Hello,
I invested a lot in planning, project management through certifications, training, reading and a Masters degree in Construction Management with 3.9 GPA.
After all of this work, when I am meeting contractors for interviews, I try to explain to them that planning is much more than a schedule on Primavera or just drawing bar charts. I explain to them that I need to study the labor's productivity on site then evaluate the equipment productivities through the best practices based on material, site conditions, equipment, time, cost, angle of work(when applicable), area, skills, weather...etc then sit with the P.M. to disscuss the execution plan, labors..etc and after words build WBS , activities , upload cost and labor and will get a good schedule that helps us to control the project, finish on time, not run out from cash, prioretise activities and much more.
I get shocked that the ones that I have faced so far they want a bar chart, I can even draw with hand, and just give an estimation for work ex foundation work 50 days and fit the scheudle to the project duration to submit it to the consultant. They will give me a thusand dollar for this work that I can finish in 3-5 days. They want me to just keep doing this again and again for all the projects.
Big consultants (I dont know if they are better) want 15+ years experience which I dont have, and I don't want to do this kind of work with these contractors. I dont want to end up making fake schedules and at the same time I believe in the value of planning. Any advices or tips?
Thanks God, I have other source of income but I still want to work in the correct way in my profesion. Beside I really believe that planning and construction management help contractors but I dont know why they have this short vision. If any body has experience in the Middle East or about the situation in general please let me know.
Please no body tell me to take it easy and just do the wrong work.
Regards,
Mohammad Albakri, PMP, AC.
