Okay, enough construction puns. Let\u2019s get to the point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Here’s how traditional construction project management is holding teams back and, more importantly, how you can deliver a successful construction project going forward.<\/p>\r\n
Get started with monday.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You\u2019ve probably already figured out that construction project management<\/a> is all about managing construction projects. Duh.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The difference with construction project management is that it\u2019s mostly mission-based. That means that when the project comes to an end, the project team is dissolved, and the whole thing is done and dusted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Construction project management types include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With an overarching goal of ensuring that projects finish on time, within scope, and on budget, the construction project manager is involved in the planning and execution of:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Such a diverse role requires an equally diverse skill set, so the construction manager needs a deep understanding of the overall building process, as well as significant problem-solving and communication skills.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In traditional construction project management, planning is often done in board rooms and offices and then distributed via email.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Usually, team members meet for coffee to handle challenges or jump on a phone call to hash things out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To answer that, let\u2019s look at the big picture.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Worldwide, the construction industry needs to put up 142 million<\/a>\u00a0buildings by 2050 to deal with the expected population growth in cities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n That\u2019s 13,000 new buildings every single day<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It’s a very modern problem, and you know what they say about modern problems.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n They require modern solutions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Remember what we said about boardroom meetings and phone calls? Not very modern solutions, are they?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On the whole, traditional construction project management processes are a less efficient and more expensive than they need to be.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Couple that with a steady increase in the cost of both materials and labor, and you\u2019ve got a recipe for unprofitable projects.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Cash isn\u2019t the only issue at hand, though.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you\u2019re managing construction projects but you don\u2019t have a progressive Work OS at your fingertips, then you\u2019re going to struggle with changes like globalization, which is actually something you could be taking advantage of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Embracing a global workforce allows you to not only leverage more affordable labor costs, but time zones too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Why wouldn\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0you want your team working on tasks while you\u2019re asleep?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Okay, enough digging on the old methods. Let\u2019s look at what you can do right now to smash your next construction project.<\/p>\r\n Get started with monday.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are 5 construction project management updates you should be making right now:<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The first step to take as a construction project manager: bring as much as you can from the pen-and-paper world into a cloud-based system.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you\u2019ve been in the game for a bit, then it\u2019s probably going to take a bit of time to get used to this new way of working.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But online construction management software<\/a> platforms give you so many <\/em>benefits\u2014from in-context communication to time-saving automation sequences to in-depth reporting\u2014that the short-term pain is well worth the long-term gain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At the very least, you should employ some form of scheduling or project management software<\/a>. Ideally, you\u2019ll opt for an even more forward-thinking solution: the Work OS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A Work OS (Work Operating System) is an online platform that allows you to build your own workflows<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This makes it simple for you to set up a digital workspace that works for you and your team, rather than trying to squeeze your processes into a pre-existing architecture.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here\u2019s a shocking statistic:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 96%\u00a0of people<\/a> believe that the business they deal with\u2014as customers and as employees\u2014could improve their communication skills.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n That\u2019s mostly everybody.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n I know, we all think we’re expert communicators, but the truth is that we tend to overestimate our own abilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When assessing your construction project management software options, make sure you find a solution that encourages team communication in several ways.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For example, with monday.com, teams can comment on tasks in real-time, send direct messages, or integrate with communications tools like Slack and Zoom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Globalization and remote work<\/a> have long been on the rise, and COVID definitely pushed the remote work revolution along. By embracing these trends, project managers can tap major opportunities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Of course, some parts of construction projects require feet on the ground and hammers in hands. But a lot of planning, communication, and documentation management happens in the construction process, most of which can be done outside of the confines of an office space.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As a construction project manager, consider leveraging modern tech, as many productivity solutions make managing this kind remote work easier than ever:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Perhaps the biggest problem with outdated methods of construction project planning is their inability to automate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can\u2019t really tell your whiteboard to add a new task every Monday, you know?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once you\u2019ve set up your project plan<\/a> within your Work OS and you start to get the hang of the digital world, you\u2019ll start to realize something:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A chunk of the work you\u2019re doing on a weekly basis could be managed by computers. So let them do it!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n monday.com makes it easy to set up automations for recurring tasks:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Just as important as choosing the right contractor is understanding how well your projects\u2014and your people\u2014are performing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Modern work solutions allow you to set up custom dashboards to track whatever\u2019s important to you, whether it\u2019s the project budget, pace, or team feedback.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Get started<\/a><\/p>\r\n It\u2019s time to level up your construction management<\/a> and find yourself a competent Work OS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But given so many options, what features should you prioritize?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Glad you asked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Whether you\u2019re working directly with just one general contractor, or you have a subcontractor assigned to each construction phase or task, communication tools need to top your list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Choose a platform that makes it easy to share workflows and documents with your team:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Let\u2019s say you\u2019ve hired an architect to help you with some technical drawings during the project planning stage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You want to be able to communicate with them within your Work OS, but you don\u2019t want to share sensitive details like budgets, or the contact details of the stakeholders involved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With monday.com, you can choose exactly what outside contractors see.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can bet your bottom dollar that the project owner is going to be highly concerned with, well, their bottom dollar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To make sure you\u2019re tracking contractor expenses accurately, you should choose a Work OS that makes time-tracking easy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With monday.com, you can add a simple time-tracking column:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s not unusual for construction professionals to be working on multiple projects simultaneously, meaning you\u2019ll need to set up several boards for project management.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In monday.com, you can visualize your ongoing construction projects by adding the map view:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Construction project management reporting is quite different from sales and marketing reporting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n So why would you limit yourself to reporting dashboards that don\u2019t make sense for your industry?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWith monday.com, you can completely customize your dashboard to get the perfect overview of project performance.<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s safe to say that construction is a fast-moving industry. To keep up with that pace and deliver on your project schedule, you need the right project management platform.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Let\u2019s recap the moves you need to make right now:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n And in the interest of moving quickly, get started now\u2014try out one of these monday.com construction schedule templates<\/a>.<\/p>\r\nWhat is construction project management?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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What’s the problem with traditional construction project management?\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
5 ways to update your project management systems<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1. Go digital<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"monday.com](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-51.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n2. Make communication easy<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-66.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n3. Reduce labor costs by embracing globalization and remote work<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-77.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n4. Automate everything<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"automating](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-87.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n5. Improve reporting quality<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-99.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe future of construction project management<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Strong communication<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"team](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-108.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCustomizable permissions<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"setting](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-114.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTime tracking<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"time](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-116.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMap view<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-118.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCustom dashboards<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pasted-image-0-121.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOnwards and upwards<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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