Construction Management Jump Start Questions With Verified 100% Correct Answers

PM: Project manager PO: Purchase order PPP: Public-private partnership QA: Quality assurance QC: Quality control RFI: Request for information RFP: Request for proposal RFQ: Request for qualifications ROM: Rough order of magnitude SWPPP: Storm water pollution prevention plans WBS: Work breakdown structure BIM: Building information model CAD: Computer-aided design CD: Construction document CM: Construction manager CSI: Construction Specification Institute DB Design-build DD: Design development FOR: Field observation report GC: General contractor GMP: Guaranteed maximum price IPD: Integrated project delivery LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design What are the five primary sectors of the construction industry? residential, commercial, heavy civil, industrial, and environmental construction. What is the role of the owner on a construction project? develop the program for the building, define the scope of the project, create the budget, and provide the funding for the project. What does LEED stand for, and what is its purpose? Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A rating system that evaluates a building's environmental performance over its life cycle. What is lean construction, and from what industry does its concepts stem? Lean construction is a philosophy that focuses on adding value with less work and the elimination of waste in the building process. It stems from the manufacturing industry, particularly the Toyota Production System. Distinguish between construction management as a function and construction management as a project delivery method. The construction management function is estimating, scheduling, cost control, and contract administration in order to monitor, manage, and control the work of the contract for which the contractor is obligated. Construction management as a project delivery method is a contractual arrangement. Identify at least three characteristics that make the construction project unique from other industry sector projects. Each construction project is built as a one-of-a-kind structure or facility. Every construction project is built on a different and unique building site. The building process takes place outside. Much of the work is performed by the human hand. Name the four primary project values to be managed, monitored, and controlled. time, cost, quality, and safety. Why is scope definition so important in the construction process? Scope describes the extent of the work that is to be performed by the contractor. What is meant by the term project delivery? Project delivery is the overall structural or organizational framework used to put all the aspects of designing and building a construction project together. Identify the three primary project delivery methods and discuss how they differ contractually. Design-bid-build, the owner has separate contracts with the designer and the contractor. Design-build one contract between the owner and the design-build entity. Construction management, the owner holds three contracts with the construction manager, the designer, and the contractor. Explain how agency CM is different from at-risk CM. Under agency CM, the construction manager has no liability and is an advisor to the owner. With at-risk CM, the construction manager acts as an advisor to the owner during the design phase and is liable for the construction. What is meant by the term fast-tracking? Fast tracking is a technique used to speed up the completion of a construction project by overlapping the design and construction processes. Name the three basic ways in which a design-build entity may be configured. The three basic ways are informal partnership for a project, designers and the contractors work for the same company, or to establish a legal joint venture between designer and contractor for a single project. Identify the eight functions of construction management. estimating the project, contract administration, managing job site and construction operations, planning and scheduling the project, controlling project performance, managing project quality, managing project safety, and managing project risks. Why is open bidding required on public projects? Taxpayer dollars are at stake, and an open bid allows any contractor to submit, reducing the risk of fraud, favoritism, and undue influence and reassuring taxpayers that their tax dollars are being spent properly. Name a tool used to reduce the number of bidders on a public project and increase the quality of the contractor pool. The tool used is the requirement for a prequalification statement. What is the purpose of a labor and materials payment bond? is a guarantee, backed by a surety, that payment for the contractor's labor and materials used on the project will be made. Identify the notice document that informs the public of upcoming construction projects funded with taxpayer dollars. The notice document that is an advertisement for bids. These ads are typically posted electronically through construction project lead services but may be published in newspapers and trade magazines as well. Name the three selection methods used to buy construction services, and identify the solicitation instrument used for each one. low-bid selection, best-value selection, and qualifications-based selection. low-bid selection is the invitation for bids (or advertisement for bids). The best-value selection is the request for proposals. The qualifications-based selection is the request for qualifications. Which procurement method is the most commonly used today, and what is the selection criteria? The most common procurement method used today is still design-bid-build. The selection criteria used to determine the winner when using design-bid-build is low price. What is the name of the official document that the owner uses to notify the contractor to start construction? The document used to officially inform the contractor to proceed with the contract is called a notice to proceed. Name the two primary selection criteria categories considered when using the best-value method. The two primary selection categories considered with the best-value procurement method are price (quantitative factors) and qualification factors such as design, management, or past performance. Describe how the weighted criteria evaluation process works. Weighted criteria is a form of best-value selection in which maximum point values are pre-established for qualitative and price components and award is based upon high total points earned by the proposers for both components. List at least three factors that are commonly considered before deciding to bid on a construction job. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to bid on a job. Some of these factors include location of the project, size of the job, who the architect or owner is, and the technical complexity of the project. What two major components make up the contract documents? The two major components that make up the contract documents are the drawings and the project manual. There is a particular way in which the drawings are organized in a set of drawings. Identify the order of drawings in a typical set of plans. A typical set of drawings is ordered with the civil drawings first, then the architectural, then the structural, then the mechanical, and finally the electrical drawings. What is the difference between a plan view and a section view in a set of drawings? A plan view represents a horizontal cut through the structure, and a section view represents a vertical cut through the structure. Name the four primary sections of a project manual. bidding documents, the general conditions, the supplemental conditions, and the technical specifications. The 2004 CSI Master Format is broken down into how many divisions? There are 48 divisions to the Master Format. Name the four basic types of construction contracts. the lump-sum contract, cost-plus-fee contract, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract, and unit-price contract. Under a guaranteed maximum price contract, what happens if the actual cost is less than the guaranteed maximum contract price? If the actual cost of the project is less than the guaranteed maximum contract price, the owner benefits from 100 percent of the savings unless there is an arrangement to split the savings with the contractor. Name the four fundamental stages of the construction management process after the design stage. pre-construction, procurement, construction, and post-construction. What are the four distinct stages of the design process? programming and feasibility, schematic or conceptual design, design development, and contract documents. How does the quality of the design drawings impact the quality of the construction? The contract calls for the contractor to build the project in accordance with the plans and the specs. If the plans, specs, or overall design is flawed, then the contractor is obligated to perform as instructed or to bring the flaw or defect to the attention of the architect by processing a change order. Either way, the owner is left with paying the price for the error. In relation to construction, what is meant by the term due diligence? Due diligence is the process of identifying any problems associated with the project early on so that those problems can be factored into the decision making that occurs during the pre-construction stage. What are the two procurement instruments used to buy out the construction job? subcontracts and purchase orders. Subcontracts are used to buy labor, and purchase orders are used to buy materials and equipment. Name at least three positions that make up the members of the on-site construction management team. superintendent, assistant superintendent, and field engineer. What occurrence marks the official end of the project? The official end of the project occurs when the architect releases a certificate of substantial completion. What is the name of the tool used to keep track of and manage the completion of all of the loose ends, minor repairs, adjustments, and missing items at the end of the project? A punch list is used to manage all of the loose ends, minor repairs, adjustments, and missing items at the end of the project. What is value engineering, and what is its purpose? Value engineering is analyzing the design, products, and materials associated with the project to determine whether the proposed application is the best approach or solution. The purpose of value engineering is to optimize resources to achieve the greatest value for the money being spent. Why is it important to have a clear distinction between the project punch-out and the warranty period?It is important to have a clear distinction between project punch-out and warranty because the completion of punch-out denotes substantial completion of the project. If work items continue to get added to the punch list, it will be very difficult to clearly mark the end of the project. What is a construction estimate? A construction estimate is a summary of probable quantities and costs of materials, labor, equipment, and subcontracts to complete a project, including taxes, overhead, and profit, based on the best available information at the time. Name the four primary categories of costs in the construction estimate. materials, labor, equipment, and subcontracts. How are construction estimates typically organized? Typically, construction estimates are organized according to either the 1995 CSI Master Format, which utilizes 16 divisions, or the expanded 2004 version, which consists of 48 divisions. What type of estimate would we probably do if we were meeting with a client for the first time and they wanted to get a rough idea about their project cost? The type of estimate that would most likely be would be a rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate. Identify the four preparation steps taken to start the estimating process. review the plans and specs, to develop a query list, to attend the pre bid meeting, and to visit the site. What are general conditions? The same thing as indirect costs and represent the expenses incurred in order to deliver and manage the materials, labor, equipment, and subcontracts employed on any given job. Supervision, cleanup, temporary utilities, and security fencing are all examples of general conditions. What unit of measure is typically employed for pricing general conditions? is a unit of time such as hour, day, week, or month. What is a scope sheet? A scope sheet identifies all of the items of work to be performed under a specific trade heading or work category such as masonry or siding. Identify at least four characteristics exhibited in a quality estimate. There are many characteristics displayed in a quality estimate including correct quantities, accurate labor hours, correct pricing, accurate calculations, completeness, clear paper trail, proper overhead, and proper profit. When will you know the true accuracy of your estimate? When the project is complete and all the costs and expenses have been added up. What is partnering? Partnering is a team-building technique to establish a set of common goals and objectives for the project and develop a mutually acceptable protocol for communication and conflict resolution through a formal agreement. How does the contractor receive clarification from the architect regarding details of the design? By processing a formal request for information (RFI) in writing. What is the purpose of a submittal? Submittals provide a means by which the architect and owner can confirm the intent of the design. What is a shop drawing? A special kind of submittal, usually required when a building material must be fabricated from scratch. The drawing includes details, dimensions, and the configuration of the item being fabricated. What is the name of the document that establishes the template for measuring work progress as it relates to requests for payment? a schedule of values. What is the name of the document that formally and officially authorizes a payment to the contractor? An application and certificate for payment. What are liquidated damages? Liquidated damages are an amount of money that is assessed to the contractor for a failure to meet a specified completion date. What is retainage? Retainage is a certain percentage of money owed to the contractor that is held back by the owner to encourage completion of the project. Identify two instances when a change order might need to be initiated. A change order would be required to correct a detail of the design that contained an error or omitted information or would be required when an owner wants to add scope to the project. Name three alternatives to traditional litigation for resolving construction contract disputes. mediation, the mini-trial, and arbitration. Identify at least three issues that the superintendent must be concerned with when trying to manage construction operations. Subcontractor coordination, material and equipment deliveries, and productivity. When scheduling subcontractors for the job, you should try to follow three fundamental rules. What are they? Resist bringing subcontractors onto the job until you are 100 percent ready for them; to make sure that once you bring them on the job, they have everything they need to proceed; and to pay all subcontractors promptly upon completion of their work. What does it mean to order something on will-call? A will-call acts as a confirmation of an order that has been placed prior to the date it is actually due for delivery. The will-call generally occurs the afternoon before the scheduled delivery and confirms or denies that the delivery date is still a go. Identify at least three factors that can negatively impact construction productivity. crowded work spaces, poor coordination of work activities, poor supervision, poorly trained workforce, not having the proper tools and equipment, adverse weather conditions, confusing plans and specs, changes in the work plan, and inefficient job site layout. Identify at least three environmental issues that might interfere with the project schedule and cause unexpected delays on the job. Encountering soil erosion problems, encountering endangered species on-site, having to protect vegetation on-site, trying to protect and preserve wetlands during construction, and discovering historical or cultural artifacts while excavating. What is a laydown area? A laydown area is a designated storage area within the construction site that is used for sorting out large orders such as the structural steel. What types of information should be shown on a site logistics plan? Name at least four items. The location of the field office, the location of the temporary utilities, the location of the storage trailers, the location of the laydown area, the location of the portable toilets, the location of dumpsters, on-site parking areas, the security fencing, and the entrance and exit gates. Why is it important for the job superintendent and the other members of the on-site team to keep project diaries? Because there is so much information that must be communicated back and forth among the project participants, and there is a great opportunity for misunderstandings, confusion, and things falling through the cracks. Why is it important to accurately report hours and cost codes on time cards? because they provide the payroll clerk with all of the information needed to calculate wages and distribute paychecks. They also provide fundamental information needed to track and monitor productivity and labor expenditures. Identify the way in which the construction industry has increased overall owner involvement in the construction process. The construction industry has increased overall owner involvement in the construction process through a variety of collaborative software programs that establish intranet sites. These programs allow the owner to take part in a variety of project communications and may have a webcam linked to them. What does SWPPP stand for and what is its purpose? SWPPP stands for storm water pollution protection plan, and its purpose is to document how the contractor will manage erosion and prevent pollution of lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal areas by runoff water and sediment from the building site. What are the two most common types of schedules used in construction? The two most common types of schedules used in construction are the Gantt chart (or bar chart) and the network diagram. Name the two techniques used to create a network diagram. The two techniques used to create a network diagram are the activity-on-arrow method and the activity-on-node method. What is another name for the activity-on-node (AON) network diagram? The activity-on-node network diagram is also called a precedence diagram. What is a look-ahead schedule, and how is it used? Look-ahead schedules are developed by superintendents and trade foremen to coordinate the work and activities over a relatively short period of time, usually two- to four-week intervals. They are often hand-drawn and are distributed to the specific trades involved. What are the three stages of network diagram development? The planning stage, the sequencing stage, and the scheduling stage. Name the three different types of activities that are included in the typical schedule, and give an example of each. production activities for example, installing siding, procurement activities for example, ordering windows, and administrative activities for example, obtaining the building permit. What is the critical path, and why is it important from a project management standpoint? Is the continuous chain of activities with the longest combined overall duration in the network diagram. The critical path is important because the critical path determines the project duration and any delay in any activity along the critical path results in a delay in the overall project. What is float, or slack, in the schedule? Float is the amount of time that an activity's start can be delayed before it impacts the project's planned completion. What are the three scheduling calculations that you must perform in order to determine the project duration and the critical path? The three calculations that must be performed to determine the project duration and the critical path are the forward pass, the backward pass, and the total float calculations. After you complete a forward and backward pass, how do you know which activities are on the critical path? The activities that have no total float will be the activities on the critical path. What are the seven fundamental steps included in the project control cycle? 1) develop the project plan, 2) establish the project benchmarks, 3) monitor the project performance, 4) identify performance deviations, 5) evaluate corrective options, 6) make adjustments as needed, and 7) document, report, and evaluate results. What are the two essentials of an effective project control system? The two essentials of an effective project control system are information and a good reporting system. Name three sources where you might gather field information needed to develop your project controls. material invoices, time cards, and subcontractor billing statements. It is important to receive accurate and complete information from the construction job site. Name two specific construction management functions where this information is used. Field information is used to detect variances between the actual and planned performance of a project regarding cost, time, and productivity. It is also used to develop the historical estimating databases and productivity factors used when creating the project estimate and schedule. What is a cost code, and how is it used in project controls? A cost code is a reference number assigned to each work activity identified in the project estimate and schedule. Cost codes are used to track all items of work contributing to the overall project costs including materials, labor, equipment, subcontracts, and overhead. What is an escalation clause, and how is it used in the construction contract? A special clause, usually negotiated into the construction contract when there is suspicion that some pricing component of the estimate is in a high state of flux. The clause allows for adjustments to be made to the estimate based upon current pricing of the suspected component. What is the riskiest element of project planning and project control? estimating productivity. What does it mean to crash the schedule? Crashing the schedule means to compress the overall schedule by accelerating certain activities within it so that they finish sooner, thereby shortening the overall schedule. Regarding project controls, what does it mean to forecast in construction management? To forecast means to predict the final cost and schedule outcomes on a project while the work is still in progress. Construction managers forecast final cost and completion dates on a regular basis throughout the construction process. What are the three fundamental objectives of a quality management plan? do things right the first time, to prevent things from going wrong in the first place, and to continually improve the construction process. What is the difference between quality control and quality assurance? Quality control addresses quality at the project level and deals with plans and specs, inspections, and testing. Quality assurance addresses quality at the process level and deals with policies and procedures associated with hiring, training, safety, subcontracting, and procurement. Name three quality control mechanisms typically mandated by the construction contract that are used to check for conformance to the plans and specifications. submittals, mock-ups, and shop drawings. Explain the concept behind a zero-punch list. The concept behind a zero-punch list is to complete the final walk-through inspection with few or no punch items noted on the list. The idea is to inspect and correct the work as it progresses instead of waiting until it is completed, only to find that the quality is unacceptable. What is an FOR? field observation report, a process in which employees, subcontractors, and visiting vendors are encouraged to report any work item failing to meet a quality or safety standard. the observations are logged by the quality engineer, and corrected as needed. Identify the four primary components of an effective safety management plan. management commitment, job site analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training. What are the four primary causes of injuries in the construction industry? Falls, being struck by an object, being crushed or trapped, and electrical shocks. Identify at least five items of personal protection equipment that might be utilized by workers on the job site. Personal protection equipment includes hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes or boots, face shields, ear plugs, special suits or coveralls, respirators, gloves, and safety harnesses. What is an MSDS? An MSDS is a material safety data sheet. An MSDS must be obtained and maintained for every chemical product that is located on the job site. Name the six different categories that most risk factors generally fall under. pre bid risks, design risks, construction risks, political/legal/regulatory risks, financing risks, and environmental risks. What is a contingency? A contingency is an amount of money added to an estimate to cover unknown conditions or risk impacts. What is a joint venture? A joint venture is a business arrangement where two or more construction companies enter into an agreement for a one-time, single-project commitment and share resources and risks to manage and build the project. Name at least three types of construction risks. labor availability, quality of labor pool, differing site conditions, site access, property damage and theft, coordination of utilities, adverse weather, labor disputes, safety, and material availability. What is a latent design defect? A latent design defect is a flaw in the design that is not known until after the construction is complete and time has passed, allowing for the flaw or defect to show itself. Name at least three pre bid risk factors. The prebid risk factors are the contract, the owner, the project price, the project time, work/labor issues, the location, and the estimate prep factors. Name one estimate preparation risk factor. adequacy of the pricing data, familiarity of the subcontractors, ability to visit the site, confusing or contradictory plans and specs, excessive preparation costs, and insufficient time to prepare the estimate. What two factors must be considered when trying to determine the risk rating for any given risk? The two factors that must be considered when determining a risk rating for any given risk is the probability that the risk will occur and the impact if it does. Name the five most common risk mitigation strategies. The five most common risk mitigation strategies are risk avoidance, risk transfer, risk abatement, risk transfer, and risk allocation.. Give one example of a risk allocation technique that contractors might use on a large, complex project when they think they have exceeded their risk tolerance. A contractor might decide to joint venture with another contractor on a large, complex project. What is the difference between 3D CAD modeling and BIM? A BIM model is attached to a database that holds all pertinent information about the objects that make up the project. A 3D CAD model is not linked to any database. What are the fourth and fifth dimensions of BIM? The fourth and fifth dimensions of BIM are time (or 4D) scheduling and cost (or 5D) estimating. What does the term interoperability mean? Interoperability is the capability of a system to interact with other systems without access or implementation limitations or restrictions. Name at least three common ways that contractors use BIM. There are at least 10, including design visualization, design assistance and constructability review, site planning and utilization, 4D scheduling, 5D estimating, integration of subcontractor and supplier data, systems coordination, layout and fieldwork, prefabrication, and operations and maintenance.