ABSTRACT

Whether a construction project turns out to be successful or not has a lot to do with the clarity of the client’s objectives and how the client establishes and instils a culture throughout the project team. This book's focus is on defining and exploring those attributes of clients or organisations which enable clear communication, and as a result help ensure the project's success.

For senior construction professionals, this book explains how to approach key aspects of projects so that the client's expectations can be anticipated and understood. It also provides information on how other parties can positively influence the outcome of the project and interact with their fellow stakeholders.

Commentaries on real life projects illustrate how this is achieved in practice, and common pitfalls are pointed out to help you avoid them. Drawing on almost 40 years’ UK and international experience of working on major construction projects in a variety of roles, the author provides clear insight into how to efficiently progress a project from inception through to completion. This is hugely valuable reading for client senior decision-makers, project managers, programme managers, design and construction leaders, and those studying all of these subjects.

chapter 2|7 pages

The challenge of leadership

Providing a general context

chapter 3|7 pages

The client

Responsibility within the commissioning organisation

chapter 4|6 pages

Project timeline

The project stages over its lifetime

chapter 5|14 pages

Representative case studies

Why the rest of this book is worth reading

chapter 6|7 pages

Project definition

What is wanted and when – being able to define it

chapter 7|4 pages

Governance of the project team

How to set up and organise the project team

chapter 8|4 pages

Client involvement

Whether the client wants to be ‘hands-on' or not

chapter 9|18 pages

The right procurement strategy

How best to buy the project

chapter 10|10 pages

Forming the project team

The relationship wanted with the project team

chapter 11|17 pages

Managing uncertainty

How best to align risk, cost and contingency

chapter 12|15 pages

Performance management

How to measure and control progress

chapter 13|9 pages

Construction expertise

How to involve the best contractors and SMEs

chapter 14|3 pages

Communications policy

How to approach communications

chapter 15|5 pages

External interfaces and social responsibilities

How to handle the interfaces with stakeholders

chapter 16|9 pages

Operation, maintenance and legacy

The post-completion and legacy objectives

chapter 17|3 pages

Conclusions

Author's wrap-up summary