance of consistent communications with stakeholders, adherence to schedules and budgets, the ability to identify value on a project, and how the project fits into the overall mission of the owner.
Timing Many owners think of hiring a project manager during the construction phase of the project. However, as indicated in the following graph, a project manager can provide significant influence on a project by making early decisions in the planning and programming stages as well as the design phase of the project. Decisions that are delayed until construction has begun will have a tremendously negative impact on the project’s budget. Risk Management Capital construction projects are getting more complex, and the associated risks have increased dramatically. It is important to have the right processes and procedures in place to manage that risk by hiring the right architect and general contractor for your team. Your project manager should provide schedule and cost control without sacrificing project scope, budget or quality.
Cost-Influence Curve Research has proven that the greatest opportunity to influence a project with the lowest impact to your budget is in the design phase - before construction begins.
Phase 1: Pre-Project Planning The first Seven steps of our proven project management approach constitute the pre-project planning phase. This phase is appropriate when planning is underway to fund or finance a major capital project or project and is complementary to the master planning process. Phase 2: Project Implementation The last seven steps of our project management approach focuses on providing a road map beginning with design, through construction, commissioning, occupancy, activation and finishing with the closeout of a project.
proven approach to project management When managing a program or project, Broaddus & Associates regularly applies a 14-step owner-oriented project management process. With this process we are able to guide our clients to define needs, set realistic budgets and schedules, establish design criteria, procure designers and contractors, and ultimately execute the plan.
what to look for in your project manager
The person must be experienced, not just in the project type, but in every step of the planning, design and construction of the project. The project manager is a leader and not just an administrator. They lead the entire team (owner, design team and contractor) through frequent communication and collaboration. They establish the project execution plan that includes a total project budget and master schedule. This plan is adaptable to the client’s needs. A good project manager takes responsibility and is accountable to the owner-client for their project.
Top 5 benefits of hiring a good project manager (PM)
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a good PM will save you time A good PM will assume complete ownership of the project, from start to finish, allowing you to focus on your day-to-day responsibilities. a good PM will save you money A good PM has developed strong relationships with best-in-class architect, engineers, general contractors and sub-contractors that can be leveraged to ensure optimal performance and quality. A good PM will document their cost savings to the project that often exceeds the cost of their services.
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a good PM will manage risk A good PM has a clearly defined plan to make timely decisions to resolve and mitigate potential risks.
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a good PM will prevent scope creep A successful PM controls the flow of a project and keeps team members focused on and working within the original scope of the project.
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a good PM will deliver optimal results A good PM will analyze your needs and provide the right resources to ensure the highest quality project. A skilled PM knows there is no such thing as onesize-fits-all solutions, but brings a customized approach to the specific project needs.
Additional Staff Augmentation Services Available During Different Phases of a Project: Project Kick-off Phase Preparation of Owner Initiated RFQ’s & RFP’s Any RFQ or RFP can be written by Broaddus & Associates to select the best delivery team for your capital construction project. Design Phase Constructability Review of Plans & Proposed Value Engineering A Broaddus Preconstruction Manager can review the initial design for constructability as well as any potential Value Engineering options. Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) Review Session This is a focused, systematic approach to address an extensive list of issues early in the planning and design process. Broaddus & Associates can provide a facilitator for this one-day session. Estimating Services for Design Phase Our estimating department can provide a detailed conceptual estimate to assist in making critical timely decisions. Additionally, milestone estimates and GMP review can be performed as needed.
Construction Phase Partnering Session A project team aligned on a set of common objectives, committed to resolving issues when they arise, and ultimately producing a project that is highly unlikely to end up with claims and litigation. Baseline Schedule Preparation This Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) schedule is based upon an average complexity project, which would require discussion with the Project Manager to discern any specific constraints to delivery of the project. Review of Contractors Construction Schedule To include the actual critique of the schedule as well as all necessary documents to support the report findings. Scheduling Training of Facilities Staff We provide an all-day training for project management staff on how to evaluate contractor’s schedules as well as preparation of a schedule. Change Order Reviews Our Project Controls Manager can review pending change orders on a monthly basis to determine if unnecessary charges are being assessed by the contractor and if the material and labor rates are fair and equitable to the current market.
Inspection Services Our Construction Inspector can perform spot inspections and submit reports electronically via web based Project Management Software. Punchlist Walk with Architect and Contractor Our Construction Inspector will walk the project site with the Architect and Contractor to identify any deficiencies to be addressed and submit a report to the project team. Follow-up by the Construction Inspector will ensure deficiencies were corrected. All Project Phases BIM Services Our Building Information Modeling (BIM Services) can cover the entire spectrum of the project lifecycle, from helping plan and organize a BIM Execution Plan, to providing on-site management of the BIM process. Owner InSiteTM Web-based project management information software system provides users detailed information on project status including budget, schedule, open issues, etc. PM Process & Procedure Assessment Review and assess institution’s project management process and provide recommendations including process manuals, work-flows and process flow charts. Performance Metrics Data visualizations though reporting and project dashboards to define and monitor KPI’s across your PM organization.
Why Staff Augmentation? Several unforeseen circumstances can lead to “overload” conditions in Facility Departments requiring additional project management staff: Success of Bond Issues/Major Project Funding While these events can be foreseen, hiring staff in anticipation is often difficult.
unbundled services Expanding your internal construction capabilities has many challenges that might be averted through staff augmentation
Short Term/Special Needs Projects The ability to hire specialized expertise, such as construction inspectors, electrical or mechanical inspectors, or others for short bursts of time is limited.
for smaller scopes of services where a
Short Notice Projects Various factors including philanthropic donations, shifting of institutional or corporate priorities, or emergency situations can create unanticipated projects with “short fuses”.
organization. If you need help during the
New or Unique Skill Set Required Current staff may not have the building type or complex system experience required for a particular project type. Unforeseen Staff Departures Bridging of the gap during the search process for new permanent employees is sometimes needed.
particular expertise may not exist within your
solicitation phase, design phase, construction phase or post construction, we have the resources to address those challenges.
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800.786.8689 BroaddusUSA.com
We exist to advocate for owners and dramatically improve the building process