Don’t get blanket approvals on drawings or designs without each one being marked as approved by the client.

A client may send documentation stating that the designs or drawings are approved for construction, but unless they mark each drawing as approved and return them to you, you have no proof that they actually did review each of them. Without the marked approval, the client could deny they saw a particular drawing or design.

Get each design or drawing individually marked as approved.

Tagged with: approval

Filed under: Client • Design • Documentation

Make sure that the contract specifies the length of time allowed for approvals or decisions.

When drawings or documents are sent to the client for approval, you need to know (and specify) when they will be approved.

Allow for this time in your plan, and make sure the client knows this is in the plan.

Be sure that the contract specifies what will happen if approvals are delayed beyond the specified time (extra payments, extensions of time, etc).

Tagged with: approval

Filed under: Client • Communication • Contract • Planning • Time

If a project must be handed over to another project manager (because of resignation or reallocation) make sure to have a formal handover meeting.

The original PM should prepare a status document of the project as it stands now.

Documenting the physical aspects of what is happening.

• Who knows what is happening.
• Summary of all team members and responsibility.
• Summary of project so new PM can see it all in just a few pages (not the whole QA system).
• Site address
• Contacts
• List of main scope
• List of main suppliers
• Equipment.
• Problems, things to watch out for
• Tips, etc.

Make sure it is all in writing, not just a verbal hand over.
If possible, it is much better to keep the same project manager and design team on the project until completion.
Also, when staff are being changed in the project, increase the quality review measures to reduce the risk of mistakes.

Tagged with: handover • meeting • resignation • summary

Filed under: Communication • Documentation • Human Resources

Always act professionally in dealing with everyone involved with the project, even people just visiting or on site.

Many people on construction sites may act in what is often expected as typical behaviour (language, personal habits, criticism of others).

As the project manager it is important to not join in with that, but to act professionally.

This can give the client, visitors, or other stakeholders a good impression and better confidence in your work.

Particularly don’t criticise anyone in public. Besides making that person angry or embarrassed, it could be heard by clients and assumed to mean there are problems with the project. Keep all criticisms private (between you and the person).

Refrain from criticising third persons, as the person you are talking with will come to know you as a criticiser.

Professional behaviour increase client confidence and can lead to other contracts with them or with other witnesses.

Tagged with: behaviour • confidence • criticism • good impression • professional • professionalism

Filed under: Client • Communication

If a client representative asks or instructs you to do something on site (of any value or lasting effect) get it in writing before doing it.

For example, if the scope calls for a certain size concrete slab, but the client on site asks for it to be made larger, get it in writing before proceeding.

The person you get the written instruction from must be authorized to instruct you (not just a site operator or employee, it should be the project manager or his representative, who should be documented).

Tagged with: instructions

Filed under: Client • Communication • Documentation • Scope

Make sure contractors are aware of the details of designs.
E.g. types or colours of pipe, colours of wires, flange types required.

Make sure those details are in the contract between you and them.

Make sure any reminders you give them on details are in writing (and recorded).

Tagged with: details

Filed under: Contractors • Design • Documentation