Managing projects - The importance of process
An absolutely integral part of having a successful project, and by successful we mean one that commences on time and is finished on time and within budget, is the planning approval process.
Blogger: Jacon Parry, principal, Subdivision and Construction Management
This process can and often does have an impact on the scheduling of the job, no matter if it's a simple subdivision or a building contract or combination of both.
The approval process starts at the initial planning stage, not after approval is received from the relevant authority. The approval process starts with understanding the scope of work and familiarisation with the property through a site visit and research of all available records such as zoning, drainage locations to just name a couple.
In planning this process I like to see the finished project in my minds eye and work backwards. That's not the only approach that I take of course, but I find it useful never the less. After all, having the approval package complete at the beginning of the project helps avoid expensive and otherwise avoidable delays that may occur during the course of the project.
Aside from the job at hand approval permits will often involve other related legislation such as Workplace Health and Safety to protect both site personnel and members of the public. Lack of knowledge in respect to these requirements and their on site implications could result in your project being closed down.
Any project requires input from a whole variety of professions from Designers to Draftsmen, Engineers to Earthmovers but for it to be a successful project it takes planning and coordination and sequencing of this variety of service providers.
This requires Teamwork and the formation of respectful and trusting relationships.
I enjoy building relationships with the many professionals involved in this process and indeed over the years have built up very good and useful relationships with many building and development related service providers to the benefit of our clients. This is all part of being a Project Manager.
Making the appropriate investment right at the very beginning of a project will help ensure that it's a successful one. When I say "at the beginning" I mean at the time that you decide that you'd like to do it. As we say, we can take your project all the way from Concept to Completion.
Jacon Parry
Not only does Jacon bring experience gained over 20 + years to his role as a project manager at Subdivision & Contract Management, he also brings insight gained through successful completion of his own projects, something which many project managers are unable to claim.
His experience spans the whole property development process from site investigation through design, DA & BA processes to construction, Compliance, Plan sealing & Titling and what’s more he is licensed.