{{Short description|Professional service}} {{cleanup reorganize|date=June 2017}} '''Construction management''' ('''CM''') is a professional service that applies project management techniques to the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its completion. The goal of CM is to control a project's scope, time, cost, and quality (sometimes called the project management triangle or "triple constraints") to achieve the owner’s objectives.<ref>Patrick, C. (2003). ''Construction Project Planning and Scheduling'' (1st ed.). Prentice Hall.</ref><ref>3rd Forum "International Construction Project Management," Berlin, 26–27 June 2003.</ref>
Practitioners of construction management are called '''construction managers'''. They combine knowledge of building science and business management to coordinate and deliver capital projects such as commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, and military infrastructure.<ref>Construction Management: Project Delivery Methods. (2017). LinkedIn Learning. Retrieved November 1, 2023.</ref> Professional services firms in North America and Europe increasingly provide CM alongside related specialties such as critical path method (CPM) scheduling, delay analysis, and expert witness testimony for construction disputes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Construction Consulting Services Market|url=https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/construction-consulting-services-industry/|publisher=IBISWorld|access-date=10 September 2025}}</ref>
==Overview== Construction management focuses on integrating cost, schedule, quality, safety, and scope throughout the project lifecycle. Unlike a general contractor, a CM firm or professional may be engaged as an owner’s representative to advise during feasibility, design, procurement, and construction.
==Roles and responsibilities== A construction manager’s responsibilities typically include: * Planning and scheduling * Budgeting and cost control * Contract administration * Quality and safety management * Communication and stakeholder coordination * Documentation and claims management
According to the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the seven common categories of responsibility are: Project Management Planning, Cost Management, Time Management, Quality Management, Contract Administration, Safety Management, and CM Professional Practice.<ref name="CMAA">{{cite web | title=Construction Management Association of America | url=http://cmaanet.org/ | access-date=22 July 2015 | archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20150724183335/http://cmaanet.org/ | archive-date=24 July 2015 }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=October 2023}}
==Functions== Core functions of construction management include: # Specifying project objectives and plans, including scope, budgeting, scheduling, performance requirements, and selecting participants # Maximizing resource efficiency through procurement of labor, materials, and equipment # Coordinating design, estimating, contracting, and construction # Establishing communication systems and conflict-resolution mechanisms<ref>{{Cite web | title=What Is Construction Project Management? | url=http://www.pmhut.com/what-is-construction-project-management | date=September 2008 | access-date=4 July 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420205521/http://www.pmhut.com/what-is-construction-project-management | archive-date=20 April 2010 }}</ref>
==Procurement== ===Bids=== * '''Open bid''': Any contractor can submit a bid (common in public projects). * '''Closed bid''': Only invited contractors can submit (common in private projects).<ref name=textbook>{{cite book|title=Construction Management Jumpstart|year=2010|publisher=Wiley|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|author=Barbara J. Jackson|edition=2nd}}</ref>
===Selection methods=== * '''Low-bid selection''': Chooses the lowest price. * '''Best-value selection''': Considers price and qualifications. * '''Qualifications-based selection''': Considers qualifications only. Often used in early design stages.<ref name=textbook />
===Contract types=== * '''Lump sum''' – Fixed price for project delivery * '''Cost plus fee''' – Owner pays cost plus a fee/percentage * '''Guaranteed maximum price''' – Cost-plus contract with a cap * '''Unit price''' – Used when scope is uncertain, priced per unit<ref name=textbook />
==Project stages== * '''Feasibility and design''' – Programming, schematic design, design development, contract documents<ref name=textbook /> * '''Pre-construction''' – Assigning the project team, site investigation, permitting<ref name=textbook /> * '''Procurement''' – Hiring subcontractors and purchasing materials<ref name=textbook /> * '''Construction''' – On-site work, progress payments, quality control<ref>{{cite book|last=Minks|first=William|title=Construction Jobsite Management|year=2011}}</ref> * '''Owner occupancy''' – Warranty period and closeout<ref name=textbook />
==Common issues== * Dust and mud control<ref>Wheelwash Ltd. (2025). [https://wheelwash.com/knowledge-hub/construction-site-planning-including-a-wheel-washing-system/ Construction site planning: Including a wheel washing system].</ref> * Environmental protection (stormwater, endangered species, vegetation, wetlands, cultural artifacts)<ref name=textbook />
==Documentation== Project documentation may include diaries, logs, and daily field reports. These records are important for dispute resolution and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings.<ref name=textbook />
==Dispute resolution== Methods include mediation, minitrial, and arbitration. Arbitration is binding and typically more costly than mediation.<ref name=textbook />
==Education and practice== CM is taught in associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Accreditation bodies include ABET, the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC). Programs cover management, construction methods, and law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acce-hq.org/PDF/form103.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326180259/http://www.acce-hq.org/PDF/form103.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-03-26|title=Standards and criteria for accreditation of post-secondary construction education degree programs|publisher=ACCE|access-date=29 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/search.php# |title=America's Best Colleges 2008 |website=US News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922010056/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/search.php |archive-date=2007-09-22}}</ref>
==Software== Construction and capital project management software (CPMS) help manage budgets, schedules, documents, and collaboration. Increasingly, cloud platforms allow owners, contractors, and consultants to work together in real time.
==Skills required== * Building science and technology * Public safety and risk management * Human resources and leadership * Cost engineering and mathematics * Communication and negotiation
==Project delivery methods== * Design–bid–build * Design–build – Combines design and construction under one contract<ref name=designbuild>{{cite web|last=Stagner|first=Steve|title=Design-Build and Alternative Project Delivery in Texas|url=http://www.cectexas.org/research_&_policy_issues/documents/2007DesignBuildandAlternateProjectDeliveryIssuesinTexas.pdf|publisher=Texas Council of Engineering Companies|access-date=18 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912011002/http://www.cectexas.org/research_%26_policy_issues/documents/2007DesignBuildandAlternateProjectDeliveryIssuesinTexas.pdf|archive-date=12 September 2011}}</ref> * Turnkey contracts * Construction management as a PDM (agency CM, CM-at-risk)<ref>Halpin, Daniel. ''Construction Management''. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2006.</ref> * CM at-risk, including its risks and advantages<ref name="The Risk in CM At-Risk">{{cite journal |last=Strang |first=Warner |date=2002 |title=The Risk In CM "At-Risk" |url=https://cmaanet.org/files/risk_in_cm_at_risk.pdf |journal=CM eJournal |volume=4 |issue=9 |pages=3–8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084545/https://cmaanet.org/files/risk_in_cm_at_risk.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 }}</ref><ref name="Sierra Companies 2013">{{cite web | title=Advantages and Disadvantages of Construction Delivery Methods | website=Sierra Companies | date=2013-01-14 | url=http://sierracompanies.com/delivery_methods/ | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722235725/http://sierracompanies.com/delivery_methods/ | archive-date=2015-07-22 }}</ref> * Accelerated construction techniques (e.g., Massachusetts DOT Fast 14 program)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/mayjune-2012/fast-14-project|title=Public Roads - The Fast 14 Project, May/June 2012|website=Federal Highway Administration|access-date=10 September 2025}}</ref>
==See also== * Civil engineering * Construction engineering * Cost engineering * Delay analysis (construction) * Project delivery method * Structural engineering * Work breakdown structure
==References== <references />
==Further reading== * Halpin, Daniel W. ''Construction Management''. Wiley, Third Edition. * Rawlinsons, ''Australian Construction Handbook'', annual editions.
{{Management}} {{Construction overview}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Construction Management}} Category:Construction management Category:Construction Category:Building engineering Category:Construction and extraction occupations Category:Project management by type