Last reviewed 16 Sept 2026 · 6 min read
Construction projects
A project is a temporary endeavour with a defined beginning and end, undertaken to create a unique product, service or result within constraints of time, cost and quality.
Characteristics of construction projects
- Unique — each site, design and set of conditions differ.
- Temporary organisation assembled for the project.
- Work carried out at the site, exposed to weather and ground uncertainty.
- Involvement of many stakeholders — owner, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, regulators, public.
- Large capital, long durations, high risk.
- Mix of skilled and unskilled labour, heavy equipment.
Project life cycle
| Phase | Main activities |
|---|---|
| 1. Conception / initiation | Identification of need, preliminary ideas, pre-feasibility |
| 2. Feasibility study | Technical, financial, economic, environmental and social feasibility; alternatives; approximate cost |
| 3. Detailed project report (DPR) and approvals | Surveys, investigations, preliminary design, cost estimate, financing plan, administrative approval, statutory clearances |
| 4. Detailed design and engineering | Drawings, specifications, detailed estimates, technical sanction |
| 5. Procurement / tendering | Tender documents, bidding, evaluation, award of contract |
| 6. Construction (execution) | Mobilisation, site works, monitoring and control |
| 7. Commissioning and handover | Testing, trial runs, completion certificate, as-built drawings |
| 8. Operation, maintenance and closure | Defect liability period, final bill, project close-out, lessons learnt |
The ability to influence cost is highest in early phases and decreases as the project advances, while the cost of changes increases with time.
Objectives of construction management
The traditional triple constraint — time, cost and quality (scope) — plus safety, environment and stakeholder satisfaction:
- Complete the project within the scheduled time.
- Within the budgeted cost.
- To the specified quality and scope.
- Safely, with minimum environmental and social impact.
Functions of management
Following classical management theory (Fayol and others):
| Function | In construction |
|---|---|
| Planning | Deciding what, how, when, by whom — methods, sequence, schedules, resources, budgets |
| Organising | Dividing work, defining roles and authority, arranging resources and site layout |
| Staffing | Recruitment, placement and training of personnel |
| Directing (leading) | Instructions, motivation, communication, supervision |
| Coordinating | Harmonising the work of departments, subcontractors and agencies |
| Controlling | Measuring progress against plans (time, cost, quality) and taking corrective action |