Construction management (CM) is a professional service that appliesproject management techniques to the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its completion. The goal of CM is to control a project's scope, time, cost, and quality (sometimes called theproject management triangle or "triple constraints") to achieve the owner’s objectives.[1][2]
Construction management focuses on integrating cost, schedule, quality, safety, and scope throughout the project lifecycle. Unlike a general contractor, a CM firm or professional may be engaged as an owner’s representative to advise during feasibility, design, procurement, and construction.
A construction manager’s responsibilities typically include:
Planning and scheduling
Budgeting and cost control
Contract administration
Quality and safety management
Communication and stakeholder coordination
Documentation and claims management
According to theConstruction Management Association of America (CMAA), the seven common categories of responsibility are: Project Management Planning, Cost Management, Time Management, Quality Management, Contract Administration, Safety Management, and CM Professional Practice.[5][failed verification]
Project documentation may include diaries, logs, and daily field reports. These records are important for dispute resolution and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings.[7]
CM is taught in associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Accreditation bodies includeABET, the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC). Programs cover management, construction methods, and law.[10][11]
Construction and capital project management software (CPMS) help manage budgets, schedules, documents, and collaboration. Increasingly, cloud platforms allow owners, contractors, and consultants to work together in real time.
