Construction Management & Project Management
The Owners’ Perspective
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1. The Owners' Perspective
1.1 Introduction
Like the five blind men encountering different parts of an elephant, each of
the numerous participants in the process of planning, designing, financing,
constructing and operating physical facilities has a different perspective on
project management for construction. Specialized knowledge can be very
beneficial, particularly in large and complicated projects, since experts in
various specialties can provide valuable services. However,
it
is
advantageous to understand how the different parts of the process fit
together. Waste, excessive cost and delays can result from poor
coordination and communication among specialists. It is particularly in the
interest of owners to insure that such problems do not occur. And it
behooves all participants in the process to heed the interests of owners
because, in the end, it is the owners who provide the resources and call the
shots.
By adopting the viewpoint of the owners, we can focus our attention on the
complete process of project management for constructed facilities rather
than the historical roles of various specialists such as planners, architects,
engineering designers, constructors, fabricators, material suppliers, financial
analysts and others. To be sure, each specialty has made important
advances
in developing new techniques and tools
for efficient
implementation of construction projects. However, it is through the
understanding of the entire process of project management that these
specialists can respond more effectively to the owner's desires for their
services, in marketing their specialties, and in improving the productivity
and quality of their work.
The introduction of innovative and more effective project management for
construction is not an academic exercise. As reported by the "Construction
Industry Cost Effectiveness Project" of the Business Roundtable: [1]
By common consensus and every av