Chapter 1-2 Class Notes – The Construction Industry (COSC 153)

Flashcards covering the key concepts from Chapter 1-2 notes on The Construction Industry, including project management principles, regulatory environment, team dynamics, and industry structure.

What are the three elements of the project triangle mentioned in the notes?

Quality, Cost, and Time.

According to Guy’s rules of thumb, can you have all three—quality, cost, and time—on a project?

No; you can have any two, but not all three.

List the main construction categories and their approximate shares as described.

Residential (40-50%), Building Construction (25-30%), Engineered Construction (20-25%), Industrial (5-10%). Environmental Construction is noted as a newer category.

What is the 'built environment' as defined in the notes?

Places people need to live, worship, work, heal, shop, learn, exercise, recreate, etc.

In the Quality, Cost, and Time triangle, what is a typical Owner expectation?

Desires high quality within budget and a reasonable time; the budget is established early, sometimes sacrificing time.

What does Procurement entail in construction projects?

Ordering, expediting, and delivering key project equipment and materials; typically involves pre-construction and construction phases.

What happens during the Programming phase and what is the Program of Requirements?

Owner identifies needs and requirements, defines space needs, relationships, location, performance criteria, budget, schedule, and constraints; results in a requirements document used to guide design.

What occurs in the Design Phase?

Architects and engineers design the project and produce final working drawings and specifications.

Why is time considered a resource in construction management?

Time is as valuable as money and influences planning, scheduling, and costs.

Name the three model building codes and their sponsoring organizations.

BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators International); ICBO (International Conference of Building Officials); SBCCI (Southern Building Code Congress International).

What are some examples of specialty codes listed in the notes?

National Plumbing Code; National Electric Code; Life Safety Code.

What regulatory elements influence construction (beyond codes)?

Zoning regulations; Environmental Regulation (including wildlife considerations); Building permits; Field inspections/quality assurance; Safety and Health regulations; Licensing of contractors.

Are General Contractors required to be licensed in Texas according to the notes?

No; General Contractors are not required to be licensed in Texas.

Which trades have specific licenses mentioned in the notes?

HVAC licensing; Master Plumber (Plumbing); Master Electrician (Electrical); Professional Engineers; asbestos and lead-paint considerations.

Name a few industry organizations with contractor and builder representation mentioned in the notes.

Associated General Contractors of America (AGC); Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC); National Association of Home Builders (NAHB); National Women in Construction (NWIC).

What is the purpose of team meetings and minutes in COSC 153?

To promote teamwork, build relationships, and complete a semester project; teams must meet at least six times and document minutes; instructor attends one meeting.

Which resource is referenced for teamwork in the notes?

Harvey Robbins' Why Teams Don't Work.

List the five keys to working in teams as outlined in the notes.

Set team goals and objectives; establish team roles and responsibilities; get to know teammates; identify problems and barriers; learn the system in which you are operating.

What elements should be included when setting team goals?

Task; promised limit of what you're doing; promised level of performance; deadline; customer; passion.

What guidance is given for Roles and Responsibilities in teams?

All members must know the task; avoid overly constraining rules; ensure scutwork is completed; define who is responsible, by when, and how progress is checked.

What should teams identify to prevent dysfunction?

Problems and Barriers (e.g., miscommunication, conflicting goals, and difficult dynamics); plan to address them.

What does it mean to 'Learn the System in which you are operating' in this class?

Understand the class rules, team rules, schedules, quizzes/exams, and the web resources available for planning and execution.

What is the 'people problem' in teamwork, and what causes it?

Diversity in culture, ethnicity, backgrounds, and personalities; different behavioral styles lead to miscommunication.

What are the four behavioral profiles described by David Merril in the notes?

Analyticals; Drivers; Amiable; Expressive.

How should you interact with Drivers in a team?

Be brief and to the point, efficient; stick to business; be prepared; don’t be bossy; ask specific questions; disagree with facts, not people; avoid loitering.

How should you interact with Expressives?

Meet their social needs, be lively, discuss goals, be open and respectful, seek their ideas, show respect.

How should you interact with Amiables?

Show respect; listen and be responsive; casual/informal approach; ask 'how' questions; define contributions; reassure that decisions won’t hurt others.

How should you interact with Analyticals?

Prepare your case in advance; be precise; support principles; cover all bases; specify roles; avoid disorganization and emotional arguments; follow through.

What is ‘scutwork’ and how should it be treated?

Unglamorous but necessary tasks; must be completed; do not neglect them.

What is the purpose of the semester project and teammate evaluations?

To evaluate all aspects of a real construction project and to hold team members accountable via peer evaluations.

What is the scale of construction's impact on the US economy as given in the notes?

The Construction Industry is about $2.2 trillion in the US, employing around 8.3 million workers; roughly 50,000 jobs are created per $1 billion of new construction (about 13,000 of these are construction jobs).