5 Common Construction Project Management Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Learning from common project management mistakes may help prevent a construction project disaster. With so many different aspects of a project, there is no wonder that things have a tendency to get off track. However, the good news is that you can avoid these critical  issues by choosing an experience, licensed commercial contractor in the Greater Toronto Area.

Some of the reasons office and store renovations may get off track include:

Some of the reasons office and store renovations may get off track include:

Poor Project Initiation

The fact is, it's very tempting to begin a project quickly as you’re excited about the remodel, but poor project initiation often leads to reworks, errors and oversights.A kick-off meeting is necessary before starting any project so that everyone in the team will have a clear idea of the project goals as well as their roles and responsibilities.

Insufficient Project Planning

Another mistake is to have an insufficient plan that lacks clear objectives, an accurate project schedule, budget details,and a complete scope definition. A project plan that is missing one or all of these details may lead to failure.

Failing to Manage TheProject Scope

This is one of the most common project management mistakes that lead to “scope creep;” where the project focus changes over time. A scope statementshould be created which will be the basis of all future project decisions. Any changes to budget, resources, schedule, etc. are referred to as scope changes because they are changes to what had been agreed-upon in the approved scope statement. They will be documented in a change request file. This should be attached to the scope statement as an addendum, keeping the original scope statement intact.

Failure to Communicate Properly

A project can be extremely difficult when team members fail to communicate properly. This is where a great project manager comes into play. It is their duty tokeep everyone on the project informed of decisions, exceptions, changes, budgets, costs, schedule, team structures, requirements, and more. Project management is all about great communications and an effective communication system is a tremendous benefit to any project.

Underestimating Risks

Underestimating riskscan disturb your project plan and increase project costs dramatically. A good project manager evaluates risks and the probability of their occurrence carefully and creates an action plan to mitigate them if they can’t be avoided altogether. The best way to avoid these risks is by hiring an experienced commercial contractor in the Greater Toronto Area who can identify early signs associated of problems and efficiently mitigate them.

Many of the above pitfalls are interrelated and can be mitigated if foreseen ahead of time. By hiring the right office and store renovation contractors a great deal of the above failures can be avoided.

Cornerstone Commercial Contractors – How do we create successful projects?

Cornerstone, a leading commercial construction contractor inthe Greater Toronto Area has a track record of successfully managing, building, and completing store and office renovation projects. We work on behalf of our clients to make sure that their commercial construction projects are successfully completed while meeting strict project specifications and budget constraints.

We have three main construction objectives:

•                  Deliver the project on time

•                  Keep projects at or under budget

•                  Maintain a high-level of quality to deliver finished projects that delight our clients.

To meet the above objectives, we use a variety of tactics, tools, and project management best practices. Part of what goes into successful projects includes:

Proficiency

Our project managers, builders, and contractors have the right combination of experience, industry knowledge, analytical skills and personality traits that are required to get construction projects of all sizes done successfully. We stay up-to-date on best practices and technology tools to create better plans and more accurate forecasts.

Clear Vision

Our project managers have a clear understanding of the desired outcome of our construction projects. This helps us stay focused on the big picture and to prioritize tasks and responsibilities.

Well Organized

Being well organized, our project managers can focus on the most important details of your construction project without becoming bogged down. This helps us solve problems under pressure and create a productive work environment as well.

Excellent Time And Budget Management Skills

Our planned and systematic scheduling process helps save our clients both time and money while enabling us to complete projects ahead of deadlines. We conduct regular budget reviews and look at financial information from multiple vantage points. We make sure that every aspect of financial management is transparent and accurate.

Equipped with Superior Problem Solving Skills

Every construction project faces challenges and obstacles along the way. We are equipped with excellent problem solving skills to properly address any issues that may arise. Most importantly, we predict and forecast what challenges a project may encounter and have multiple options and alternate solutions ready to mitigate the impact on the project and our client.

Prioritize Activities and Ensure Projects Stay On Track

Construction is a complex process that involves a variety of activities. Understanding the importance of these activities is essential for the success of the overall project. We lay out the most optimal work schedule and assign tasks to workers based on their skills.  When unforeseen circumstances arise, we assess the new situation and re-prioritize the activities to ensure the project stays on track.

Action Oriented And Result Driven

We focus on goals and don’t get distracted or discouraged by problems that may occur. We don’t procrastinate or avoid unpleasant parts of the project. We persevere until we get the necessary result.

Effective Communication Skills

Without effective communication, a construction project may be completely disturbed and skilled workers will be unable to perform to the best off their abilities. Our project managers communicate with team members consistently to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Being one of the top project management consultants in the Greater Toronto Area, our project managers, builders, and contractors utilize all the above skills to ensure the project’s success and a high return on investment for our clients.