Ch 1	Ch 3	Ch 5	Ch 7	Ch 9	Ch 11	Ch 13
Ch 2	Ch 4	Ch 6	Ch 8	Ch 10	Ch 12	Ch 14

 

Clearly, the schedule is a powerful management and communication tool. Because of the increased complexity in construction techniques and materials as well as diverse labor issues and the pressures of budgets, scheduling has increasingly been the standard control method. Otherwise, it is difficult, if not impossible, to coordinate the diverse activities in a construction project. An effectively managed project must closely coordinate the activities of the owner, the designer, the construction manager, and all the other people who come together at the job site. Questions from the owner about when the move can be scheduled, from the designer asking if a late change in a lobby detail will affect completion, or from the electrical subcontractor wanting to know if he or she can substitute a long lead fixture can only be studied and answered using schedules. In a construction project, where time truly equals money, the management of time is critical, and the best way to manage time is through scheduling.

Schedules are created by first identifying the goal of the project and its activities. Activity detail should be adequate enough to organize and assign responsibility to specific project people. The logic of the project is next determined by identifying for each activity what work immediately precedes, succeeds, and runs concurrently. Once the duration of each activity is determined, the project's duration can be calculated and the start and finish time for each activity defined. The critical path for the project can also be determined. Before the project begins, the manager should examine the schedule to ensure that adequate resources are available and that each activity can be completed as planned. If adjustments must be made, they should be done on paper before the project begins The last step in the scheduling process involves monitoring the planned schedule as the project is built. As changes and delays occur, adjustments must be made to complete the project on time.

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