Construction Management

Construction Management is the discipline of management which emphasizes on construction nitty-gritty of any built environment. In general, construction management includes multiplexes and commercial building sites, but not the single family residential building sites. Construction management of the site is done by a general contractor or sometimes under a separate unit.

Construction management professionals or firms appointed for the task replies to the builder. These professionals also made responsible for looking every feature of the project in detail from start till the project completed.

Construction Management firms may be of different sizes; small, medium sized or large and few provides services to small general contractors. Big construction firms normally hire their own construction management people. CPWD, PWD, Delhi Metro, L&T, Gammon India Ltd., Indian Railways, National Highway Authority of India are some of the construction majors and potential employers in India famous for building structures worldwide. 

In India, organized construction industry is in starting phase and hence offers vast opportunities to construction management professionals. A course in construction management trains techno managers to be leader in construction work management and open vistas to rich career avenues. The course work in construction management is a judicious blend of theoretical and applied courses accompanied with practical experience and research work.

Theoretical courses in construction management teach about basic phenomena and relationships which characterizes the changing world and in which a construction manager work.  Practical experience obtained through study tours, construction practice and internships where he/she learns to practice the newly acquired management skills under the supervision of an expert. Research gives him/her the facility of scientific analysis of a problem and report writing skills. Computer application skills and knowledge of quantitative methods in managerial decision making are imparted through special courses in workshops/seminars.

The construction management program is a multi-disciplinary stream of specialization focusing on development aspects, statutory requirements, legal framework, business environment, infrastructure, funds and finance, technology and marketing etc.

A course in construction management prepares students for professional responsibilities that call for high proficiency in skills of information technology, people management, project finance, international markets - all with a special reference to infrastructure development projects and real estate projects.

Different institutes of higher education in India offers professional study programs in construction management. Generally construction management courses are open to graduate students with 4 years bachelor’s degree in engineering. These courses makes hot career choices among graduates in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture and related disciplines.

Courses in construction management like PG Diploma in Construction Management, M.Tech Construction Management, MBA Construction Management, Ph.D etc are offered. Admission is generally offered on the basis of written test, group discussion and interview. Construction Management professionals gets work opportunities in both government as well as private sector organizations.

Careers

All students who complete a degree or diploma in this particular field of management studies are eligible for employment in reputed construction and other companies. Graduate candidates specializing in Construction Management could become planning engineers, designers of infrastructure projects, controllers and monitors, procurement and coordination executives and appraisers of project proposals submitted to funding agencies. Post graduate students in Construction Management (PG Diploma, MBA, M.Tech etc) work as assistant managers, planning managers and managers etc with construction companies. Also many of them start their own construction management firm.

Who can become construction management professional?

A candidate who has post graduate degree or diploma in construction management is eligible to work as construction management professional. Following are listed some qualifications to get entry in this profession.

• Post Graduate Diploma in Construction Management
• Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Construction Management
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Construction Management
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Engineering Management
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Technology Management
• Research Qualifications - MS and Ph.D.

 Institutes

Following are listed some institutes which offers courses in construction management:

   1. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)
   2. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)
   3. School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), New Delhi.
   4. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi.
   5. National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR)