Key Project Considerations in Choosing a Project Delivery Method

Feasible Budget

Is there adequate funding available to complete the construction project based on the set timelines? Understanding the company’s overall cost structure is critical and therefore the project team or the planning team must assess the company’s project resources and limitations. More importantly, they must recognize their realistic limits so they can work within it. The funding for the project should be secure and well-established that allows for potential delays on completion dates, owner modifications, unexpected structural problems and other unforeseen costs. Extensive research and evaluation of the goals and requirements of the project must be made.

Reliable Schedule

The primary goal of every project owner is to complete a high-quality building project in a timely manner. Therefore, preparing a reliable construction schedule that is both specific and organized beforehand ensures efficiency and productivity. Construction scheduling allows you and the project team to control quality measures, as well as manage resource allocation in each phase of construction. A successful schedule ensures that project steps are completed in a timely manner that minimizes delay. A reliable schedule gives each party the opportunity to allocate time to all activities to avoid delays and cost overruns. It also enables the project participants to identify and resolve project delay as it occurs.

Design

A quality and receptive design plan is finalized with the collaborative work of the project owner, architect and engineer. The design plan will need to ensure that state regulations and building codes are met while project owner’s vision and budget requirements are also addressed, as well as ensuring that the newly built structure will be usable.

Risk Assessment

Risk occurrences are inevitable in all construction projects. It has a significant impact on cost, schedules and can be detrimental to the successful completion of the project. Therefore, risk assessment and management for a construction project is essential such as adversity to change orders, project owner’s ability to make timely decisions, reduce gaps between services and the liabilities involved for the success or failure of the design plan. Before a project begins, the project team should be able to identify all risks involved, assess the extent of such risks, and provide measures to control and manage these risks. Likewise, an efficient construction risk management requires a high level of collaboration and communication with all parties involved.

A quality and receptive design plan is finalized with the collaborative work of the project owner, architect and engineer. The design plan will need to ensure that state regulations and building codes are met while project owner’s vision and budget requirements are also addressed, as well as ensuring that the newly built structure will be usable.

Project Owner’s Experience

The project owner or the company management should be able to assess their level of familiarity or expertise on the construction project they are about to embark on.  They must ascertain that they have enough skilled personnel who possess the appropriate expertise to be engaged in the project.  They must also decide if there is a need to bring in outside expertise.   Project owners must also decide how much control and involvement they want during the design and construction phases of the project.

Once these key considerations are rigorously evaluated by the project owner, then they will be able to make a final decision in choosing the appropriate project delivery method for their construction project. In making the right selection, the project owner will be able to efficiently manage their project budget, timelines, and risks. Additionally, project owners must also have a firm understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of the common project delivery methods available for their construction project.