If you do not know where you are going, how do you expect to get there? This question stands true for different aspects of our life and work. However, just knowing the destination is not enough, we even need answers to questions like how to get there, what resources are needed, how much time is needed to get there, who will do what to ensure that everyone is able to get there and many more.
In corporate parlance, once we know the destination or the desired end-result, all the rest is put in place and brought together by Project Management.
Within the Real Estate and Construction industry, the importance of Project Management is supreme since it is the project manager who manages workflow and delivers results.
In the current times, with high rate of urbanization and infrastructural development in India, Construction Project Management offers immense career opportunities.
CPM and its challenges
Construction Project Management (CPM) is an art and science.
It utilizes specialized project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project from start to end.
This is a complex and hard process as a wide range of simultaneous variables are at work. The effects of each variable’s multiple scenarios need to be accounted for and further action planned for.
Whether it is a residential high-rise or a major airport, project managers play a key role throughout the delivery process handling all project variables.
Job roles of a Construction Project Manager?
Consider a list of examples of the typical variables a construction manager handles on a given day:
- Unpredictable weather which is beyond any human control
- Availability of construction workers at the site
- Construction material inventory especially out of stock critical materials
- Availability or non-availability of key equipment like cranes, and other machines for the construction site
- Changes made to the existing design by architects and clients the previous evening
- Juggling the work of 20 or more different trades at the same time
- Surprise discovery of electrical cables below the ground that no-one knew about
- Inspections and permission delays by government authorities
Industry is moving towards Construction 4.0
The E&C industry is moving towards its version 4.0 which is a move towards greater digitization.
The industry is looking to widespread adoption of prefabrication, automation, 3D printing, virtual reality, drones, sensors, robots for repetitive or hazardous processes, and data — lots of data — to help the industry know itself better and to shape the decisions it makes today and tomorrow.
What can an MBA in Construction Management teach you?
CPM 4.0 is a new benchmark curriculum being taught to the students at select institutes in India. The curriculum includes Building Information Modelling (BIM), AI, IOT, Big Data, Block Chain, latest project management software etc.
The essential aspects to control in any construction project are time; cost and quality.
CPM’s daily task is to deal with multiple responsibilities, handling resources like Manpower, Materials, Machinery, construction Methods and most importantly Money.
MBA in Construction Management is, therefore, a multi-disciplinary stream of specialization focusing on project management, development aspects, statutory requirements, legal framework, business environment, infrastructure, funds and finance, technology and marketing etc.
Job opportunities with an MBA in Construction Management
The CPM course equips the students with theoretical knowledge along with a host of practical and technical skills to manage people and projects within the construction industry.
A programme fulfilling CPM 4.0 equips students with necessary knowledge and skills related to Project management, Business management, Construction, Sustainability and Behavioural aspects.
MBA in CPM hones students’ managerial skills and helps them in becoming techno-managers to complement their technical ability and have a bright and fulfilling future.
MBA CPM prepares the students to excel in the role of a project manager, leading teams of specialists including architects, structural engineers, electrical engineers, sustainability experts and finance experts.
Students get to work on different types of projects like commercial offices, residential, hotel, hospital, institutional buildings, industrial buildings, roads, highways, bridges and infrastructure.
The MBA in Construction Project Management programme shapes competent real estate professionals who can work in the areas of Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Contracts Management, Contracting (site work), Business Development and Facilities Management in construction and contracting firms, real estate development firms, consulting firms etc.
Growth prospects in Construction Management
The construction industry in India is growing at an annual rate of 10% making it one of the country’s fastest growing sectors.
The nation is witnessing high levels of construction activity in all categories of developmental projects such as transport, infrastructure, residential, and commercial projects.
These projects are extensive in nature and require effective and efficient execution, geographical separation, cost estimates, and the quality of specifications are to be paid attention to.
Therefore, the successful completion of such projects requires best methodology and techniques of Construction Project Management.
Why you should choose an MBA in CPM to build your skills
As per a research as many as 97% graduate engineers are seeking jobs either in software engineering or core engineering.
However, only 3 percent of graduate engineers have the necessary skills to be employed in the product or software market, and close to just 7 percent can handle core engineering tasks.
In such an intense scenario, it is quite natural for civil engineering graduates to get a little overwhelmed and experience a state of dilemma. MBA CPM provides golden career opportunities and is the answer in such a scenario.
– Ashwani Awasthi, MD, RICS School of Built Environment
Read: Is MBA in Construction Project Management a great career choice for Civil Engineers?
Read: Is there a right time to take the MBA plunge?
Read: 93 per cent MBA graduates are unemployable: Problems with management education in India
Read: What is Consulting Management? All about the MBA specialization and its job prospects
