many of humanity’s greatest achievements e.g. the pyramids at Egypt, Taj Mahal, Salisbury cathedral, etc.
shelter
a basis for transportation system
investment
employment
a significant contribution to a nation’s economy
Common Sense, Perception, Illusion and Imagination
Construction practitioners by the nature of their work, pride themselves on their common sense and their ability to overcome obstacles. This is true to some extent because without practical ingenuity, few projects would be successfully built.
Sometimes common sense leads to erroneous conclusions. As an illustration, consider the two building details in (a) and (b).
Figure 1 a: Building Details
In Figure 1(a) which column is largest? Column 3?
Figure 1 b: Building Details
How would one design, quantify, bid or build the staircase shown in Figure 1(b)?
It can be argued that these figures are only visual illusions, similar to illusions of touch, temperature, time, and performance. These perceptual and cognitive illusions demonstrate an extremely important point. Many times, an individual’s common sense – attitudes, values, preconceptions, and prejudices blinds him to obvious realities.
Definition of Key Terms Used in Management
The key terms used in management include:
Management: The direction and supervision of resources towards the achievement of a defined goal within a timescale.
Controlling a business/industry
(The description of management is not limited to one area or discipline – there are some aspects of management that are expected to be achieved, regardless of which discipline or area of management).
Theory of Management: This can be defined as the general principles of controlling a business/industry, tested and contrasted with practice.
Direction: Instructions about how to do something.
Supervision: To be in charge of a piece of work/labour and making sure that everything is done correctly, safely etc.
Resources: Something that is required in order to do work. They include money equipment, people materials, information, skills, knowledge or any other item likely to be in limited supply.
Goal: A desired end. Something that you hope to achieve for example – quality of the building work.
Time Scale: The period of time that it takes for a project to happen or be completed.
Planning:
The act or process of setting out goals intended to be achieved, and what course of action should be used in achieving the goals;
Setting targets/time limits/course limits
Controlling:
Comparison of the actual performance of a process against the original plan;
It can also be defined as methods by which it is possible to establish and determine if work is being carried out as planned. A comparison is then made against the plan and variations are noted and analyzed;
There are three possible outcomes for each operation in construction work:
–It either remains the same;
–It is better; or
–It is worse
Forecasting: Looking into the future to try and assess the possible trend of events, which are likely to influence the conditions of the working situation, so that steps may be taken to overcome any difficulties before or soon as they arise.
Motivating:
The reason why somebody does something that involves hard work and effort or the reason somebody behaves in a particular way;
An incentive or encouragement given to induce hard work, effort, and high productivity.
Coordinating: The act of making parts of something, groups of people etc. work together in an efficient and organized way. (Integrating)
Communicating: Act of exchanging information, news, ideas, feelings, thoughts etc. with other people. Making known your ideas, feelings, and thoughts etc. known to other people, so that they understand them.
Organizing: Arranging for something to happen or to be provided.
Construction provides:
Common Sense, Perception, Illusion and Imagination
Construction practitioners by the nature of their work, pride themselves on their common sense and their ability to overcome obstacles. This is true to some extent because without practical ingenuity, few projects would be successfully built.
Sometimes common sense leads to erroneous conclusions. As an illustration, consider the two building details in (a) and (b).
It can be argued that these figures are only visual illusions, similar to illusions of touch, temperature, time, and performance. These perceptual and cognitive illusions demonstrate an extremely important point. Many times, an individual’s common sense – attitudes, values, preconceptions, and prejudices blinds him to obvious realities.
Definition of Key Terms Used in Management
Management: The direction and supervision of resources towards the achievement of a defined goal within a timescale.
Controlling a business/industry
(The description of management is not limited to one area or discipline – there are some aspects of management that are expected to be achieved, regardless of which discipline or area of management).
Theory of Management: This can be defined as the general principles of controlling a business/industry, tested and contrasted with practice.
Direction: Instructions about how to do something.
Supervision: To be in charge of a piece of work/labour and making sure that everything is done correctly, safely etc.
Resources: Something that is required in order to do work. They include money equipment, people materials, information, skills, knowledge or any other item likely to be in limited supply.
Goal: A desired end. Something that you hope to achieve for example – quality of the building work.
Time Scale: The period of time that it takes for a project to happen or be completed.
Planning:
Controlling:
– It either remains the same;
– It is better; or
– It is worse
Forecasting: Looking into the future to try and assess the possible trend of events, which are likely to influence the conditions of the working situation, so that steps may be taken to overcome any difficulties before or soon as they arise.
Motivating:
Coordinating: The act of making parts of something, groups of people etc. work together in an efficient and organized way. (Integrating)
Communicating: Act of exchanging information, news, ideas, feelings, thoughts etc. with other people. Making known your ideas, feelings, and thoughts etc. known to other people, so that they understand them.
Organizing: Arranging for something to happen or to be provided.
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