What Is Construction Planning?
Definition, Types and Steps
Construction Planning is an important step when building a structure
because it outlines the project and provides guidelines to ensure the project
is a success. Project managers know that having a thorough construction plan
can save them time and money. If you manage construction projects, then you may
be interested in learning how to develop an effective construction planning
process to increase your team's efficiency. In this article, we discuss what
construction planning is, share different types of construction planning and
provide steps for you to follow to create a successful construction plan.
Construction planning is the process of identifying the
steps required to build a structure. It involves defining what actions need to
be completed, creating an ordered timeline of events, staffing the project and
determining the necessary materials and equipment. A well-crafted construction
plan is important to keep the project on schedule and within budget. It can
also help ensure the overall quality of the project meets your client's
standards. Finally, having a construction plan can increase your team's
productivity and efficiency by streamlining communication.
Important construction project planning terms
Here are some of the key terms you may need to know to
develop a successful construction planning process:
Construction bidding: This is the process of
submitting a proposal for a project to a client. A construction bid includes an
accurate cost estimate for the project. The client must accept the bid before
work can begin.
Baselines: Also referred to as performance measures,
baselines are the approved starting points of the construction project.
Establishing baselines is important because it can help you determine whether
the project is on track.
Baseline project management: The baseline project management
plan establishes what steps management and the rest of the team may take if the
project deviates from the course established by the baselines.
Blueprint drawings and specifications: These refer to
the drawings that show the layout of the finished project. Blueprint drawings
and specifications may also include a detailed list of the items needed to
build the structure.
Submittals: A contractor submits these documents to
the architect for approval before the project can begin. Submittals may include
requests for equipment and materials, drawings of the project and instructions
for the construction team.
Scope documentation: The scope documentation contains
feedback from key stakeholders and provides a short financial timeline for the
project. It typically includes deadlines, functions, deliverables, goals and
specific tasks for the project.
Types of construction project
planning
There are several construction project planning methods that
managers can use depending on the scale of the project and the industry they
are working with. Here are some of the most common types of construction
project planning processes:
Strategic planning
When developing a strategic construction project plan, the
project manager may meet with corporate planners and the client to determine
what needs to be done to satisfy both the user and the owner of the project.
After gathering this information, the project manager creates a master
construction delivery plan with specific guidelines to ensure the team
completes the project on time.
Operational planning
Operational planning may take place after the client
approves a strategic plan. In this phase, the construction teams come together
to craft a detailed plan with strategic goals and action steps. They agree on
baselines and work together to complete documents and reports.
Business planning
A manager usually develops the business plan at the
beginning of a project. This plan describes the project and includes a draft of
what the project should look like, guidelines to execute the project and
assignments for specific team members. The business plan also includes a bid
for the project and a contract for the client to sign.
Resource planning
Creating a resource plan ensures that each project a company
is currently working on has the staff, materials and resources necessary to be
completed successfully and on time. To keep everything organized, project
managers often create a timeline of important dates and deadlines, as well as a
list of where they plan to allocate necessary resources. This can be beneficial
if multiple projects are in progress at the same time.
Steps to develop a construction
plan
Here are some steps you can follow to develop an effective
construction plan:
1. Identify key resources
To develop your construction plan, identify what key
resources you need to complete the project. Many project managers use a project
initiation document (PID) to help create an initial list of resources. A PID
focuses on the following areas:
People: Ask yourself how many people need to work on this
project and identify if you need to hire any subcontractors, such as
electricians and plumbers.
Materials: Ask yourself what raw materials and equipment you
need to complete this project. Then consider where you can purchase or find
these items.
Budget: Estimate what the total cost for this project should
be. Include the cost of labor, materials, equipment, permits and fees in your
total budget.
The purpose of creating a PID is to outline the resources
you need to complete a project. A PID can also be beneficial to share with key
stakeholders and your team to ensure everyone clearly understands what they
need before the project begins. You may decide to use construction scheduling
software to help you quickly identify the cost, scope, deadlines and materials
needed for a project. This can simplify sharing these details with the rest of
your team when construction begins.
2. Draft an initial plan
The next step is to turn the PID into a concrete plan by
setting clear and actionable goals. Begin by identifying SMART goals to help
you establish guidelines for the project. SMART goals are goals that are
specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. You can use SMART
goals to identify the following:
Specific: Make sure your goals are specific by asking
yourself what key deadlines and milestones need to be tracked for the project
to be a success.
Measurable: Determine how you can measure the success of
your project. Consider what baselines need to be established and how to communicate
these baselines with the rest of your team.
Achievable: Consider how achievable your deadlines and goals
are and make adjustments as needed to set your team up for success.
Relevant: Consider how important achieving each goal is to
the success of the overall project. This can help you prioritize your goals and
ensure your team focuses on completing the most important tasks first.
Time-based: Identify a clear timeline for each goal. This
can help you stay on track, monitor the project's overall progress and provide
clear guidelines for your team.
3. Meet with key stakeholders
Schedule a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the
project and share the details you developed in your PID. You can communicate
the key details with them, ask if they have any questions and ensure you have
their approval before starting the project.
4. Assign responsibilities
Once you have developed SMART goals for your project and you
have stakeholder approval, you may begin assigning responsibilities to
different team members. Some of the key roles and responsibilities you may need
to assign include:
Project sponsor
Additional project managers
End-users
Defined business experts
Project team members
You can schedule a meeting to discuss the plan with them,
set expectations and allow them to ask questions. Try to review ground rules,
confirm each team member's role, share when the deadlines are and communicate
any other key information your team needs to be successful.
You may also want to establish how often you expect progress
updates from your team. You can use a construction scheduling program to help
you communicate virtually throughout the project and share important documents.
This may increase the overall efficiency, productivity and organization of the
project.
4. Track your performance
Accurately tracking your team's performance throughout the
project can help you meet deadlines. Some of the key performance indicators
(KPIs) you may consider tracking include:
Project objectives: This includes monitoring your budget and
schedule to make sure your team is operating within the parameters you set in
place.
Project performance: This includes monitoring the project
for changes. If your team faces a challenge, you can use your baseline project
management to make adjustments.
Quality: This includes inspecting the project to ensure your
team is following all the necessary legal and safety protocols throughout the
building process.
5. Evaluate the project
Once the project is complete, take the time to revisit your
SMART goals and baseline objectives. Note what goals your team achieved and
where this the potential to improve in the future. This can help you make
adjustments that may cause an even more successful construction planning
process for your next project. Call a final team meeting to discuss your
findings and talk about overall performance. Consider asking your team
questions and be open to receive their feedback, as this can provide you with
valuable insight.
Finally, create a final project budget that shows how much
the project costs. Compare your final project budget with the original budget
you developed to determine its accuracy. Share your findings with key
stakeholders by developing a final project report.
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