What is the value of a construction project management plan?
The purpose of a construction project management template is to help construction project managers deliver high-quality construction projects. Used effectively, construction project management strategies deliver projects on time, on budget and in a way that maintains regulatory safety standards. It establishes systems and procedures to ensure all construction work is completed according to plan.
Here are some of the key benefits of a construction project management plan:
Greater efficiency and productivity. A well-thought-out construction project management plan helps everyone understand the expectations. Once they’re assigned tasks, they understand what to prioritize.
Better communication among workers. Every construction project requires clear communication from project managers and stakeholders to the workers on the front lines. An effective construction project management plan bolsters communication, so everyone is safe and secure as they complete the work.
Improved risk management. A construction site is filled with workplace hazards that can compromise worker safety. A solid construction project management plan includes strict safety protocols to minimize risks of injury or damage to the job site.
Responsible cost control measures. Construction projects are costly, and it’s not uncommon for unexpected expenses to emerge during the project. With a construction project management template, you can keep track of all costs and adjust your budget as needed.
Superior quality assurance. Construction projects must abide by strict quality control that guarantees the highest quality materials and building code standards. Using your construction project management template, you can use checklists that remind workers to inspect materials and verify they meet the right standards.
Why use a construction project management template?
Construction projects are massive undertakings with many moving parts that must be managed all at the same time. As a construction project manager, your job is to communicate progress and status updates with workers, owners and stakeholders throughout the entire project lifecycle.
So, how can a construction project management template help? The bottom line: it makes your life much easier as a project manager. Here are some reasons why you should use a construction project management template for your next big project.
Break down larger milestones into actionable tasks: The purpose of your construction project management template is to simplify the workload. You can use the template to carve out specific tasks and milestones that move a large project forward, one step at a time.
Centralize updates on one project board: Your template is a visual overview of what needs to be done and when. It’s easy to read and understand, which gives everyone involved in the project clarity on the tasks, deliverables, budgets and timelines.
Improve communication with stakeholders: Comments and real-time notifications help keep everyone informed of project developments, all in one central place.
Managing a construction project is a rewarding experience, but it’s not without its challenges. Using a construction project management template, you can make the process a little easier while still delivering what your clients expect.
How to use your construction project management template
Your construction project management template provides a clear roadmap from planning through project completion. Each phase — planning, execution, quality check and final project completion — is broken into actionable tasks with specific checklists to streamline workflows, ensure compliance and maintain safety standards.
Step 1: Create the construction project management lifecycle
The template comes with pre-built vertical sections that map out the lifecycle of your construction project. You can either use the existing workflow, or edit the section headers to adapt it to your team’s existing process.. This creates a structure from which you can create and assign tasks that keep the project moving forward.
Step 2: Assign tasks for each lifecycle stage
Once you have your sections, you’re ready to create tasks. You can create a new task by clicking the + in any board section.
Create specific tasks for each stage of the project lifecycle. A task to obtain permits will always be part of the “Planning” stage of the project, whereas conducting a safety inspection is always part of the “Quality Checking” stage.
Adding tags like “On-track”, “Delayed” and “Blocked” make bottlenecks clear, so project stakeholders can consider how this impacts their work and what action to take. To add a new tag, open your task and click ‘Tags’ > ‘Manage’ > ‘Add Tag’ in the task sidebar.
Step 3: Create checklists for each task
Create checklists to describe the requirements for each task. This gives workers a transparent understanding of the expectations to complete each task. Checklist items can be marked off one by one until the task is done.
To create a checklist, open your task, select “Add checklist item”, and press enter until you have added all your checklist items. You can save your checklist to apply to future tasks to save time.
Step 4: Schedule your tasks
Assign start and end dates for your tasks to build a clear project timeline for each project phase. Schedule your task by selecting the start and end dates in the right sidebar of your task. Alternatively, drag and drop your task into your timeline at the top of your project board and adjust the dates accordingly.
Step 5: Monitor and update
Your construction project management template may need to change as new challenges arise or unexpected roadblocks emerge throughout the project. Make sure the project board remains up to date so you can make any necessary changes as you go.
