Course: Strategic Construction Management

Lecture 4: Study of Construction

By: Dagnachew A. (PhD)

19 Nov 22 1
 Brainstorming?

What are the two major categories of study of construction?

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 4. Study of Construction
Study of Construction mainly covers two themes:

1. Construction Technology: relates to 2. Construction Management:

methods and techniques used to
place the physical materials & addresses how available resources
elements of construction at the Job can be applied.
site.

Materials

Finance

Labor
Construction
mgt

Construction Technology
Machines

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 4.2. Study of Construction ……… cont’d

Many great construction projects 1

mark significant milestones in
human history:
1. Great Pyramids; 2
2. Brooklyn Bridge;

3. Panama Canal; and

4. Euro/channel tunnel.
3
4

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 UK – Paris underwater Tunnel

TDM

Video
 4.3. Construction Industry (CI) Categories
Construction Industry can be categorized into three major sectors:
1. Transport and Communication Sector:
Road,
Railway,
Airway, &
Telecommunication related physical works;

2. Water and Energy Works:

Hydropower development,
transmission lines,
wind power, irrigation projects; and

3. Buildings and Other Physical Infrastructures.

• CI is among the leading industry in producing employment and contribute to the
over all national development.
• CI is the most important enabler for social, economic and political development of
countries.

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 Nature of Construction Industry
A. Nature of production: mainly on site.
– Changing supply-chain relationship and production site.

– Exposed to inclement weather condition.

– Seasonal disruption.

– Health and safety concerns.

B. Nature of product
Large, heavy, durable, expensive, heterogeneous, and immobile.

C. Demand for the product

– Demand is usually driven by‘ other’ goods and services; not controlled by industry,

– In the majority of cases, clients define requirements before the industry provides it,

– Time lags between demand and supply is long.

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D. The Workforce
• The industry is, by its very nature, an overwhelmingly domestic
and labor-intensive industry despite the advancement in
modern technologies.

• Construction is a team out put and requires motivated ands

killed workers.

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 Uniqueness of Construction Industry
i. Fragmented industry

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 ii. Long production cycle

Fig. Overlap of process groups in a phase

iii. Large uncertainty
iv. Transient organization nature
v. Unpredictable workload and
vi. Subject to environmental impact.
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 Roles of CI
• Construction Industry is the most important enabler for social,
economic and political development of countries.
• It provides the basis upon which other sectors can grow by
constructing the physical facilities required for the production and
distribution of goods and services.
• Specifically this fact is true for least developing countries like
Ethiopia because projects are:
• Inter-sectoral
• Source of employment &
• Demands huge capital budget.
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 Construction Project Life cycle
• The project life cycle of a construction project may be viewed as a
process through which a project is implemented from cradle to grave.

Fulfillment of useful life

Acceptance of facility

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 Stakeholders of Construction sector
• Stakeholders of Construction sector:
Construction Industry involves many people, organization, agencies,
ministries, designers, contractors, project managers, equipment suppliers,
material suppliers, testing Laboratories, etc.

Architect

Sub-con. Engineer

Cons.
Contractor Consultant
Sector

Suppliers Owner

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 Stakeholders of Construction Sector
• Contractual stakeholders
Employer/Client,

Consultant/Engineer, &

Contractor

• Non-contractual stakeholders
Public agencies: Statutory Agencies (EEPCo, AAWSA, Fire Authority),
Public authorities and Municipalities (land & building permit),

Suppliers &

End users etc.

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 Stakeholders of Construction Sector
i. Employer/client
• Employer/Client is the initiator and owner of the project (it can be public or
private client).
• The client is the most important party who is active from inception to
completion and event to post-occupancy maintenance.
• Duties of the client encompass:
Availability and cost of land,
Location & accessibility
Required Infrastructure
Legal constraints
Current & future development
Soil characteristics of land
Site preparation (right of way)
Permits

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ii. Consultant
• The main role of the consultant is to interpret the client’s project
requirement in to a specific design & possibly the supervision.
• The consultants’ team shall:
– Ascertain, interpret and formulate the client’s requirement in to an
understandable project.
– Design the project to much requirements and constraints (imposed by
statutory obligations, technical feasibility, environmental factors, site
conditions, cost, etc)
– Assess client’s cost limit to decide on materials & the like.
– Prepare contract documents.
– Supervise the project and constantly inform the client on the progress
– Approve payments
– Resolve contractual disputes
– Issue provisional and final acceptance certification
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iii. Contractor
• These are groups established mainly as commercial companies, that
contract to construct development projects.
• Responsibility of contractors:
– Carry out a full site investigation prior to submission of tender,

– Submit tender,

– Plan, Program, Control the construction process.

– Notify the consultant about delays, discrepancies,

– Effect all payments to his employees, suppliers, subcontractors

– Rectify all defects on completion of works, etc

– Provide post-occupancy repair & maintenance, if required.

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Thank you so much for your attention