how to effectively manage large construction projects

Many construction projects require a large staff compliment and a big workforce. The contractor's project manager or site manager cannot do this alone. To be successful it's important to:

• Select the right team for the construction project. Some good people are just not suited to working in a large team. What you should consider when staffing your construction project. 
• Delegate effectively. This means ensuring that the person delegated the task understands what needs to be done, has the knowledge to do it, and completes the task.
• People must know their duties, who they report to, who reports to them, what their limits of authority are and what problems they are expected to solve and what they should refer to their managers. (A project organisation chart can be useful.) Does Your Team Know What's expected From Them
• Understand the strengths and the weaknesses of the team and work with these. using the strengths of your employees to build a successful company
• Understand the individual cultural differences. Discrimination in construction – is it holding your company back?
• Discipline must be applied in a fair and uniform manner from the start of the construction project so that everyone is clear what the boundaries are.
• Guard against employing too many people on the construction project. Continually reassess the team and make changes to suit the new circumstances.
• People must be accountable and there should be no place to hide. On large construction projects it's easy for people to 'get lost' or shirk responsibility. Sometimes this isn't the person's fault but rather that they aren't being effectively used.
• Ensure everyone works as a team. It's easy for a few weak links or trouble makers to disrupt the construction team and for others to become demotivated.
• Keep communicating (and I don't mean by having long meetings). People need to be updated on the project progress and what goals have been achieved, and understand what the next targets are and what has changed on the construction project. the importance of good communication on projects​

​Paul Netscher has written several easy to read books for owners, contractors, construction managers, construction supervisors and foremen. They cover all aspects of construction management and are filled with tips and insights.
Visit to read more.
The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.
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