Project Management Checklist For Construction and Contracting
Properly executed project management has a direct influence on the success or failure of a contracting job. Nowadays, there are so many software and resources for proper project management that being organized and staying on top of your project should be easier than ever. However, anyone that actually manages projects knows that this isn't always the case. Challenges come up every day that you have to overcome or work through. Fortunately, proactively figuring out ways to optimize project management can be possible. Part of this is having a construction project management checklist to refer to through each stage of the project.
To help you organize the construction project management process, we've created this blog which describes each stage of the process, as well as what it entails. We've also included a free downloadable PDF project management checklist for you to save and keep handy in case you need to refer back to this process, which you'll find at the end.
Table of Contents
- Pre-Construction: Commencement & Planning
- Construction: Implementation & Monitoring
- Post-Construction: Closure & Completion
- The Checklist
Pre-Construction: Commencement & Planning
The pre-construction stage of the project management process is all aspects of the project that take place before ground is broken. Generally, it can be divided into two main sections: Commencement and Planning.
Commencement
Every project should begin with an evaluation of the job in order to determine its feasibility. It wouldn't make much sense to spend time, money, and energy putting together your response to a request for proposal if you can't feasibly take on the project.
All of the parameters of the project should be generally evaluated in order to create a business case for the project to determine if it makes sense for your company to pursue. If it's determined by all stakeholders that the project is appropriate for your company to acquire, then you can advance to the proposal and planning stage.
Planning
Although you may not have received the go-ahead for the project just yet, it's a good idea to start planning out the project. This is the case for two reasons: 1) The project's planning is going to be a large part of your proposal documents in order to be awarded the job, and 2) If you are awarded the job, you'll be able to start sooner and be prepared beforehand.
Essentially, this is the stage where you create the roadmap for the entire project. This includes aspects of the job like timelines, budget, the scope of work, etc. It's also important to note that you'll be using the request for proposal documents you received for the project, and the information that they contain, to draft your plans and proposal.
Construction: Implementation & Monitoring
Here's where the fun starts. This is the stage of the construction project management process where the physical work begins and the project comes to life. There are two main, less intensive aspects to this part of project management: Implementation and monitoring.
Implementation
After the very first meeting of all stakeholders, tasks are assigned to everyone — allocating resources, executing plans, structuring tracking systems, updating the project schedule, and refining the project plan.
Because all of the project plans have already been created beforehand, this step of the process involves less planning and more executing of the preparations. Essentially, you want to make sure that everyone has their assigned tasks, knows what their role is, and is on the same page.
Monitoring
Once construction is underway, the monitoring stage begins. As the project advances from stage to stage, you'll want to monitor and measure the performance of everything involved in the planning stage. For example, making sure the project is still on-budget, that timelines are being met, and that the project isn't going off-course in any way.
Post-Construction: Closure & Completion
This stage of the construction project management process involves everything that needs to happen to finish work and deliver the project. It usually begins when the project is very near completion.
Closure & Completion
First, a post-construction meeting is held between all stakeholders to assess what went well and what didn’t. It's a good idea for you to create a punch list of unfinished tasks, calculate the final budget, and create a final project report. Finally, any and all necessary project-closing documents are signed and delivered, and payments are made to anyone who is owed.
Although this stage of the process might not seem too complicated, it's one of the most important ones seeing that this is when every party involved is paid.
The Checklist
All in all, construction project management isn't easy. Becoming very efficient in the management process takes time and practice. There are a lot of moving parts that require a high degree of organization and attention.
Below, you can find a general construction and contracting project management checklist. Not everything on the list may apply to your company and the great work that you do, but it's still worth keeping handy so that you can refer back to it during the entire process of your projects.
