Introduction to Management, Practice and Law (Lecture Week #01)

This approach aims at introducing architects the principles of architectural project management, different participants, documents and phases. Preparing phase is the main theme. The role of architect in coordination between different disciplines to prepare tender documents is the main core. Specification writing and quantity survey for different items of building, the different factors controlling them and their effect on project quality and budget would be intensively covered. The professional relationship between different participants of construction project is introduced to prepare architect to understand his profession.

Introduction

This approach consists of four main parts covering its overall aims. Part one is introductory to the main characteristics of building project management: its phases, participants and documents with particular of design phase. Part two discusses the specification writing of different building items with concentration on architectural aspect of building. Part three concentrates on Quantity survey, price breakdown and cost estimate of different building items. while part four ends this approach with introduction to building permits, cost estimate and tender evaluation. This end prepares architect to a separate detailed disciplines of professional practice and building regulations. 

What is the Project?

A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service, or result

• Temporary: Has a definite beginning and end, not an on-going effort. Ceases when objectives have been attained. Team disbanded upon completion.
• Unique: The product or service is different in some way from other products or services. Product characteristics are progressively elaborated
• Progressively Elaborated (Performed step by step)

1. Proceeding in steps, continuing in increments
2. –Worked out with care and detail, developed thoroughly 
3. –The scope of the project - the work to be done - should remain constant even as details are progressively elaborated

What are the project stakeholders?

• Individuals and organizations who are actively involved in the project and whose interests may be positively or negatively affected by the project success or failure 
• Project Participants (Key Stakeholders) 

1. Owner / Sponsor
2. Contractor / Performing Organization (Enterprise that does the project work) 
3. Consultant / Project Manager (Manages the project) 

Customer (Uses the product or service)

What is Project Management?

It is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements

What is the Triple Constraints?

Introduction to Management, Practice and Law (Lecture Week #02)

What is the Project Lifecycle?

It describes what you need to do, to perform the work of the project and to manage the project.
project lifecycle divided into Process groups according to PMI:

• Initiating Process Group (Starting/Initiation)
• Planning Process Group (Organising/Planning/Preparing)
• Executing & Controlling Process Group (Carrying out the Work)
• Closing Process Group

What is the Importance of Lifecycle ?

It divides the project into phases that provide better management control and the appropriate links to the ongoing operations of the organisation.

Characteristics of Life Cycle

Cost and staffing levels are low at the start, higher towards the end, and drop as project closes.
Each process group resulting a deliverable

Stakeholders influence, Risk, and Uncertainty generally decreases as the project continues
Cost of changes, cost of error correction, and Probability of project success generally increases as the project continues.

Introduction to Management, Practice and Law (Lecture Week #03)

Initiating and preparing process groups are the most important process groups in project lifecycle, while  the most influencing phase in project management is preparing process group phase which divided into main three processes.

Tender Documents

The most important submitted tender’s documents
1- Contract Agreement (not signed)
5- Contract Conditions
     - General Conditions
     - Particular/Specific Conditions
3- Technical Specifications
4- Bill of Quantities
5- Executive Drawings & Soil Report
6- Preliminary Time Schedule
7- Primary/Temporary Insurance/Bond (Fixed value or % value)

Tender's Documents Submission

Contract Documents

The most important contract documents
1- Contract Agreement (signed)
2- Contract Conditions
     - General Conditions
     - Particular/Specific Conditions
3- Technical Specifications
4- Bill of Quantities
5- Executive Drawings & Soil Report
6- Detailed Time Schedule
7- Final Insurance/Bond (5% of Contract Value)

Contract Agreement Must at least Include

The most important contents are:
1-.Contract Participants detailed data
2-.Project’s Scope
3-.Project’s Budget (Contract Value)
4-.Project’s Duration (Start Date – Finish Date)
5-.List of Contract Documents (Documents’ Priority)
6-.Down Payment (if any)
7-.Final Insurance/Bond(5% of Contract Value)
8-.Performance Insurance/Bond(5% sub of each invoice)

Introduction to Management, Practice and Law (Lecture Week #04)

Project Participants

1- The Owner(May be person or organisation so it should have Owner representative
2- The Contractor (May be person or organisation so it should have Contractor representative)

3- The Consultant (May be person or organisation so it should have Consultant representative)

Construction Contract Types

Construction contract types always divided into two types, one is based on price and called price based contract, and the other one called cost based contract.

Each contract type of the above illustrated has double effect one to the owner and the other is to the contractor. this double effect reflect the distribution of risk between the contract participants (Owner/ Contractor)

Project Delivery Systems (PDS)

Project delivery system is the way which arrange the relationship between the project participants. this PDS depends on the type and the purpose of the project. the most used project delivery systems are:

• Traditional Method (Design Bid Build)

• Design and Build

• Construction Management

Introduction to Management, Practice and Law (Lecture Week #05)

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Specifications of Works

Specifications of works should include at least three main items which are:

• Architectural and Civil Specifications 
• Sanitary and plumbing Specifications 
• Electro-mechanic Specifications 

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

It is important to prepare WBS for the project in order to prevent neglecting any item of works.

Who uses the specifications?

The importance of specifications depends on who uses this specifications.

• Owner uses the specification because they are describing his demands and translating these demands into scope
• The contractor uses the specifications in order to implement and perform the project in accordance to owner demands.
• The consultant prepares the specifications in order to achieve and make the owner demands true.

How to write the specifications?

Writing of specifications should include at least and not limited the following
Defining dimensions & Measures (L, W, H, T)

• ex., Door (D2) 1.00x2.20, Ceramic 30x30cm
• The standards of raw material should be known

Defining the types and classes

• Avoiding the vague statements, like (Ultimate Quality) 
• Therefore disturb the execution process
• To avoid un-useful debates

Defining the final look

• The final look should be well defined and detailed
• Avoiding the vague statements, like (Good Look, According to the standards, or to origins of workmanship)
• Therefore disturb the execution process

The Formulation (Texts)

• It should be short, meaningful and in good grammarian
• Avoiding the unusual and multi-meaning words
• These , to prevent debate when explanation of specifications.

Methods of specifications writing

The main three methods of specifications writing are

• The Detailed Method
• The specifications of performance
• The closed Specifications (Manufacturer Brands)

Main topics of specifications of items

Specifications of item should include and not limited to the following

1. Specifications of the materials (Tests & Results Limitations) 
2. Preparations before application 
3. Method and specifications of application 
4. Precautions after application 
5. Tests and results ranges 
6. Method of measuring and payments 

All of the above mentioned points should be reflected to cost of items in BOQ

Introduction to Management, Practice and Law (Lecture Week #06)

Cost Estimate and Price Breakdown

In order to perform the project budget, it is important to specify each of cost and price. Bill Of Quantities (BOQ) is the first document which the estimator should create and consider according to the pre-prepared WBS. for each item of works the estimator should perform its cost divided into cost categories like (Materials, Man bower, Equipment, and Sub-Contractor).

Price consists of cost plus all expenses which related to the project and the organisation. this means that the price divided into Direct Cost and Overheads (Indirect Cost, Taxes, Insurances, Profits, .etc.).

Bill Of Quantities before price submission

Bill Of Quantities after price submission

 Price Breakdown before cost estimate and pricing

 Resource Dictionary

 

Direct Cost Estimate (M3 RC for Columns)