Teamwork and collaboration can make or break a project’s success. When it comes to managing construction, one of the project manager’s responsibilities is to ensure that everyone is working together and finishing their respective tasks on schedule and within budget. To build a good team structure, everyone involved in the project, from the top management team to the builders, engineers, and building workers, must communicate and collaborate closely. There is no way to organize a successful building project team, so it is important to understand the jobs and tasks that make up a normal team.
A company may hire experts who are the best in their field, spend on cutting-edge technology, and have the most digital and modern tools. Still, these resources would be wasted if the team working on the building project did not work towards the same goal.
In this article, let us discuss who are your construction project team and how you can boost communication and collaboration in your organization.
Who Are Your Construction Project Team?
As with any team, the organization of a construction project team is based on their tasks and responsibilities. No matter the field, teams should have a top management executive, a project executive, and a building project manager. These three people are the pillars of good construction management. A construction crew may also have architects, planners, engineers, and quality inspectors. These people will be in charge of the technical parts of the job.
Top Management Leaders
These people leaders are at the top of the organization chart, which shows the team’s order. They are responsible for setting the project’s general goals, strategies, budget, and schedule. As the most powerful decision-makers in charge of the big picture, top management leaders make business choices that will shape a company’s future. They are composed of the following:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
The CEO is in charge of running the business. They have the responsibility of setting the overall direction and goals of the company.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The CFO handles financial resources, makes financial records for the company, and monitors all financial actions. They are responsible for keeping track of the company’s profitability and protecting its bottom line. They handle long-term planning using risk studies and methods to keep costs down.
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
The COO is in charge of the day-to-day management and logistics of the business. They monitor closely if operations are going according to plan and make sound decisions to prevent any roadblock that can affect daily processes. They carry out the CEO’s plans and policies and make sure that operations, planning, and performance are done well in a project team setting.
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
The CMO tries to build the company’s image in the digital market, grow its social presence, and get more clients. They are in charge of the company s branding and reputation. Targeted programs, ads, and other forms of digital marketing help spread the company’s message to more people.
Project Managers
Project managers are in charge of managing large-scale building projects. They talk to clients more often and keep an eye on the day-to-day work of the project. Their job requires them to spend most of their time in the office and occasionally visit the building site. Because of this, most managers utilize construction scheduling software to get an overview of what is happening in the project. This lets them access updated information with just a few simple clicks, whether at the office or the site.
Architects
Even though architects do not usually do building work, they are still important to the team. The main job of an architect is to plan projects and ensure they meet the client’s needs. Usually, at the beginning of a project, construction companies hire planners to work on it. Architects work with the rest of the design team to develop a design and plan that meets the client’s wants and standards.
Interior Designer
Interior designers are professionals who work closely with builders and engineers to make the inside of buildings more comfortable and aesthetically beautiful. They combine everything in a building, from the structure to the furniture and decorations, to make a place that flows well.
Structural Engineers
As architects finish designing and building a future project, project managers take care of the financial, legal, and organizational details, and structural engineers make sure that all buildings and structures meet safety standards. Structural engineers are an important part of every building project, whether it’s a home, a business, a school, or a sports center. They ensure the building’s safe design conforms to the codes, rules, and regulations.
Electrical Engineers
Modern society runs on electricity, and it’s the job of electrical experts to ensure that all wiring systems are safe and up to date. Electrical experts visit the spot to use their skills to check the wiring systems and make sure they meet all safety rules.
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical site engineers build projects using many specialized tools and machines. This means they must know how to use and care for the building equipment. Some of the things a mechanical engineer does are keeping an eye on and supervising project equipment installation, disassembly, and upkeep, and checking and testing tools to see if there are any problems.
Construction Managers
A construction manager is someone who handles the job site. They ensure everyone on the team is working together, handle the expected budget, ensure the right materials are bought, and keep the building timeline on track. Through efficient construction crew management, construction managers ensure that everyone completes their tasks on time while keeping productivity levels high.
Subcontractors
Subcontractors are expert workers who do a set of jobs the general builder gives them. Subcontractors usually specialize in a certain area, like concrete, electrical, plumbing, or even painting. They are independent workers who are usually contracted and often do not work directly for the owner. Instead, subcontractors answer to the general contractor or the person in charge. You can utilize subcontractor scheduling software to communicate with them and see their progress.
Vendors
Vendors are hired to provide, bring, and set up the goods needed for a job. As a supplier, you should offer warranties and promises for your products. It is critical to work closely with vendors to ensure that these items are delivered on time and in good shape.
Field Engineer or Site Clerk
Field engineers, also called “site clerks,” help the building crew on-site. They are expected to work with all teams, help with day-to-day activities, and take notes. Field engineers always keep up-to-date building plans in mind as they go about their daily work and report to the general manager or director. This entry-level job is perfect for anyone wanting to get hands-on training in the field.
Quality Control and Assurance
Quality assurance (QA) or quality control (QC) engineers ensure that a building project meets all its requirements and follows the industry’s rules. They are experts who check every building process step to ensure the project is being built correctly. They often have a long list of tasks to do and must meet the highest standards of the client.
Project Administrator
If there is no junior project manager, it will be up to the project supervisor or administrator to coordinate and handle all the paperwork for a building project.
General Foreman
A general foreman has the most important job on the job site. They oversee the project’s workers, suppliers, and day-to-day operations. General supervisors are in charge of managing employees, keeping an eye on safety and quality, making schedules, and coordinating the work of everyone on the job site. They must also read plans and sketches correctly and know much about building codes, safety rules, and engineering principles. They work closely with the project manager and construction manager to ensure the project will be completed on schedule and within budget.
Trade Foreman
A “trade foreman,” also called a “working foreman,” is in charge of teams that do a certain type of work. They oversee ironwork, woodworking, and electrical work on a normal building site. They ensure that their employees’ work meets quality and safety standards. They also manage the materials they need for their business and tell the team how to build things correctly.
How To Ensure That Project Teams Work Well Together
Now that you know who your team members are, it is easy to see why smooth communication and collaboration is critical. Most project teams have people with different skills and ways of doing things. One small miscommunication can significantly affect the project’s schedule, budget, and bottom line. Even managers with a lot of experience sometimes need help dealing with them well.
With multiple schedules and pressure from management or clients, losing sight of your goal to keep a shared and collaborative environment in project management can be easy.
This section lists a few tips and tricks to help boost collaboration and teamwork.
Be As Open As Possible
Project openness is another way to determine if you want to be a successful leader or just someone with a leadership position. Aside from private or secret information, there is no good reason to hide data from your team. If your team knows the project goals and where they are, they will work harder and be more driven to do the job.
Ensure That Everyone Is Involved
If you want to get a good level of teamwork in your projects, you have to involve everyone with a stake in them in the decision-making process. When everyone is involved, people come up with new ideas and learn from each other. This effect not only helps you do better as a whole, but it also helps your team get better.
Remove Barriers
Even though it sounds like a cliche, removing physical barriers between your team members can bring them closer together and make it easier for them to interact. Even some bosses have an open-door strategy so that they are easier to get in touch with. This encourages your crew to ask questions, and they will not be afraid or intimidated to say what is wrong. Such nonverbal messages are important because teams work better when people know they can ask for help.
Increase Employee Retention and Engagement
A team that is happy and driven will always do much better. Taking the time to do fun things with your team and celebrate important goals is a great way to motivate them.
Utilize Digital Tools and Technology
Modern projects are hard to handle, and you can only do it with a simple worksheet. It would help to have the right project communication tools to share changes, files, and other information to stay on top of things. Tools like construction crew dispatch software can make working together easier and keeping track of things are also important for success.
