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'Project Development Cycle of a G+20 Residential building(Construction Project)'

What exactly is a project?

It is a group of unique, inter-related activities that are planned and executed in a certain sequence to create a unique product and services within a specified time frame, scope and budget. The Project Management Institute (USA) has defined project as, “a combination of human and non- human resources, pooled together in a temporary organization to achieve a specific purpose”. [1]

Project Management-

Project Management is a system of procedures, practices, technologies and know-how that enables the planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling necessary to successfully manage a project. Typical constraints are scope, time and budget. The secondary and more ambitious challenge is to optimise the allocation and integrate the inputs necessary to meet pre-defined objectives. [1]

Project Life Cycle (Phases)

The project manager and project team have one shared goal: to carry out the work of the project for the purpose of meeting the project’s objectives. Every project has a beginning, a middle period during which activities move the project toward completion, and an ending (either successful or unsuccessful). A standard project typically has the following four major phases (each with its own agenda of tasks and issues): initiation, planning, implementation, and closure. Taken together, these phases represent the path a project takes from the beginning to its end and are generally referred to as the project “life cycle.” [2] Significance of Project Life Cycle- [2]

1.It defines the phases of the project (time) 2.The work performed in each phase (work) 3.The input and output of each phase (Result) 4.The milestone of each phase (end sign)

Every Construction work has the following distinct stages:-[3]

I.	Briefing stage II. Designing stage III. Tendering stage IV. Construction stage V.	Commissioning stage

1.	Briefing stage-

Also called the ‘Report stage’, it is the stage where ideas originated by individuals are studied with regard to cost and benefits so as to establish the economic viability or social utility of a project.

Purpose-

The purpose of this stage is to enable the client(owner) to specify the project functions and permissible costs so that architects, engineers and other members of the construction team can correctly interpret the owner’s wishes, and provide a likely estimate of costs. It also leads to an objective decision on the scope and feasibility of the project.

Various activities involved are-

1. to appoint a project steering committee, if necessary 2. To appoint a project manager who will have a continuing responsibility to the client throughout the construction process. 3. To study various alternatives and identify the most feasible ones.

2.	Designing or Planning stage-

It is a very important stage in the field of construction because any modification in the project after this stage would prove expensive. A realistic and detailed cost estimate of the project can be prepared during the design stage.

Purpose-

The purpose of this stage is to complete the project summary and determine the method of construction and estimate costs so as to obtain necessary approvals from the clients. Its purpose also includes the preparation of working drawings, specifications and all arrangements for inviting tenders.

Activities at this stage are-

1. For developing the project summary for final adoption of the most suitable alternative. 2. To carry out technical investigations such as soil investigations, topographical investigations, material supply and market survey, etc. 3. To obtain the owner’s final approval of the project summary. 4. To prepare detailed design, working drawings, specifications, bill of quantities, final cost estimate and preliminary construction programme including time-schedule.

3. Tendering Stage-

It is the stage in which tenders are called and the contract is awarded at the best available terms mutually agreed between the owner’s team and and the contractors.

Purpose-

The purpose of this stage is to appoint a contractor or a number of contractors who will undertake the construction work on the most suitable terms and conditions of quality, cost and completion time. Main activity involved in this stage is to obtain tenders from contractors for the construction work and to award the contract. During this stage, the owner enters into a firm commitment regarding the project expenditures and the procedures of construction are carefully defined.

4. Construction Stage-

This stage involves the execution of construction work as per the design and within the agreed limits of cost, time and specified quality.

Activities-

This stage consists of a number of inter-related activities. The failure of one activity may disrupt the entire production schedule. Careful planning is, therefore, necessary at this stage.

(a)	Construction/ production planning includes the preparation of:

1.Construction schedule 2.Manpower schedule 3.Plant and equipment schedule 4.Material delivery schedule

''(b)	The other main activity in this stage is the control of site operations including: ''

1.Temporary and permanent works 2.Supply of materials and equipment 3.Coordination of sub-contractors/sections 4.Supervision for quality control

It is the resource-intensive and difficult stage of any project. The problems encountered during this stage may have to be referred to the designers for appropriate solutions. During this stage, actual work is executed as per the design prepared earlier. The construction work has to be carried out in a planned manner to prevent wastage of manpower, material and money and to avoid disruption of project schedules.

5. Commissioning Stage

It is the stage in which the performance of the structure is evaluated and the proposed nature of maintenance and repair are considered.

Purpose-

The purpose of this stage is to ensure that the construction work has been completed as specified in the contract documents and that all the facilities developed function properly as envisaged in the design.

References-

[1] https://www.slideshare.net/iirmjaipur/project-management-and-project-life-cycle [2] https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter-3-the-project-life-cycle-phases-project-management/ [3] "Construction Planning and Management" by P.S.Gahlot and B.M.DHIR