Construction management definition (CM)
A brief review of the role within your project
If
you ever was an owner builder, you know a major
part of what the role of a Construction Manager is. It is managing a
number of separate
contracts (concreter, bricky, carpenter etc.) Except CM is for somewhat
larger projects where you want to appoint an independent
professional.
Local
Construction Management ... >>
International
Construction
Management ... >>
Local Construction Management Defined
Most CM project roles are local. I use the label to distinguish it from international project management.Broadly speaking, Construction Management is the tradional role of the builder ... then some. Also, it is often confused with the role of the Building Supervisor, though a CM is of course has a much broader role.
To understand the context within which a CM operates to manage the building in the whole of the process have a look at this table below:
| LOCAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT | |
| Project Phase | Participants |
| Brief and Research | You, your building designer (BD) |
| Schematic | BD, his/her consultants |
| Estimate and Cost Plan | BD, consultants including Quantity Surveyor (QS) |
| Design Develop | BD, his/her consultants, QS, (CM on large or complex project), builder |
| Working Drawings | BD, his/her consultants, authorities |
| Contract Cocumentation | BD, his/her consultants, Contractors (shop drawings for building details) |
| On and off-site managment | CM |
| Inspections | CM, BD, his/her consultants, |
| Payments | CM, QS |
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International Construction Management (Definition)
The benefit of an international investment is also the source of difficulty in managing it. Namely the two different locations for brainstorming and research, and the actual implementation of the projects with local authorities and standards.
You'll face this dilemma, if you reside in your home home country (eg Australia) and you would like to build on a land you own overseas (eg Indonesia.) The key is that customs, building codes, standards, authority regulations and incentives (tax brakes and rates) and a wole lot of other things are all different.
| Suppose also, that
you know a local
builder whom you trust. Of course it is not essential, but makes a whole lot of sense.  |
In this case we recommend international CM building delivery with roles and phases I outline in below table.
Note it may be best for a CM to be an independent overseas professional (oCM). That is when early stage of his/her involvement (Design Develop phase) will be done by your trusted Building Designer who will resarch and adopt foreign building practices in that stage.
| INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT | |
| Project Phase | Participants |
| Brief and Research | You, your building designer (BD) |
| Feasibility Design | You, BD |
| Schematic | BD, his/her consultants |
| Project Overall Feasibility Study | BD, Cost Planner (CP) |
| Estimate and Cost Plan | BD, consultants including CP and Quantity Surveyor (QS) |
| Design Develop | BD, his/her consultants, QS, BD, builder |
| Documentation with handover | BD, overseas BD (oBD), his/her consultants, authorities |
| On and off-site managment | overseas CM (oCM) |
| Inspections | oCM, oBD, his/her consultants, |
| Payments | oCM, QS |
New Terms
Cost Planner
For Cost Planning, make sure you choose a quantity surveying agency with international reputation, but more importantly, with offices in your target country. Often CP and QS is the same.
Cost Planners can assist in obtaining financing, plan overall feasibility including taxation and cash flows.
Related Articles
Construction management tool - system review
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Go to Construction Management in the FAQ
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