Project Construction and Management Flashcards

Flashcards covering engineering management fundamentals, management tiers, SWOT analysis, construction planning, SMART goals, schedule dependencies, estimating methods, and institutional vision/mission statements.

Engineering Management

A specialized discipline that blends the technical, analytical problem-solving capabilities of engineering with the organizational and resource-coordinating functions of business administration.

Efficiency

A key performance indicator defined as the means of execution.

Effectiveness

A key performance indicator defined as the ends or final outcome.

Human Resources

One of four core organizational resources, comprising labor, service, and managerial talent.

Financial Resources

One of four core organizational resources, comprising monetary assets including capital, credit, and cash flow.

Physical Resources

One of four core organizational resources, comprising tangible assets such as raw materials and production equipment.

Information Resources

One of four core organizational resources, comprising data, drawings, technical specifications, and project documents.

Construction Manager

An individual whose core responsibility is guiding, directing, administering, and coordinating resources to achieve organizational and project goals.

Vision

A clear, comprehensive snapshot of an organization at some point in the future.

Mission

The kind of business an organization wants to undertake.

Values

Moral guide of an organization.

Project View vs Operations/Product View Comparison

Comparison of attributes between Project View (temporary duration, unique product scope, temporary teams, ROI projections funding) and Operations/Product View (long-term duration, repetitive scope, long-running team, funded in blocks).

Planning

Core management function of defining project objectives.

Organizing

Core management function focusing on activities, roles, and hierarchy.

Leading

Core management function focusing on motivating, influencing, and directing.

Controlling

Core management function defined as monitoring actual progress.

Top Level Management (Strategic Tier)

Corporate authority level responsible for strategic planning, resource allocation, outside-world relations, and structural oversight.

Strategic Planning

Top-level management function that sets broad objectives and broad policies of the organization and prepares high-level strategic plans.

Resource Allocation

Top-level management function that controls and coordinates finances and materials.

Outside-World Relations

Top-level management responsibility of maintaining contact and negotiating contracts with the outside world.

Structural Oversight

Top-level management function of appointing executive managers for the middle-level tier.

Middle-Level Management (Tactical Tier)

Vital bridge between corporate strategy and field execution, responsible for plan execution, sub-unit planning, policy interpretation, talent development, and inter-departmental coordination.

Plan Execution

Middle-level management responsibility to execute the tactical plans of the organization.

Sub-Unit Planning

Middle-level management task of producing localized project plans and schedules.

Policy Interpretation

Middle-level management task to interpret and explain broad policies from top-level management.

Talent Development

Middle-level management responsibility for training and performance evaluation of lower-level management.

Inter-Departmental Coordination

Middle-level management responsibility for coordinating activities across departments.

Lower-Level Management (Supervisory Tier)

Management tier responsible for task assignment, daily instruction, quality and quantity control, communication conduit, and safety and relations.

Task Assignment

Lower-level management function to assign specific daily jobs and tasks.

Daily Instruction

Lower-level management role to guide, train, and instruct workers on active day-to-day construction site activities.

Quality and Quantity Control

Lower-level management function directly responsible for the quality as well as quantity of physical production on-site.

Communication Conduit

Lower-level management function to communicate workers' problems, suggestions, and appeals up to middle management.

Safety and Relations

Lower-level management duty to maintain good relations and safety discipline on the active construction site.

Levels of Management Responsibility Comparison

Summary matrix contrasting primary horizon, core functions, focus of authority, typical decision, and span of control across Top, Middle, and Lower management tiers.

Strategic Plan

A high level document explaining the organization's vision, mission, and values.

SWOT Analysis

A method used to assess strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat.

Strength (SWOT)

An internal, helpful factor in a SWOT analysis.

Weakness (SWOT)

An internal, harmful factor in a SWOT analysis.

Opportunity (SWOT)

An external, helpful factor in a SWOT analysis.

Threat (SWOT)

An external, harmful factor in a SWOT analysis.

Construction Planning

A fundamental and highly challenging activity encompassing choice of technology, task definition, resource estimation, and dependency identification.

The Choice of Technology

Element of construction planning determining construction methods, equipment, and structural systems.

The Definition of Work Tasks

Decomposing the overall project scope into manageable activities.

Resource Estimation

Quantifying the labor, materials, equipment, and budget for a project.

Dependency Identification

Establishing the logical, structural, and regulatory sequences in construction planning.

Quality (Element of Concern)

Element of concern representing level of performance, material grade, and workmanship standards.

Scope (Element of Concern)

Element of concern representing fixed, quantifiable amount of physical work to be performed.

Time (Element of Concern)

Element of concern representing assigning durations to tasks and establishing a logical schedule network.

Cost (Element of Concern)

Element of concern representing monetary baseline.

Specific (SMART Rule)

SMART criteria requiring getting into details, written in clear, concise, and understandable terms.

Measurable (SMART Rule)

SMART criteria requiring the use of quantitative language.

Acceptable (Agreed to) (SMART Rule)

SMART criteria requiring agreement upon by the key stakeholders.

Realistic (SMART Rule)

SMART criteria focused on physical and financial realities.

Time-bound (Time-based) (SMART Rule)

SMART criteria requiring a firm due date or completion timeline.

Project Work Plan

The primary tactical document containing the directory, task, budget, schedule, and measurement.

Mandatory Schedule Dependency

A schedule dependency that is contractually required.

Discretionary Schedule Dependency

A schedule dependency based on practice and safety preference.

External Schedule Dependency

A schedule dependency defining the relationship between project activities and non project activities.

Internal Schedule Dependency

A schedule dependency defining the relationship strictly between project activities in the organization.

Analogous Estimating

Core estimating method based on historical data.

Parametric Estimating

Core estimating method using mathematical models and algorithms.

Multipoint Estimating

Core estimating method using optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates.

Crashing

Schedule compression technique achieved by shortening task durations.

Fast-Tracking

Schedule compression technique achieved by performing activities in parallel.

Saint Louis College - San Fernando, La Union Vision

Saint Louis College - San Fernando, La Union is the premier innovative educational hub in Northern Philippines imbued with the Christian spirit and at the service of the world.

Saint Louis College - San Fernando, La Union Mission

We nurture missionary stewardship animated by the spirit and values of collective growth, innovation-driven education, talent-enriched community life, and servant leadership. Furthermore, we commit ourselves to design and deliver policies, programs, partnerships, and services intended to transform the lives of our stakeholders, especially our learners.