The key to successful project control is the fusing of cost to schedule whereby the management of one helps to manage the other. Project Control: Integrating Cost and Schedule in Construction explores the reasons behind and the methodologies for proper planning, monitoring, and controlling both project costs and schedule. Filling a current void the topic of project control applied to the construction industry, it is essential reading for students and professionals alike.

WAYNE J. DEL PICO, CPE, is President of W. J. Del Pico, Inc., which provides construction management, litigation support services for construction-related matters, and construction education. He has more than thirty years of experience in construction project management and estimating and has been involved in projects throughout the United States. His professional experience includes private commercial construction, public construction, retail construction, and residential land development and construction.

Chapter One The Basics

The Concept of Project Management

History of Project Management

Approaches to Project Management

The Traditional Approach

The Initiating Process

The Planning Process

The Executing Process

The Monitoring and Controlling Process

The Closing Process

Benefits of Proper Planning

The Role of the Project Manager

Lead the Project Team

Create the Project Plan

Develop the Project Schedule

Monitor the Progress of the Project

Control the Project

Take Corrective Action

Achieve the Project Goals

Goals of the Project

Contractual Performance Obligations

Financial Objectives

Prevent or Minimize Delay

Avoid Claims or Litigation

Control the O-P-C Relationship

Increase Market Share

Role of the Contract Documents

Study the Plans and Specifications

Identify Discrepancies Early

Visit the Project Site

Understand the Project Constraints

Determine Potential Problem Areas

Understand Contract Procedures

The Schedule and Budget

Summary

Chapter Two Introduction to Project Control

Overview of Project Control

Project Control Terminology

Project Control Formulas

The Project Control Cycle

Plan to Achieve Goals

Execute Work According to Plan

Measure the Progress

Identify Variations

Analyze Cause of Variations

Implement Corrective Actions

Execute Work and Measure Changes

Summary

Chapter Three Pre-Construction Planning

Initiating the Control Process

Pre-Construction Planning

Key Personnel & Responsibilities

The Contractor’s Group

The Design Professional’s Group

Owner’s Group

Regulatory Group

The Plan; The Roadmap

Establishing a Baseline for Schedule Control

Establishing a Baseline for Cost Control

The Communication Plan

Summary

Chapter Four The Schedule

Basic Scheduling Concepts

Types of Schedules

The Checklist

The Schedule Board

The Bar Chart

The Look Ahead

The Linear Schedule

Advanced Scheduling Methods

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

Critical Path Method (CPM)

The CPM Schedule as a Management Tool

Tasks

The Work Breakdown Structure

Task Types

Task Descriptions

Task Durations

Interdependencies

Complex Relationships; Lags and Leads

Milestones and Constraints

Float

Updating the Schedule

Summary

Chapter Five The Budget

Fundamentals of the Estimating Process

Types of Estimates

Organization of Estimates

The Budget

Deconstructing the Estimate to build the Budget

Project Cost Report

The Budget as a Management Tool

Summary

Chapter Six Integrating the Schedule and the Budget

Schedule of Values

Matching Cost Values to Tasks

Planned vs. Actual Values

Summary

Chapter Seven Calculating and Analyzing Progress

Measuring Performance

Units Completed

Incremental Milestone

Start /Finish

Cost Ratio

Experience/Opinion

Weighted or Equivalent Units

Earned Value

Fixed Budget Approach

Variable Budget Approach

Choosing a Fixed or Variable Approach

Schedule and Cost Performance

Summary

Chapter Eight Analyzing & Reporting Variances in Schedule and Cost

Understanding Project Analyses

S-Curves

Tracking Gantt Chart

Control Charts

SPI and CPI Charts

Causes of Variances

Cost Variances

Schedule Variances

Variance Thresholds

Root Cause Analysis

Reporting Project Status

Summary

Chapter Nine Recognizing Trends and Forecasting Performance

Recognizing Trends

Using Trends to Forecast

Estimate at Completion

Estimate to Complete

Variance at Completion

To-Complete Performance Index

Project Percentage Analysis

Summary

Chapter Ten Productivity

Understanding Productivity

Productivity Index

Factors Affecting Construction Productivity

Controllable Factors Affecting Productivity

Uncontrollable Factors Affecting Productivity

Recommendations for Improving Productivity

Summary

Chapter Eleven Acceleration and Schedule Compression

Acceleration

Actual Acceleration

Constructive Acceleration

Forced Acceleration

Schedule Compression

Time-Cost Tradeoff Analysis

Time-Cost Tradeoff Concepts

Recovery Schedule

Summary

Chapter Twelve Resource Management

Resources

Resource Allocation

Resource Management

Resource Profile

Splitting Tasks

Material Management

Material Management in Practice

Summary

Chapter Thirteen Risk Management

Risk Management

Risk Identification

Risk Assessment

Risk Response Plan

Risk Response Control

Risk Contingency Planning

Contingency Plan Funding

Probability Analysis

Contract Modifications Impact on Risk

Summary

Chapter Fourteen Project Closeout

Project Closeout

Objectives of the Closeout Process

Contract Closeout

Administrative Closeout

Archiving Project Files

Lessons Learned Meeting

Lessons Learned Documentation

Project Closeout Report

Summary