Project Management Fundamentals

• Students will be able to identify and articulate key project management components: planning, scheduling, coordination, and follow-up.
• Students will be able to compare and contrast project delivery methods, such as Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and Construction Management.
• Advantages and disadvantages get assessed to determine the most suitable approach for interior design projects.

Project Management

• Planning and coordination are a necessity to complete projects.
• Concentrated management effort is needed in addition to design and production.
• Project management consists of planning, scheduling, monitoring, coordinating and directing, documenting, closing out the job and client follow-up.

Project Management Responsibilities

• Project manager ideally occupies the central role between the contractor, regulatory agencies, firm principles, client, consultants, staff, and project designer.

Checklist of Activities

• Key activities include: scheduling, time estimation, consultant participation, organization, tracking, meeting schedules, team leadership, documentation, processing orders, checking time and cost estimates, coordinating documents, completing closeout, and conducting follow-ups.

Scheduling

• Design time, and construction and Installation time are the two major parts of a project schedule.
• Designers develop the schedule for the job's design and contract documents.
• Designers may schedule ordering, delivery, and installation of furniture.
• Construction scheduling is the responsibility of the contractor.
• Designers need to estimate the entire project schedule to provide a general idea of total time to the client.

Design and Construction Document Scheduling

• Designers must estimate the time needed to complete the design and construction drawing production.
• A good method is by phases like programming or schematic phases.
• Designers use time records and experience to assign estimated time, usually in hours or days, to individual work tasks.

Required Time

• The time required for various schedules depend on factors like project size, complexity, number of people working on the project, abilities and design methodology of the team, type of client, and decision-making and approval processes, as well as fixed dates.
• Gantt charts are a common, simple scheduling method.

Coordination

• Interior designers coordinate their office's efforts as well as the building team's efforts under contractual agreement.
• Key coordination efforts include design office, consultant, and code requirement coordination.

Design Office Coordination

• Project management is people-oriented.
• Project management success relies on understanding interpersonal relationships in a business setting.
• It's important to clarify expectations, be sensitive to manager-subordinate relationships, provide opportunities for staff growth, recognize individuals, evaluate performance, resolve conflicts, and have open communication.

Consultant Coordination

• The interior designer or project manager coordinates consultants.
• Consultants provide drawings, specifications, and valuable advice in early project stages.
• Consultants may include architects, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers, and other specialists.

Follow-Up

• A job isn't done until the client moves in.
• Problems and complaints are common in the first weeks of occupation, so designers should offer assistance.
• Offering to have the contractor correct defects, advice on furniture adjustments, provide building controls, and answer questions is key.

Advantages of Follow-Up

• Good impression of the firm leads to references and satisfied clients.
• Maintains contacts with the client and organization for future business.
• Provides opportunities for in-use evaluation, which can be used for future projects.

Tasks

• Regular meetings with the client during the "shake-down" period are important for answering questions.
• A client manual with operating instructions, maintenance, guarantees, and contact information helps to deal with expendable items and is compiled by the interior designer.
• Sending the client copies of professional photographs, and establishing meetings for long-term follow-up are great practices.

Project Delivery Methods

• Every delivery method has 3 major participants: the designer or architect, the owner or client, and the contractor who builds and coordinates subcontractors, fabricators, and suppliers.
• The three delivery methods are design-bid-build, design-build, and construction management, with both manager as advisor and manager as constructor types, and project management.

Method Selection

• Method selection depends on project size, complexity, schedule, risk assignments, and the client's need for guaranteed cost.