Construction and Business Management

Overview

The module aims to enhance the students' awareness of developments in the field of construction management with emphasis on projects’ sustainability appraisal, life cycle costing, multi-criteria value analysis and management, project performance evaluation methods, Health &Safety regulations and construction equipment management. Then, in relation to general business management, enhance the students’ awareness of Entrepreneurship, business accounting procedures (balance sheets and profit and loss accounts), aspects of employment law.

Learning Objectives

• Management of project interactions with is economic, social and natural environment
• Life-cycle costing and value management
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Investment appraisal
• Project progress and performance evaluation methods
• Construction equipment uses, productivity and management
• An overview of the CDM Regulations – how they have developed over time and their impact on project risk reduction and management
• Entrepreneurship
• Various aspects of financial management in construction companies and engineering work
• Human resource management aspects in organisations including leadership, personnel management, and recruitment.

• Ability to analyse and apply methods and decision making techniques to appraise projects’ lifecycle costs, value, benefits, sustainability and financial viability
• Ability to apply methods for project cost and time performance evaluation and monitoring
• Ability to solve problems in construction equipment management and fleet cost optimisation
• Develop an understanding of the entrepreneurial aspects of the business process
• Understand how company accounts are presented
• Have an awareness of the financial health and status of companies through their published accounts
• Develop an understanding of the statutory and legal aspects of the human resource recruitment and management

Skills

On completion of the course, students will have a broad understanding of construction management aspects mainly related with cost, value, economic and financial sustainability, performance, health and safety and equipment management. They will have developed an awareness of the various functions that a construction project manager performs. Have an ability to read and understand information pertaining to company finances - including balance sheets and profit and loss accounts. Know how to become involved in recruitment processes and general human resource management. Know how to pursue entrepreneurial ideas.
• solve project management problems through relevant analysis and calculation methods
• solve construction equipment management problems through relevant analysis and calculation methods
• develop entrepreneurial ideas
• work within teams
• develop solutions for financial/commercial management
• develop solutions for human resource management
• learn independently

Assessment

None