Introduction - Construction Project Scheduling and Control - page 6

• Leave Atlanta on June 22, 2015.
• Arrive in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on June 22, 2015.
• Return home to Tampa on July 7, 2015.
Note that not only are the plan and the schedule related, but also many of the
activities and elements of the plan are interrelated. For example, most of the choices
in the plan (length of stay, type of accommodations, type of activities, means of trans-
portation, food, etc.) affect the budget. Since different means of transportation have
longer time durations than others, they may affect not only the cost but also the
schedule. Clearly, a lack of clarity of scope before the project starts may lead to heated
arguments and dissatisfaction among team members later on. In real projects, it may
lead to huge budget overruns, schedule delays, different parties' dissatisfaction, and
a potential loss of business. Therefore, it is important to have a clear understand-
ing of the project's scope, its constraints and requirements, and the decision-making
process. 1 Many issues are at stake in this example, but demonstrating the concept of
planning and scheduling is the objective.
It has been proven that good planning results in a high “rate of return” in terms of
saving time, money, effort, change orders, claims and disputes, and headaches. In fact,
there are many construction professionals who assert that there is an inverse relation-
ship between the time of planning and the time of execution. Many owners rush the
design and construction process because “they don't have time for planning.” In fact,
this is, in most cases, self-defeating and causes additional delays, costs, and headaches.
An old carpenters' saying, “Measure twice and cut once,” embodies this concept well.
Tip Box 1.3
Plan first: Measure twice and cut once!
Project Management Plan:
In the context of construction projects, a typical plan for an office building project
may include the following:
• A scope definition , such as a five-story building for commercial use (offices) with
a total area of about 30,000 square feet. The location is also part of the planning,
although, in some cases, the exact location may be selected later or a few sites
may be mentioned as candidates.
• A schematic or conceptual design . This is not a must but will help in visualizing
the project. Also, deciding on the level of finish (economy, average, or luxury)
1 There is more discussion on this issue in Chapter 10.