Introduction to Construction Management

At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. Understand the inter-relationship of the various professionals involved in the construction industry, professional bodies and trade unions; 2. Develop the understanding and knowledge of construction site planning, health and safety issues on construction sites as well as sustainable disposal of construction wastes; 3. Understanding the principal concept that surround the organisational structures and sizes of different formal construction organisations; 4. Understand and apply construction logistics skill using lean thinking and construction supply chain management protocols; and 5. Develop the knowledge and skill for managing the construction process leading to quality assurance, good record keeping and safe working environment.

Organisation of the construction process – interrelationships between the professionals in the construction industry, trades in the construction industry, professional bodies and unions, sources of key construction materials. Planning the construction site – layout of construction site, health and safety issues in construction, waste disposal and sustainability issues in construction. Sizes of construction firms – small, medium and large: classification by annual turnover and number of employees. Organisational structure – horizontal and vertical organisational structure, matrix organisational structure; organisational structure of construction firms. Construction logistics – ordering and storing construction materials, lean thinking in construction, supply chain management, plant hiring/ buying, plant inventory management Managing the construction spection of ongoing construction, testing – quality assurance, progress monitoring, site meetings, minutes of site meetings, site diaries and records; Site safety management.