Evaluation of Project Planning and Control Mechanisms in Construction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of project control mechanisms within the context of construction projects. It begins by emphasizing the critical role of project control in ensuring timely completion and mitigating risks. The main body delves into various control mechanisms, including cybernetic, go/no-go, and post-performance controls, detailing their functions, merits, and limitations. The report explores how these mechanisms influence project performance and identifies their relationship. The report also includes recommendations for implementing and designing new control systems, incorporating methods like BIM and EVM. The conclusion reiterates the importance of selecting appropriate control mechanisms based on project specifics and suggests the integration of various methods for effective project monitoring and successful outcomes. References include books and journals that support the research.

Project Planning and
Control

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
It is very important to control projects so that each activity is completed in given time. In
construction project the major problem faced by manager is ineffective control over projects.
Due to this many times project gets failed (Brady and et.al., 2018). The project manger is
responsible for implementing an effective control method to regulate and monitor projects. It is
necessary to do so through which changes can be made in process by taking effective decisions.
In this essay it has been examined about different control mechanism available for controlling
construction projects. Along with it, each mechanism pros and cons are discussed. Moreover, the
relationship between mechanism and project performance is described.
MAIN BODY
In recent times, project manager faces a common challenge which is related to effective
controlling of project. Due to this they are not able to take decisions regarding any change in
task. A project control plan is a document that consists of different methods and procedure which
helps in controlling project. It helps in gathering data and information about project progress.
With help of they understand time and cost outcomes for each activity. Basically, two major
principles of project control are cost and time, but apart from it other principles are planning and
scheduling, reporting, supplier performance, etc. These all helps in measuring performance of
project and estimating future potential. When a project is been controlled in effective way it
leads to its completion in deadline. Apart from it, deviations are found out and accordingly
changes are made.
Importance of project control
Project Controls are the data gathering, data management and analytical processes used to
predict, understand and constructively influence the time and cost outcomes of a project through
the communication of information in formats that assist effective management and decision
making (Fewings and Henjewele, 2019). It is stated that the success of construction project
highly depends on how manager is having an effective control over it. The main aim of
implementing this concept is to save time and cost for next activities. It also helps in optimizing
resources and cutting cost. However, if there occur any change in project, controlling allows in
finding out variances and taking effective measures on time. Controlling project allows project
manager to track status and develop plan that what next task has to be done. It also makes it easy
to maintain quality of project by measuring it with set standards. Another importance is
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mechanism provides a strategic direction of progress of project. The manager can make
adjustments in activities and procedure that is been followed. It gives proper measures and
instructions for team to be followed. The negative factors are removed which affects project
performance. Alongside it, manager is able to design further structure that what task will be
done. However, if there is any change in process it directly results in taking corrective actions.
Apart from it, there are several areas where project control is useful. They are described below :-
Scope - There are different people work in project. So, project control describes activities carried
out by each one with their outcomes. Therefore, whenever if any task is incomplete then
accordingly changes are made it to recover time and cost incurred in it. In this way scope of
project is controlled.
Deadline- It helps in meeting deadlines of activities and monitoring overall schedule. Moreover,
with this it is ensured that activities are in accordance with schedule. So, if there is any area of
margin then appropriate measures are developed to be taken.
Cost – A project control benefit in regulating flow of cost within project. With help of it, excess
or shortage can be fulfilled within specified time. Moreover, controlling cost allow in efficient
utilization of funds.
Risk – It is the major area where project control is useful (Harrison and Lock, 2017). Here,
risks related to project are identified and with immediate effect proper measures are taken.
Through this, there is change in activities which benefit in completing project on time.
Types of control mechanism
In order to control construction projects there are various mechanisms available. It
depends on type and size of project that what mechanism is suitable and can be applied (Project
control mechanism. 2016). The control mechanism is a process that contains methods through
which monitoring of project is done. It helps in taking effective decision regarding what changes
have to be made so that project is completed on time. Generally there are three types of control
mechanism that are as follows :-
Cybernetic control – It is a mechanism in which focus is on outputs. In this if results are not
attained then loopholes are identified. Then, changes are been taken with regard to schedule.
This mechanism is used to reduce deviation within project. This benefit in comparison and
identifying deviation. Thus, changes are made which improved project performance. It is most
commonly used and is strongly connected with project performance. In this there are some
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standards that are set for measuring performance of each stage. By this variances are figured out.
So, in next stage proper planning is done to remove those variances. For example- if cost
incurred is more and in next task it is reduced than this overall improves project effectiveness. In
similar way resources are utilised efficiently throughout the project (Kerzner and Kerzner,
2017). Therefore, deficiencies are determined and improvements are made. In this way overall
project performance is improved.
Merits –
 As it focuses on outputs, there us great improvement in future results. The outcomes are
compared with set standards, this makes it easy to analyse it.
 The loopholes identified are corrected with immediate effect.
Deficiencies
 If there is any change in process no changes are made in it, as only outputs are analysed.
So, the overall project procedure is ignored.
Go/No- go control- In this mechanism the tasks are analysed and some pre conditions are
formed. It is ensured those pre conditions are met before task is undertaken. But this mechanism
is used in specific part of project. The control variables are linked to plans and not set
independently on calendar. In this the pre conditions are applied. So, the risks that can occur are
already mitigated. This enables in reducing time and cost. Alongside it, the control measures are
included in plan. Through this, performance of project is improved. It is related to project
performance as it sets out some conditions before conducting activity. This is done by analysing
task so the level of risk is decreased. So, the members perform task in effective. Also, the
constraints are removed which enhances project quality.
Merits
 It is linked with actual plans so no changes are made in schedule of project
 It helps in removing constraints related to each task.
Deficiencies
This mechanism is used only in specific part of project. So, it is not applicable in improving
overall project effectiveness (Pellerin and Perrier, 2018).
Post performance control- This control mechanism is applied after completing project. Here,
main objective is to focus on future projects by identifying deficiencies in current project. It is
related to project performance as the changes are done in future ones. So, this gives an insight to
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manager about what deviations has been occurred in previous project and how control measures
were applied. Hence, manager considers those measures and recommendations before
undertaking similar projects.
Merits
 The measures are taken after completion so it improves future projects and increases
efficiency.
 By following this measure, the future project efficiency is improved. This is because
manager already avoids those risks that occurred in previous ones.
Deficiencies
 In future project the changes may occur in different way.
 The project is affected already because no control measure is taken.
These all project control mechanisms are related to project performance. It can be
implemented in construction project along with methods. There are various projects control
methods used in construction. Usually, methods are BIM, EVM and LBM. They are not control
mechanism but is used to monitor overall project. It can be evaluated that there is need of proper
project control mechanism in construction. The adoption of methods will enable in successful
completion of project. It will provide a framework through which monitoring can be done.
The importance of adopting cybernetic control mechanism in construction project is it
will help in finding out deviations in activities. This will be highly useful in measuring cost and
resources required in each stage of construction (Marier-Bienvenue, Pellerin and Cassivi,
2017). Also, it is useful in utilising resources in efficient way in different stages. Moreover, if
cost is reduced in one stage than automatically overall project cost is decreased as well. By
eliminating loopholes time of completing project reduces. However, it helps in controlling
schedule of project that whether activities are carrying out in right direction or not. This
mechanism allows manager to compare each project stage. So, the variables are determined
which makes it easy to process further. Hence, overall risks of project failure reduces.
Furthermore, controlling enables in finding out variances in activities. For example – the quality
of raw materials like sand, bricks, cement, etc. can be measured with set standards to maintain
overall quality of construction project. So, it allows manager to measure quality with standards in
all stages. The changes can be made by taking effective decisions.
Recommendations
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There are some recommendations that can be followed in order to implement and design
a new control system. This is because it will help in modifying process through which project
can be controlled and monitored. Also, goals and objectives can be attained in specified time. It
enables in giving structure or procedure of how project can be controlled. Thus, the system can
be designed in following ways :-
 The requirements can be identified according to scope and size of construction project. It
will give description of what are requirements and what standards can be set.
 Also, in control mechanism roles and responsibilities of project manager and
management can be determined.
 Some methods like BIM, EVM, etc. can be used in designing of control mechanism. It
will help in integrating mechanism with method and then monitoring construction project
(Fewings and Henjewele, 2019). Using of these two methods will benefit in analysing
deviations and taking proper measures. Here, with particular method a separate
mechanism can be used.
 The mechanism can be designed by identifying cost and resource requirements. It may
help in monitoring project on basis of cost. So, it will be easy for manager to implement
specific mechanism on basis of budget or project.
 The system can also be designed by categorising risk assessment. It will be easy to
formulate procedure on how controlling can be done.
CONCLUSION
Hereby, it can be concluded that control mechanism helps in managing all activities of
project. The main principle of project control is to identify variances and take appropriate
measures to mitigate its negative impact. There are different project control mechanism like
cybernetic, post performance control and go/no- go control. These all are having certain merits
and limitations. Also, mechanism is applied on basis of project undertaken. In construction
projects, cybernetic mechanism is applied. In this control system can be implemented on basis of
nature and size of project. Furthermore, some methods like EVM, BIM, etc. can be used as well
to design system. It will be beneficial in successful monitoring and completion of construction
project.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brady, D. A. and et.al., 2018. Improving transparency in construction management: a visual
planning and control model. Engineering, Construction and Architectural
Management. 25(10). pp.1277-1297.
Fewings, P. and Henjewele, C., 2019. Construction project management: an integrated
approach. Routledge.
Harrison, F. and Lock, D., 2017. Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H. R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Lock, D., 2017. The essentials of project management. Routledge.
Marier-Bienvenue, T., Pellerin, R. and Cassivi, L., 2017. Project planning and control in social
and solidarity economy organizations: a literature review. Procedia computer science. 121.
pp.692-698.
Pellerin, R. and Perrier, N., 2018. A review of methods, techniques and tools for project planning
and control. International Journal of Production Research. pp.1-19
Online
Project control mechanism. 2016. [Online] Available through :
<http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/projects/project-control-mechanism-3-types-of-
project-control-mechanism/24442>
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