Construction management

Construction management focuses on integrating cost, schedule, quality, safety, and scope throughout the project lifecycle. Unlike a general contractor, a CM firm or professional may be engaged as an owner’s representative to advise during feasibility, design, procurement, and construction.

A construction manager’s responsibilities typically include:

• Planning and scheduling
• Budgeting and cost control
• Contract administration
• Quality and safety management
• Communication and stakeholder coordination
• Documentation and claims management

According to the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the seven common categories of responsibility are: Project Management Planning, Cost Management, Time Management, Quality Management, Contract Administration, Safety Management, and CM Professional Practice.^{[5][failed verification]}

Core functions of construction management include:

1. Specifying project objectives and plans, including scope, budgeting, scheduling, performance requirements, and selecting participants
2. Maximizing resource efficiency through procurement of labor, materials, and equipment
3. Coordinating design, estimating, contracting, and construction
4. Establishing communication systems and conflict-resolution mechanisms^[6]

• Open bid: Any contractor can submit a bid (common in public projects).
• Closed bid: Only invited contractors can submit (common in private projects).^[7]

• Low-bid selection: Chooses the lowest price.
• Best-value selection: Considers price and qualifications.
• Qualifications-based selection: Considers qualifications only. Often used in early design stages.^[7]

• Lump sum – Fixed price for project delivery
• Cost plus fee – Owner pays cost plus a fee/percentage
• Guaranteed maximum price – Cost-plus contract with a cap
• Unit price – Used when scope is uncertain, priced per unit^[7]

• Feasibility and design – Programming, schematic design, design development, contract documents^[7]
• Pre-construction – Assigning the project team, site investigation, permitting^[7]
• Procurement – Hiring subcontractors and purchasing materials^[7]
• Construction – On-site work, progress payments, quality control^[8]
• Owner occupancy – Warranty period and closeout^[7]

• Dust and mud control^[9]
• Environmental protection (stormwater, endangered species, vegetation, wetlands, cultural artifacts)^[7]

Project documentation may include diaries, logs, and daily field reports. These records are important for dispute resolution and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings.^[7]

Methods include mediation, minitrial, and arbitration. Arbitration is binding and typically more costly than mediation.^[7]

CM is taught in associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Accreditation bodies include ABET, the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC). Programs cover management, construction methods, and law.^[10][11]

Construction and capital project management software (CPMS) help manage budgets, schedules, documents, and collaboration. Increasingly, cloud platforms allow owners, contractors, and consultants to work together in real time.

• Building science and technology
• Public safety and risk management
• Human resources and leadership
• Cost engineering and mathematics
• Communication and negotiation

• Design–bid–build
• Design–build – Combines design and construction under one contract^[12]
• Turnkey contracts
• Construction management as a PDM (agency CM, CM-at-risk)^[13]
• CM at-risk, including its risks and advantages^[14][15]
• Accelerated construction techniques (e.g., Massachusetts DOT Fast 14 program)^[16]

• Civil engineering
• Construction engineering
• Cost engineering
• Delay analysis (construction)
• Project delivery method
• Structural engineering
• Work breakdown structure