Planning in Construction Management

Planning in different aspects are clearly identified with the aim of achieving goals. In terms of construction, planning plays an important role before starting the project in order to complete it on time successfully. The term ‘Construction’ does not only denote physical activities involving men, materials and machinery but also covers the entire game of activities from conception to realization of a construction project. Planning and management of different aspects according to the plans are two important things in the construction sector.

Planning helps to minimize the cost by optimum utilization of available resources

Planning reduces irrational approaches, duplication of works and inter departmental conflicts

Planning encourages innovation and creativity among the construction managers.

Planning imparts competitive strength to the enterprise

It is the process of selecting a particular method and the order of work to be adopted for a project from all the possible ways and sequences in which it could be done. It essentially covers the aspects of ‘What to do’ and ‘How to do it’.

Men

* Workforce- Manpower

* Technical and Managerial personnel(organisation)

WORKFORCE PLANNING

* It includes skilled and unskilled labour.

* Timely employment of just required numbers of workmen of right trade and skill.

* Maintaining a reasonable ratio between supervisor and workmen.

Technical and Managerial Personnel

* A social arrangement which pursues collective goals, which controls its performance.

* Give responsibilities to the group of employees.

* Provides adequate communication.

* Demarcates the authority, responsibilities, and duties of each group and employee.

* Coordinates and controls activities of group and individual to achieve common objectives.

Material

* Brick, stone, timber, cement, water, aggregate, paint, electrical fittings, lime, sand, etc.

* Material schedule showing quantity, quality, and time of delivery prepared with reference to the work schedule.

* Plan the adequate supply of material.

Machinery

* Requirements depend on the type of project.

* Batching plant, mixer, trucks, vibrator, tractors, excavators, and cranes, etc.

* The equipment schedule or calendar should be prepared.

* Whether equipment can be transferred from one site to another or can be purchased new depending on economic analysis.

* Non-availability of the right equipment or tool may lead to financial loss or can hold up the work.

Money

* The most important resources of all.

* All other resources depend on the availability of funds.

* So financial resources should be planned very carefully.

Merits of Planning

* Leads to more effective and faster achievements.

* It has the effects of minimizing the cost of operations.

* Protest against unwanted deviations and minimizing the false steps.

* It facilitates the process of decision-making.

* Planning is the essence of all management activities. Once it is. done well, other activities automatically follow.