Series · One part every Friday
Construction project management, from a civil engineer's desk
A weekly series on how construction projects are really run, seen from the owner's side of the table: who decides what, where money and time leak, and the simple controls that protect both.
How it will work
- Seven parts that follow the life of a building or road project, from the first idea to the keys.
- Each part ends with a checklist an owner can use in the next meeting.
- Examples come from roads, public programs and healthcare buildings, always with the details anonymized.
The case
The first part explains what a construction project is made of and who is on the team. The related guides below already cover contracts, earned value and scope control.
The outline
7 parts, one every week.
The first part is planned for Fri Oct 23 and the last for Fri Dec 4. Titles and dates may change as I write. Each part links here as soon as it is published, and the series calendar shows all five series together.
- 01What a construction project is really made ofFri Oct 23
- 02The owner's representative: protecting the owner's interestFri Oct 30
- 03Contracts, notices and change ordersFri Nov 6
- 04The schedule: critical path and the three-week look-aheadFri Nov 13
- 05Cost control: budget, forecast and contingencyFri Nov 20
- 06Quality gates, inspections and reworkFri Nov 27
- 07Closeout and handover: finishing is a phaseFri Dec 4
Be first
Get each part when it is published.
One short email per part. No spam. You can also suggest what the series should cover.
Read meanwhile
Guides that already cover parts of this.
How a Clinic Opens on Time: Project Management in Healthcare Construction
Four clinics, four budgets, one opening date each. What building healthcare spaces teaches about schedule, scope and handoff.
Interactive tool: Opening-day readiness
10
Contract Risks That Quietly Cost Projects Money (and How to Prevent Them)
Most project disputes start in a contract nobody reread. The clauses, calendars and habits that protect schedule, budget and relationships.
Interactive tool: Contract readiness check
07
Earned Value in Plain English: Know If a Project Is Really on Track
Spending 45% of the budget means nothing until you know how much work it bought. Four numbers and two ratios tell you if a project is on track.
Interactive tool: Earned value calculator
16
What a Construction Site Can Teach Your Startup About Deadlines
Nobody pours concrete "when it feels right." Here is how job sites protect deadlines, and how a startup can borrow the habit.
Interactive tool: Deadline reality check
05
Stop Scope Creep: How to Say Yes, No and Not Yet
Scope creep is rarely one big mistake. It is fifty small yeses. How to define scope, control change and keep clients and sponsors happy.
Interactive tool: Scope-control check
More in the guides library and the free templates. Also coming: One project, step by step, through the PMBOK lens, Project Focus for business success, AI for small business, step by step, Utah business, run like a project.
Next step
Let's find the project that moves your business.
Tell me where things are stuck. I will tell you which project I would start with.