PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

QUESTION BANK

Why there is need for the Construction Management?

Ans –
Need for construction management are:
• Large building construction projects with huge capital investments.
• High level of technical complexity
• A rigid time-frame for completion and commissioning
• Every major building construction project today is strictly time bound to
deliver the expected return on the investment.

What is Construction Management and explain the fundamentals of the

construction management.
Ans -
Construction Management is defined as the management of activities that are
over and above the normal architectural and engineering services conducted
during the pre-design, design and construction phases of a project that
contribute to the control of cost and time.
Fundaments
A. Planning: It is the basic function of management. It deals with chalking out a
future course of action & deciding in advance the most appropriate course of
actions for achievement of pre-determined goals. o Thus planning is a
systematic thinking about ways & means for accomplishment of pre-
determined goals. Planning is necessary to ensure proper utilization of human
& non-human resources. o It is an intellectual activity and it also helps in
avoiding confusion, uncertainties, risks, wastages etc.
B. Organizing: It is the process of bringing together physical, financial and
human resources and developing productive relationship amongst them for
achievement of organizational goals. To organize a business involves
determining & providing human and non-human resources to the
organizational structure. Organizing as a process involves: Identification of
activities. Classification of grouping of activities. Assignment of duties.
Delegation of authority and creation of responsibility.

Explain the role of the construction manager.

Ans –
• The construction manager can be said to be a professional who manages
the building construction process
• Prepares production documents
• Involved with the day-to-day management of construction projects
• Have responsibility for supervising people
• Also reports any issues to the client and senior management
• Handles the cost management
• The safety management at the job site,
• Ans the contract administration to ensure that every provision of the
contract is being met.

What are the phases of construction project? Explain what all things are done
in each phase.
Ans -
A standard construction project, in general, has following five major life cycle
phases:
A. Initiation
B. Planning
C. Execution
D. Performance and monitoring
E. Closure Initiation Phase of Construction Project Planning Phase of
Construction Project Execution Phase of Construction Project Performance and
Monitoring Phase of Construction Project Closure Phase of Construction
Project.
Differentiate between light, heavy and industrial construction with examples.

Ans –

• Manufacturing enterprises that are less capital-intensive are classified as

light industry. The majority of light industry products are made for end
customers rather than as intermediates for other industries to use.
• The environmental effect of their facilities is usually lower than that of
heavy industry. Light industries, on the whole, use less raw materials, space,
and energy than heavy industries. A light industry produces light goods such as
computers and cell phones using modest amounts of light raw materials.
• Electronics and assembly businesses are examples of light industries, and
they benefit from being close to research facilities, crowded together, or near
high-speed transportation like highways and trains.
• They are often industries that sell their goods to other sectors rather than
end users or customers.
• They are capital-intensive, requiring a lot of machinery and equipment to
manufacture, and their investment and employment cycles are frequently
more cyclical Local zoning rules may designate heavy industry as a special
designation.
• Oil, mining, shipbuilding, steel, chemicals, machinery production, and other
heavy industries are examples of this type of industry. Shipbuilding is a heavy
industry in the modern day.
• The following are the fundamental distinctions between light and heavy
industry: Light industry focuses on small-scale items that are mostly purchased
by individuals, whereas heavy industry focuses on large-scale corporations.
• Light industry is small-scale and best suited to manufacturing units on
industrial estates, whereas heavy industry entails massive factories that occupy
significant amounts of land.
• Light industry requires only a little amount of cash, but heavy industry is
capital intensive and requires large inputs to get started.
• Light industries are producers whose goods are primarily consumed by
consumers, whereas heavy industries are sellers who believe in a business-
oriented approach rather than a customer-oriented approach.
How construction management functions? Explain with suitable steps
involved in it.

Ans –

The functions of construction management typically include the following:

• Specifying project objectives and plans including delineation of scope,

budgeting, scheduling, setting performance requirements, and selecting
project participants.
• Maximizing the resource efficiency through procurement of labour,
materials and equipment.
• Implementing various operations through proper coordination and
control of planning, design, estimating, contracting and construction in
the entire process.
• Developing effective communications and mechanisms for resolving
conflicts.

How communication functions in construction management.

Ans –

• Communication is best defined as the exchange of information and

the expression of ideas, thoughts and feelings by using words and
other methods.
• In the project management context this means the exchange of
knowledge, skills and experience.
• Good communication keeps conflict and confusion from bogging your
project down by ensuring key players are aligned on project goals
and know exactly what's expected of them.
• It also helps build team-wide trust so everyone works better together
from project start to finish.

What is the type of resources in construction industry?

Ans –

• A resource is defined as any person or item that is required for the

execution of a project. There are generally seven types of resources
in project management.
 • Here is a rundown of all the essential resources needed for
construction projects:
Human resources: The workforce is the most critical part of the
construction resource pool. It is the people behind the project that make it
a reality. The following are the vital roles required in the construction
industry:
1. Estimator: The estimator is responsible for estimating the costs,
materials, and labour needed to complete a project.
2. Architect: The architect’s job is to envision the client’s needs and
develop a creative solution in a blueprint.
3. Supervisor: The supervisor acts as an intermediary between the
field workers and the management office. He/she ensures
effective communication between the two parties.
4. Quantity Surveyor: The quantity surveyor provides the client with
advice on building costs and contractual matters throughout the
building process and acts as a consultant to the architect.
5. Engineer: Engineers are vital on a job site and may specialize in
building, electrical, mechanical, highway, etc. For example, civil
engineers use computer software technology to create plans for
their projects. Electrical engineers monitor the power
requirements in the project and ensure all hazards are negated.
6. Construction Worker: Construction workers are the driving force
of every project. Once the project is planned, the workers get their
hands dirty to make it a reality.

Who are the stakeholders of construction project?

Ans -
The stakeholders identified for construction projects are: clients, community,
suppliers, operative and technical team, directive team, CEO, curatorship,
financial entities and the government. According to the methodology
employed, key stakeholders are: community, CEO, directive team and clients.

What are the functions of an organization?

Ans -
A Construction Organisation (Site Organization) consists of the management,
administration, field controls (Schedule and Cost), field engineering, field
material control, construction supervision (subcontractor management), safety
(site), quality (quality control and inspection), pre-commissioning team and
hand-over tam, etc., at the site or field.

What are the principles of ideal organization?

Ans -
Principle of Objective
Principle of Specialization
Principles of Co-ordination
Principle of Authority and Responsibility
Principle of Definition
Span of Control
Principle of Balance
Principle of Continuity

How Manner of distribution of authority in formation of the structures of

organization.
Ans -
Five elements create an organizational structure: job design, depart mentation,
delegation, span of control and chain of command. These elements comprise
an organizational chart and create the organizational structure itself. "Depart
mentation" refers to the way an organization structures its jobs to coordinate
work.

Explain types of organization where project management is used.

Ans -
There are three types of organizational structures in project management:
functional, matrix, and projectized. Each project structure framework is
determined by the authority, roles, and responsibilities of the team members
within the existing organizational structure.

Explain – Multinational organization, Functional organization, Matrix

organization and Pure project organization.
Ans -
• Types of Organizational Structures Functional Structure Four types of
common organizational structures are implemented in the real world.
The first and most common is a functional structure. This is also referred
to as a bureaucratic organizational structure and breaks up a company
based on the specialization of its workforce. Most small-to-medium-
sized businesses implement a functional structure. Dividing the firm into
 departments consisting of marketing, sales, and operations is the act of
using a bureaucratic organizational structure.
• Divisional or Multidivisional Structure The second type is common
among large companies with many business units. Called the divisional
or multidivisional structure, a company that uses this method structures
its leadership team based on the products, projects, or subsidiaries they
operate. A good example of this structure is Johnson & Johnson. With
thousands of products and lines of business, the company structures
itself so each business unit operates as its own company with its own
president.
• Matrix Structure The fourth and final organizational structure is a matrix
structure. It is also the most confusing and the least used. This structure
matrixes employees across different superiors, divisions, or
departments. An employee working for a matrixed company, for
example, may have duties in both sales and customer service.
• Multinational organization the multinational corporation is a business
organization whose activities are located in more than two countries and
is the organizational form that defines foreign direct investment.

What is Project Management?

Ans -
Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills,
knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to
the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management
has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.

Why is the Construction Process Important to an Architect?

Ans –

• Architects in construction plays an important role and they are

responsible for visual appearance of the buildings and structures
before final structural design.

• The architects develop design that are more creative in aesthetics.

The architect makes use of vision and creative ideas to satisfy the
client.
 • The architect brings more of creativity and artistic elements on the
building. This creation of design will be repeated till both the parties
i.e., the client and the designer are satisfied.

Explain the appointment of the contractor.

Ans –

• Contractors are organisations appointed by clients (sometimes

referred to as employers) to carry out construction works.

• This role is vital to the success of a project, and so great care should
be taken to ensure an appropriate contractor is selected.

• A contractor appointment letter is basically the letter of agreement

which states that a contractor will work for a business or a company
to assure that the services needed to finish a particular project will
be provided.

Describe the Architects role in General Construction Management.

Ans –

• An Architect is a person hired by the client to design a facility as per

the ideas and requirements specified by the client.

• Architects play a crucial role in construction as they’re liable for the

visual appearance of the buildings and structures before final
structural design.

• The architect normally acts as the owner's representative. This

includes reviewing the builder's work and ensuring that the products
and methods meet specifications and codes.

• The architect's role is compromised when the architect works for the
design-builder and not for the owner directly.
 • Once an architect is contacted by a client, a meeting is called to
discuss the project needs and requirements. Several meetings may
take place until both parties are satisfied with the conceptual design.

• However, designing an entire building is a huge task for a single

person; architects work with civil and structural engineers to discuss
technical issues and the structural integrity of a building.

• Their role is important in every stage of a project, such as: Project

Discussion, Documentation and Drawings, Cost Estimation, Contracts,
Construction Stage.

What are the responsibilities of Project Manager?

Ans -

• Plan and Develop the Project Idea. Every project starts as an idea.

• Create and Lead Your Dream Team.

• Monitor Project Progress and Set Deadlines.

• Solve Issues That Arise.

• Manage the Money.

• Ensure Stakeholder Satisfaction.

• Evaluate Project Performance.

What are the causes of project failure?

Ans –

• Here's a look at some of the causes of project failure and how you can
avoid them.
 • Lack of resource planning. We plan timelines.

• Unclear Goals and Objectives.

• Lack of project visibility.

• Communication gaps.

• Scope creep.

• Unrealistic expectations.

What are the roles of a contractor?

Ans –

• Planning and managing.

• Manage daily jobsite operations.
• Provide required equipment and building materials.
• Coordinating subcontractors, consultants and vendors.
• Oversee quality, timeline and budget.
• Manage health, safety and legal issues.
• Main point of contact with employer/client.

What is an organization?
Ans -
An organization is a group of people who work together, like a neighbourhood
association, a charity, a union, or a corporation. You can use the word
organization to refer to group or business, or to the act of forming or
establishing something.