About this course: Construction Project Management introduces you to Project Initiation and Planning. Industry experts join Columbia University professor, Ibrahim Odeh, to give an overview of the construction industry. Professor Odeh teaches the fundamentals of the Project Development Cycle while guest lecturers discuss Lean Project Delivery method and Lean Design Behaviors. Technological advances, such as Building Information Modeling, will be introduced with real world examples of the uses of BIM during the Lifecycle of the Project. The course concludes with Professor Odeh discussing the importance of project planning and scheduling and an opportunity to develop a Work Breakdown Structure.
Who is this class for: This course is very well suited for practitioners in the construction industry, and those looking to gain entry into the field.
Created by: Columbia University
Taught by: Ibrahim Odeh, Ph.D., MBA, Instructor, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University
Director of Research and Founder, Global Leaders in Construction Management
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 4 in the Construction Management Specialization |
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | This course is rigorous and learners are expected to dedicate 5 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week. |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Overview
Welcome to Construction Project Initiation and Planning. Meet your Instructor, Dr. Ibrahim Odeh, and learn what will be covered in the Construction Management Specialization and, more specifically, in this course, Construction Project Initiation and Planning, the first of the specialization series.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Reading: Course Survey
- Video: Introduction To The Course Part 2
Construction Industry Overview
Gregory Sauter, President of Crossroads Advisory and Founder of Smart City Works Infrastructure Actuator, introduces the Engineering and Construction Industry. Christopher Toomey, Senior Vice President of AECOM Global Programs, compares Program Management (PgM), Project Management (PM), and Construction Management (CM). The module ends with Professor Odeh distinguishing between construction and manufacturing processes.
12 videos
- Video: Construction Projects and Industry Characteristics
- Video: Challenges and Opportunities in the Construction Industry
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on construction industry
- Video: Program Project and Construction Management Introduction
- Video: Construction Management and Project Management
- Video: Program Management and Summary
- Video: Construction vs Manufacturing Industry Basics
- Video: Compare and Contrast the Construction and Manufacturing Industries
- Video: The Future of the Construction Industry
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on construction vs manufacturing
- Video: Introduction to the EAC Life Cycle
- Video: The Cost of Change in the EAC Lifecycle
- Video: Key EAC Lifecycle Questions
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on EAC
Graded: Quiz on Construction Industry Overview
WEEK 2
Project Delivery
Professor Odeh introduces the fundamentals of the Project Development Cycle. Phillip White, a lawyer with the international firm Dentons, provides insight into Contract Types. William J. McConnell, CEO of the Vertex Companies, reviews the basics of surety bonding and Tim McManus, Vice President of Capital Projects and Infrastructure Projects at McKinsey and Company, discusses Project Delivery Methods and Surety Bonds.
11 videos
- Video: Project Development Cycle Part 2
- Video: Contract Types
- Video: Project Delivery Methods
- Video: Contracting Strategy Assessment
- Video: CM at Risk and CM as Agency
- Video: Alliance Contracting and Public Private Partnerships
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on project delivery methods
- Video: Types of Surety Bonds
- Video: Purchasing a Surety Bond
- Video: Terminating a Surety Bond
- Video: Surety Loss Data
Graded: Quiz on project delivery
Lean Project Delivery
Architect Sam Spada, discusses the Lean Project Delivery method and Lean Design Behaviors. Lean project delivery is a project management process that strips away unnecessary effort, time and cost in the planning, design and construction of capital projects to deliver what the Owner values.
3 videos
- Video: Lean Design and Delivery
- Video: Lean Design: Flow
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion Lean construction
Graded: Lean construction
WEEK 3
Sustainability in the Construction Industry
Ryan Prime, Sustainability Director for Skanska USA, discusses Sustainable Development; development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Ryan will also review sustainability rating systems focusing specifically on the Envision Rating System.
5 videos
- Video: Safety in Construction Industry
- Video: Community Involvement in a Construction Project
- Video: Rating Systems for Construction Projects
- Video: The Envision Rating System
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on sustainability in construction
Graded: Sustainability in construction
Environment, Health and Safety of Construction Processes
Paul Haining, Chief Environmental Officer for Skanska USA, stresses the importance of Environmental, Health and Safety in Construction Processes.
5 videos
- Video: Barriers to Learning and Change
- Video: Safety Performance Models
- Video: Safety, Health and Environment Management Systems
- Video: Making EHS Work for You
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on EHS
Graded: EHS
WEEK 4
Building Information Modeling and Technology Trends in Construction
Dareen Salama of the STV Group introduces Building Information Management (BIM) and illustrates the uses of BIM during the Lifecycle of the Project.
5 videos
- Video: The Role of CM and Design Management
- Video: Technology and The Role of CM
- Video: Technology and The Role of Facility Management
- Video: Virtual Reality in Construction Management
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on tech trends in construction
Graded: Technology trends in construction
International View of Construction Projects
Bob Preto, Chairman and CEO of Strategic Program Management LLC, discusses international development and construction projects. The major challenge of international projects is risk; understanding risk, allocating risk and managing risk. In this module, you will learn to identify the types of risks found in international construction projects and learn a framework to use to understand risk.
4 videos
- Video: Cost Risks: Construction Projects
- Video: Cost Risks: Operations
- Video: ESPIRIT: A Framework for Understanding Risk
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on International Development
Graded: International development
WEEK 5
Role of a Construction Manager
Gus Maimis, Senior Vice President STV Construction, discusses the critical characteristics of a project manager and the most important aspects of being an effective project manager. You will learn how to build a project organizational chart and the understand the most common roles in a construction project. Gus provides insight into various methods of contracting a project manager may encounter when managing a project. The module ends with a review of the potential risks, from the project manager perspective, associated with a project.
7 videos
- Video: The Project Organizational Chart
- Video: Methods of Contracting
- Video: Potential Project Risks
- Video: Logistics and Planning
- Video: Bidding and Levelling Sheets
- Video: Change Order and Claim Management
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion on the role of PM
Graded: Role of a project manager
Introduction to Project Planning
Professor Odeh discusses the importance of project planning and scheduling. Planning provides a way to develop a framework for project execution, monitoring, and control. You will learn about and develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for a project.
This module also covers standards and project coding in construction projects. You will learn how to define construction plans and build your activity list within a standard coding system. Project coding systems provide the framework for project planning and control as a means of communication.
9 videos
- Video: The Project Planning Process
- Video: Work Breakdown Structure
- Video: Standard and Project Coding Part
- Video: Project Coding
- Video: Estimating Activity Duration Part 1
- Video: Estimating Activity Duration Part 2
- Video: Determining Job Logic
- Video: Activity Relationships
Graded: Develop a WBS of an Office Building
Graded: Building a Job Logic Diagram for a Facility Storage
Graded: Quiz on Introduction to Project Planning
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