The best construction project planning requires a disciplined approach based on good data rather than gut instinct. And major home renovations require more than a homemade sledgehammer.
Sounds ridiculous, but that is exactly what I saw recently on a cable program that showcased the world’s greatest cheapskates. Looking to shave a few dollars off the cost of a renovation, a frugal homeowner asked if it were possible to do some of the demo work herself, using a brick duct-taped to a stick. Not surprisingly, her construction expert gave an emphatic thumbs down to her idea, particularly as she was planning to tackle a load-bearing wall in a 100-year-old house. Beyond the bizarre, there’s a commonsense lesson here.
Before lifting a hammer or buying a brick, every project manager should take the time to review past projects to establish baselines, estimate costs and set realistic expectations. The best way to do that is to utilize a project management tool to help you track your activities, revenues, timelines, changes, and more. Doing so will give you the facts and hard data you need to plan more effectively and execute more efficiently.
The Importance of Project Management Software in the Construction Industry
It takes more than enthusiasm to plan and manage projects. Unlike the ready-to-go homeowner featured above, getting a job done right requires more than enthusiasm for the task. Incredibly skilled individuals complete a job based on knowledge, experience and muscle memory. Depending upon the task at hand, usually the most critical muscle is the brain. When you manage a business, it’s a challenge to keep track of all the myriad project details in play at any one time. When you multiply that challenge by the number of projects underway at the same time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. If you then add in the need to recall specific details relating to past projects, you may be compelled to change careers. Take a breath. It is not necessary to give up doing what you love when technology allows you to instantly call up current activities across multiple projects along with their historical details.
How Technology Boosts Project Planning Capabilities
Project management software can help you plan for new projects by providing an easily accessible and highly organized record of past resource usage and project costs. There is no need to have a photographic memory when you have a technology tool that serves as your digital filing cabinet. When you use well-defined, consistent processes and reporting, developing accurate labor forecasts and estimates for project planning is no longer a chore that can distract you from ongoing operations.
How Past Projects Can Inform the Future
Every project is unique, with clear differences relating to clients, work conditions, subcontractors, rates, personnel, duration, etc. However, no matter how different one project is from the next, they all have certain similarities. Before starting any new project, project managers should review records of project deliverables and associated project status updates to see what they can learn from past experiences. If proper documentation has been kept, they can use actual labor usage to more accurately forecast future work, rather than relying on estimates. They can tap into historical information to identify similar approaches and processes. Historical project updates can also be reviewed to identify challenges, pitfalls and opportunities for progress. Maintaining good documentation is key to using historical data to understand project performance.
The True Benefit of Project Planning Software? The Way It Empowers YOU!
Tracking project details without the help of technology is as taxing as tracking down metrics that offer proof of the efficiency and effectiveness of project management software. There are no easily accessible stats to underscore the value of a tool that can not only lead to fewer surprises but bring order to your business, sense to your recordkeeping, and reliability to your project details. Everyone knows data entry can be time-consuming. Retrieving data from paper spreadsheets is far worse. Consulting firm McKinsey did a study years ago that reported knowledge workers spent 9.3 hours a week searching for information. We may not be able to precisely pinpoint how that translates to construction project management, but we know intuitively that an easily accessible, central digital repository of project information will drive valuable time and money savings. And this will empower you to realistically plan and execute more effectively. To learn more about how project management software can empower your business, let’s talk.