POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

ASSINGMENT NO. 1

SUBMITTED BY:

GERONIMO, EDGARD LAURENZ M.

2017-08199-MN-0
MSCM

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

1. Define the meaning of the construction industry? How does this defer from your own definition?
Discuss and give details.

Define the meaning of the construction industry?

Construction industry is the branch of manufacture and trade based on the building,
maintaining, and repairing structures. This includes drilling and solid mineral exploration. (Definition
Source: Standard Industrial Classification)

Sector of national economy engaged in preparation of land and construction, alteration, and
repair of buildings, structures, and other real property. (Definition Source: Business dictionary)

Construction Industry Categories

Building Construction Industry: All general contractors and operative builders primarily engaged
in the construction of residential, farm, industrial, commercial, or other buildings. (Definition
Source: Standard Industrial Classification)
Heavy Construction Industry: All general contractors primarily engaged in heavy construction
other than building, such as highways and streets, bridges, sewers, railroads, irrigation projects,
and flood control projects and marine construction. This includes special trade contractors
primarily engaged in activities not normally performed on buildings, such as highway grading or
underwater rock removal. This does not include special trade contractors primarily engaged
activities performed on buildings. (Definition Source: Standard Industrial Classification)
Special Trade Construction Industry: All special trade contractors who undertake activities of a
type that are specialized either to building construction, including work on mobile homes, or to
both building and non-building projects. This includes projects such as painting, electrical work,
plumbing, etc. This does not include activities specialized for heavy construction. (Definition
Source: Standard Industrial Classification)

Construction Industry provides the basic physical, industrial, commercial, and social infrastructure
facilities necessary for the development and growth of other equally important major economic sectors,
such as agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

The successful implementation of infrastructure programs heavily depends on the existence of an

effective and resourceful construction industry.

Since most, if not all, of capital investment projects entail construction works, the industry is
generally the source of more than half of a nations wealth in terms of fixed assets so that poor time
and cost performance inevitably reverberates throughout the economy (ILO, 1982).

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

The industry provides the means by which human societys basic needs are met, and living
conditions are improved.

Construction work brings about increases in the activities of the manufacturing sector for the
necessary inputs such as building materials and equipment (backward linkages) (CIAP 1992).

The industrys outputs, which consist of the facilities and infrastructure built, make it possible
for sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, tourism, transportation, and communication,
among other sectors in need of construction services, to produce and deliver the goods and services
required of them (forward linkages) and provide the stimulus for other business activities (multiplier
effect) (CIAP, p.2).

Last but not the least, the construction industry, in countries where contractors are venturing
into the overseas construction market, also account for a considerable portion of export services and
foreign exchange generation.

How does this defer from your own definition?

My own definition of construction industry is a place or community wherein construction of new

buildings or upgrading/rehabilitation of structures and facilities commenced for the urbanization a
country or region.

It is somehow related to its original meaning except from the Construction Industry Categories
identified and its specific contributions to the community. At first, for me construction industry is a just
mere construction of building and structures in a community, but now I know that also the wealth and
resources of a country or region are involved for its own development.

2. In what particular scope of construction industry services will construction project management be
needed? Explain how this is so.

Construction Project Management (CM) must have a holistic approach to the

construction industry since it is a professional service that uses specialized, project
management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its
beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time, cost and quality. (3rd
Forum "International Construction Project Management" 26th/27 June 2003 in Berlin)

We all know that construction industry has a huge contribution to the development of a
country or region that will lead to urbanization. Construction project management must be
apply in all areas of construction industry to efficiently manage the time, cost and quality of
every project.

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

3. Describe some of your construction project management experience.

I dont have enough knowledge and experience in construction project management. I

work as a designer under Planning and Design Section of the National Irrigation Administration
Regional Office (MIMAROPA). The scope of my work is more on evaluating and designing
irrigation structures and facilities.

4. Name at least three economic and three social contributions of the construction industry to the
economy? Define the importance of the construction project manager in increasing the contributions
of the construction industry to the economy.

Economic Contribution

1. Jobs - The construction industry makes a valuable contribution to our economy. Jobs are created
at all stages of the process before construction starts (planning stages).

Construction phase: Plumber, Electrician, Bricklayer, Joiner, Painter and decorator.

Once completed: Facilities management.

2. Gross Domestic Product - This is a measure of the total amount spent by a country on goods
and services within a certain time (usually a year). This is widely recognized as a good indicator
of a countries wealth. The construction industry is a major contributor to UK GDP as a business
sector; it contributes 8%-10%.

3. Local benefits - In the construction of projects it creates business for local suppliers including
plant, materials, waste management and welfare facilities. After completion of work it provides
facilities, management and utilities.

4. Transports contribution to economic development includes the following:

Network effectslinking more locations exponentially increases the value and

effectiveness of transport
Performance improvementsreducing cost and time for existing passenger and freight
movements increase transports contribution to economic growth
Reliabilityimproves time performance and reduces loss and damage, thus reducing
economic drag
Market size-access to wider markets adds to economies of scale in production,
distribution, and consumption, thereby increasing economic growth

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Productivitytransport increases productivity gained from access to a larger and more

diverse base of inputs such as raw materials, parts, energy, and labor, and broader
markets for more diverse outputs

Social Contribution

1. Regeneration of run-down areas - old buildings are replaced, regenerating an area and injecting
new growth.

2. Lower crime - better planning and construction makes an area attractive and safe.

3. Affordable housing - in any new housing development, planners have to now include this type
of development.

4. Reduction in pollution - the inclusion of alternative transport, trams, buses and light railway
networks reduces reliance on cars.

Define the importance of the construction project manager in increasing the contributions of the
construction industry to the economy.

Construction project managers help ensure the project is tracking along to plan. They manage
the project so it finishes on time and on budget, and that their team completes it according to building
codes, plans, and specs. Other functions can include specifying scope, budget, and schedules, selecting
subcontractors and workers, developing communication strategy for resolving conflicts, and more.
(Construction Project Management 101 https://www.smartsheet.com/construction-project-
management-101)

5. What are some of the technical and managerial knowledge required of the construction project
managers to carry out their jobs? What are some of the skills needed by a construction project
manager in vertical and horizontal construction?

What are some of the technical and managerial knowledge required of the construction project
managers to carry out their jobs?

Planning - All managers plan. They set objectives, try to anticipate what will happen and devise
ways of achieving their targets

Organizing - Managers are organizing when they put plans into action - allocating tasks to
people, setting deadlines, requesting resources and coordinating all the tasks into a working
system

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Leading or Directing - This task involves leading, communicating and motivating, as well as
cooperating with people and, sometimes, disciplining them

Controlling - This task involves comparing performance with plan.

Developing staff - Managers and training tutors have put a lot of effort into finding more
realistic ways of developing staff. Managers can play an important part in developing their
subordinates by giving them increasingly difficult tasks, mentoring and counselling them, and
arranging periods of job rotation in which they experience other parts of the company.

What are some of the skills needed by a construction project manager in vertical and horizontal
construction?

Robert Katz (1971) identified three broad classes of management skills:

Human skill - This is the manager's ability to work as a group member and build co-operative
effort in the team, to communicate and persuade. Managers with good human skills are aware
of their own attitudes and assumptions about people and are skilled in understanding and
influencing people's behavior.

Technical skill - Most managers have previously occupied a craft or technical role and are
proficient in some aspect of the organizations work. They have acquired certain analytical
abilities, specialized knowledge and techniques, much of their training having centered on
developing such skills and knowledge.

Conceptual skill - This is the ability to see the organization as a whole, how the parts affect one
another and how the firm relates to the outside world. The manager with conceptual skill
appreciates that a marketing decision must take account of local conditions, the state of the
industry, competition and other political, social and economic forces. Such a manager
recognizes that the decision will affect production, people, finance and other aspects of the
business

Interpersonal skills - Such skills help to create good relationships with colleagues, subordinates
and sub-contractors' personnel. They help the manager to develop a network of contacts for
securing action and the prompt exchange of information and instructions

Decision-making skills They have been taught, or have found that others expect them, to
make quick decisions, thereby showing their competence and resolution.

Information handling skills - Managers need a combination of human, technical and conceptual
skills for locating and interpreting information, judging its importance and accuracy, sorting facts

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

from opinions and displaying data in various ways. The ability to pass on information clearly,
concisely and in an acceptable form is vital nowadays.

References:

The Practice of Construction Management: Third Edition

By: Barry Fryer

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
CM 650 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

6. Name at least five differences between a construction project manager practicing in the Philippines
and one who works abroad (e.g., Asia). Explain why you think so.

Construction project Manager

Abroad
Most of the projects are transnational and the
manpower are multinational. Different culture,
language and communication can affect the
performance of a project.
Philippines
Projects in the Philippines are not transnational
and manpower are locally hired. Easy
communication, does not required multi-lingual
project manager and living the same culture that
can help to accelerate the performance of the
project.

More innovative ways in construction using high-
tech equipment to maximize the time, manpower
and cost of a project.
Lack of skilled workers due to much effort in
foreign operations.
Project management professionals and
organizations located in countries where war or
conflicts occur, or even nearby countries are at
physical risk.
Wage in abroad are higher.
Slow progress of the innovation in the
construction industry in the Philippines.
Plenty of skilled worker due to the familiarity in
the working environment in the Philippines.
Revolutionary movement such as NPA, Abu sayyaf
etc. has a minimal effect in the project
management.
Wage in the Philippines is way cheaper than in
abroad.

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