Analytical Survey And Assessment For A Cross Training Program In Construction Project Management

As a result of technology advancements moving at speeds that were never envisioned, it has become mandatory for Project Management to be proficient in the major areas that support and quantify the activities that result in project completions being “on-time and within budget.” Project Control provides the data and metric interface used to develop the information needed to manage a project based on the interrelationships of cost and value. The problem addressed in this study was to identify the need for a training program specifically addressing cost engineering, planning/scheduling and estimating and to develop and evaluate a single module of a basic project control curriculum overview and outline. A commercial model to support the development of a crosstraining program for project control personnel was also outlined. Questionnaires were distributed to 20 senior construction Project Management personnel to perform a needs assessment for this training program, to cross-train personnel with skills and information between elements of project control. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the information received from the sample population. Results of these Questionnaires were as follows. • A composite attitude of project control personnel was revealed by the review and survey showing that control personnel were considered as specialists by their peers. • There is a need to enhance the skills of project control personnel with cross-training to assist them in dealing with corporate problems solving. • Areas of skills and knowledge enhancement, use of computer software and improved math skills were identified as desired contents for training programs. Specifically addressed were undergraduate computer abilities which are currently considered basic computer skills, however, not included in the typical Construction Engineering/ Technology Educational programs. • Elements from the curriculum overview identified for inclusion in a cross-training program were (1) Types of contractual relationships, (2) Construction Contract types, and (3) Basic contract documents, but there was no total uniform consensus for use of the module presented. • Responses from the survey identified specific areas that should be addressed by the Educational system in the areas of basic engineering and technology real world skills. Computer programs identified in the survey covered general areas that provided a broad basic format for all Engineering/Technology applications in the workplace. Currently, most Educational programs are not addressing these basic computer skills needed for employers. This covers the development of the basic analytical and project management P ge 694.1 Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright (c)2001, American Society for Engineering Education tools which provide the required computer skills to college graduates. A better scholastically trained graduate would be more effective and can be trained sooner in company specific needs Survey responses also indicated that new program management personnel with BS degrees in most Construction Engineering/Technology programs have large learning curves to grasp the basic analyses needed for project management. The College arena was sited as the most appropriate place for providing the basic learning process of management tools in project control. Significance of this study showed that a need was identified for the continued study and development of formal cross-training programs in Engineering/Construction specifically addressing project controls, estimating, cost engineering, planning/scheduling and project analysis.