COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Essential Management Practices in Building & Construction Projects course. This program has been designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and practical strategies required to manage building and construction projects in a way that integrates governance, commercial control, safety, quality, and day-to-day site operations. Throughout this course, you will explore how structured management disciplines apply from project initiation through to handover and close-out, and how clear roles, responsibilities, and oversight mechanisms can be used to keep projects on time, on budget, compliant, and safe while maintaining strong relationships with clients, trades, regulators, and the surrounding community.

This course begins by introducing the key building and construction management domains and positioning them as an integrated framework for project delivery. This section explains the purpose and scope of integrated management domains in building projects, highlighting how planning, commercial control, site operations, safety, quality, and stakeholder communication must operate together rather than in isolation. This section also explores how governance, commercial control, safety, and quality interact on site to influence decisions and outcomes, and outlines the roles, responsibilities, and accountability that apply across the project lifecycle so that every party understands their obligations and decision-making authority.

Project governance and delivery management is then examined as the structural backbone of how projects are organised, controlled, and reviewed. This section explains how to establish project structures, reporting lines, and decision-making authority so that it is clear who leads, who approves, and who is responsible for key outcomes. This section also explores how to define delivery methodology, stage gates, and performance controls that guide the project from concept through construction to completion, and how to monitor project objectives, milestones, and overall delivery performance so that issues are identified early and corrective action can be taken.

Site management and trade coordination management is then explored as the engine room of daily project execution. This section explains how site establishment, supervision structures, and daily operational control support safe, orderly, and productive workfronts on complex building sites. This section also explores how to coordinate multiple trades to prevent clashes, delays, and productivity loss, and how to manage sequencing, access, and workfront planning across disciplines so that trades can complete their work efficiently without compromising safety or quality.

Contract management and contract administration management is then examined to ensure that commercial agreements are understood, complied with, and properly administered. This section explains how to interpret contractual obligations, scope inclusions, and exclusions so that project decisions align with what has been agreed. This section also explores how to manage notices, correspondence, and formal communication requirements to protect contractual rights, and how to track compliance with time, cost, and quality contract provisions so that both the project team and the client have a clear picture of where the job stands against contractual expectations.

Procurement, subcontractor, and supply chain management is then considered as a critical driver of program certainty and cost control. This section explains how to develop procurement strategies aligned with program and budget so that long-lead items, critical trades, and key suppliers are engaged at the right time. This section also explores how to prequalify, select, and engage subcontractors and suppliers who can meet performance, safety, and quality expectations, and how to monitor subcontractor performance, compliance, and delivery reliability so that supply chain risks are identified and managed before they impact the site.

Program and schedule management is then explored as the primary mechanism for coordinating time, sequencing, and critical path control. This section explains how to develop baseline construction programs and sequencing logic that reflect realistic durations, interfaces, and resource availability. This section also explores how to monitor progress against milestones and critical path activities, identify slippage, and assess its impact on completion dates, and how to manage delays, extensions of time, and recovery planning measures so that projects remain as close to target as possible and claims are properly supported.

Cost management and commercial control management is then examined to support financially sustainable project delivery. This section explains how to develop budgets, track costs, and prepare forecasts that give project leaders and business owners an accurate view of financial performance. This section also explores how to manage variations, claims, and cost exposure risks so that the commercial implications of design changes, delays, and latent conditions are clearly understood, and how to maintain margin control and financial reporting accuracy so that performance is transparent, defensible, and aligned with contractual and organisational expectations.

Risk management and change control management is then considered as a structured approach to dealing with uncertainty and evolving project requirements. This section explains how to identify project risks across safety, quality, time, and cost domains, and how to document them in a way that supports ongoing review and ownership. This section also explores how to implement mitigation strategies and monitor control effectiveness over time, and how to manage design changes, scope adjustments, and approval workflows so that change is controlled, documented, and agreed rather than informal or unmanaged.

Work health and safety management is then explored as a non-negotiable foundation of construction practice. This section explains how to establish WHS systems, safe work procedures, and supervision controls that align with legal obligations and industry best practice, and how these systems need to be applied on a busy site. This section also explores how to manage high-risk construction activities and permit requirements, ensuring that tasks such as work at height, confined space entry, lifting operations, and electrical work are properly controlled, and how to manage incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action implementation so that learning is captured and risk is reduced over time.

Quality management and defect prevention management is then examined to ensure that the finished asset meets specification, design intent, and client expectations. This section explains how to implement inspection and test plans and hold-point controls that provide structured checks at key stages of construction. This section also explores how to ensure workmanship standards and specification compliance through clear expectations and verification routines, and how to manage defect identification, rectification, and close-out processes so that handover is efficient, warranty risk is reduced, and project records clearly demonstrate that quality requirements have been met.

Compliance and regulatory approvals management is then considered to ensure that projects meet statutory, planning, and building code requirements. This section explains how to manage permits, inspections, and authority approvals across the life of the project, from early planning through to occupancy certificates and final sign-off. This section also explores how to ensure adherence to building codes and statutory requirements through design reviews, inspections, and coordination with certifiers, and how to maintain documentation to demonstrate regulatory compliance in the event of audits, disputes, or future asset management queries.

Environmental management is then explored as an increasingly important expectation on construction projects. This section explains how to identify environmental risks and implement control measures relating to issues such as noise, dust, erosion, contamination, and impact on neighbouring properties or ecosystems. This section also explores how to manage waste, emissions, and site environmental impacts in line with contractual and regulatory requirements, and how to monitor environmental compliance and respond to incidents so that impacts are minimised and obligations are clearly evidenced.

Materials handling and storage management is then examined to support efficient, safe, and cost-effective use of construction materials. This section explains how to coordinate delivery schedules and on-site logistics planning so that materials arrive when needed and can be moved safely to the right workfronts. This section also explores how to manage storage conditions to prevent damage, deterioration, and safety hazards, and how to control inventory, wastage, and material traceability so that cost overruns, rework, and disputes about material quality or availability are reduced.

Plant, equipment, and temporary works management is then considered as a critical element of safe and productive construction operations. This section explains how to select and maintain plant and equipment for safe operation, including inspection routines, operator competency, and maintenance scheduling. This section also explores how to manage temporary works design, approvals, and inspections for items such as formwork, shoring, and access systems, and how to monitor utilisation, safety compliance, and operational efficiency so that plant and temporary works support program and safety objectives rather than becoming unmanaged risks.

Stakeholder and community interface management is then explored to ensure that projects are delivered in a way that respects clients, neighbours, authorities, and the broader community. This section explains how to manage client, consultant, and authority communications so that information flows are timely, accurate, and constructive. This section also explores how to coordinate community engagement and disruption mitigation strategies to manage noise, traffic, access, and other impacts, and how to handle complaints, access issues, and reputation management so that relationships are preserved and the project is seen as well-run and responsive to concerns.

By the end of this course, you will be able to describe and apply the essential management practices that underpin successful building and construction projects, from governance, site control, and contract administration through to procurement, cost, risk, safety, quality, and stakeholder relations. You will understand how integrated management domains support time, cost, quality, and safety objectives, how to structure and monitor systems that give clear visibility of performance, and how to respond systematically when risks, changes, or issues arise. Most importantly, you will be better equipped to lead or coordinate construction projects in ways that are commercially disciplined, compliant, safe, and aligned with client and community expectations.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Building and Construction Domains

• Purpose and scope of integrated management domains in building projects
• How governance, commercial control, safety, and quality interact on site
• Roles, responsibilities, and accountability across the project lifecycle

2. Project Governance and Delivery Management

• Establishing project structures, reporting lines, and decision-making authority
• Defining delivery methodology, stage gates, and performance controls
• Monitoring project objectives, milestones, and overall delivery performance

3. Site Management and Trade Coordination Management

• Site establishment, supervision structures, and daily operational control
• Coordinating multiple trades to prevent clashes and productivity loss
• Managing sequencing, access, and workfront planning across disciplines

4. Contract Management and Contract Administration Management

• Interpreting contractual obligations, scope inclusions, and exclusions
• Managing notices, correspondence, and formal communication requirements
• Tracking compliance with time, cost, and quality contract provisions

5. Procurement, Subcontractor and Supply Chain Management

• Developing procurement strategies aligned with program and budget
• Prequalifying, selecting, and engaging subcontractors and suppliers
• Monitoring subcontractor performance, compliance, and delivery reliability

6. Program and Schedule Management

• Developing baseline construction programs and sequencing logic
• Monitoring progress against milestones and critical path activities
• Managing delays, extensions of time, and recovery planning measures

7. Cost Management and Commercial Control Management

• Budget development, cost tracking, and forecasting processes
• Managing variations, claims, and cost exposure risks
• Maintaining margin control and financial reporting accuracy

8. Risk Management and Change Control Management

• Identifying project risks across safety, quality, time, and cost domains
• Implementing mitigation strategies and monitoring control effectiveness
• Managing design changes, scope adjustments, and approval workflows

9. Work Health and Safety Management

• Establishing WHS systems, safe work procedures, and supervision controls
• Managing high-risk construction activities and permit requirements
• Incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action implementation

10. Quality Management and Defect Prevention Management

• Implementing inspection and test plans and hold-point controls
• Ensuring workmanship standards and specification compliance
• Managing defects identification, rectification, and close-out processes

11. Compliance and Regulatory Approvals Management

• Managing permits, inspections, and authority approvals
• Ensuring adherence to building codes and statutory requirements
• Maintaining documentation to demonstrate regulatory compliance

12. Environmental Management

• Identifying environmental risks and implementing control measures
• Managing waste, emissions, and site environmental impacts
• Monitoring environmental compliance and responding to incidents

13. Materials Handling and Storage Management

• Coordinating delivery schedules and on-site logistics planning
• Managing storage conditions to prevent damage and deterioration
• Controlling inventory, wastage, and material traceability

14. Plant, Equipment and Temporary Works Management

• Selecting and maintaining plant and equipment for safe operation
• Managing temporary works design, approvals, and inspections
• Monitoring utilisation, safety compliance, and operational efficiency

15. Stakeholder and Community Interface Management

• Managing client, consultant, and authority communications
• Coordinating community engagement and disruption mitigation strategies
• Handling complaints, access issues, and reputation management

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.