CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DWEsept.

2017

EXAM

QUESTION ONE

a) Define the following terms as used in construction management

i. Construction management(CM) at risk (2marks)
CM at-risk is a delivery method which entails a commitment by the construction manager to
deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).
ii. Project life cycle (2marks)
It involves the processes that a project undergoes from the beginning till it is accomplished ,the
Project Management Life Cycle has four phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution and Closure…
iii. Network diagram (2marks)
Are schematic displays of project schedule activities and the interdependencies between these
activities
iv. Serial tendering (2mks)
Serial tendering is more of a hybrid/advanced method tendering which combines a
normal competitive tender (whether single or two-stage) with negotiation. It is
often used for clients who have a number of phases of similar work
b) Define the term tendering and briefly explain any two types of tenders (6marks)
Tendering is the management and commercial function of determining the tender based upon
the estimate and other details prepared by contractor ‟s estimator and other personal.”
Competitive Tendering
_ several suitable contractors are given a package of documents and asked to come up with a
price bid within a few weeks.
_ Usually the contractor who offers the cheapest price is chosen.
Open Tendering
_ Contractors are invited through an announcement in public media.
_ Large number of contractors responded.
_ Public agencies are forced to use open tendering.
_ The lowest bid is awarded the job
_ The lowest bid contractor may fail to complete the project.
_ Obtain the lowest possible price.
_ It is not possible to form bid rings.
Selective Tendering
_ Contractors are invited through an announcement in public media.
_ Only qualified contractors are allowed to bid.
_ The owner prepare a short list of prequalified contractors.
_ Limited number of contractors bid in the project compared to open tendering.
_ It is possible to form bid rings between bidders.
_ Used for important projects.
_ The quality of work is guaranteed through prequalification.
Negotiated Tendering
_ In this method, the client and advisers consider which contractors are best suited to the type of
work.
_ Trusted contractors are invited to bid in the project by mail or direct contact.
_ A selection is then interviewed to determine their keenness and possible contribution to the
team.
_ Usually the quantity surveyor sets out to agree a framework with the chosen contractor, for the
costing of labor, materials and profit and the selection of any specialist sub-contract packages
for pricing by others.
Negotiated Tendering
_ If negotiations over prices break down at this early stage, another contractor is selected.
_ The quantity surveyor will work with the contractor to update the cost plan or budget and
report to the team.
_ Negotiated tendering is used for maintenance project or projects with incomplete design.
_ Project price is relatively high.
_ Project quality is guaranteed through contractor reputation.
Direct Order
_ A trusted contractor are awarded the project.
_ Owner negotiate the price with the contractor.
_ Used for confidential projects or when the contractor has a new technology.
_ Project price is relatively high.
_ Project quality is not guaranteed.
Serial Tendering
_ Used for very large engineering projects.
_ The project is divided into several stages.
_ First project stage are awarded to a contractor using competitive or negotiated tendering.
_ Next stages are awarded to the same contractor if succeeded in achieving owner requirement
in earlier stages.
_ Owner benefits form repetition of the work to achieve better quality with minimal cost.
_ Enhance relation between the owner and contractor.
Any 2 for max of 4marks
c) Explain the four main process involved in tendering (8marks)
d) Describe four main steps involved in a design stage of a project(8marks)
The design stage involves four steps: programming and feasibility, schematic design,
design development, and contract documents.
• Conceptual/Programming and feasibility:
 The needs, goals, and objectives must be determined for the building. Decisions must be
made on the building size, number of rooms, how the space will be used, and who will be
using the space.
• Schematic design: Schematic designs are sketches used to identify spaces, shapes,
and patterns. Materials, sizes, colors, and textures must be considered in the sketches.
• Design development (DD): This step requires research and investigation into
what materials and equipment will be used as well as their cost. During this phase, the
drawings are refined with information from structural, plumbing, mechanical, and
electrical engineers.
• Contract documents (CDs): Contract documents are the final drawings and
specifications of the construction project.
QUESTION TWO

a) Give four function of the local authority in the construction industry. (4marks)

 Audit infrastructure
 License
 Enforce regulations of construction law
 Development plan
 Control of dangerous construction
b) Explain two factors that affect selection of a work measurement method (2marks)
Time (duration), cost

c) Describe any three parties that are usually involved in a construction project (6marks)
Owner, contractor and designer
d) With illustration, describe the critical path in a network diagram (8marks)
Are schematic displays of project schedule activities and the interdependencies between
these activities
QUESTION THREE
a) State two functions of a construction management (2marks)

 Specifying project objectives and plans including delineation of scope, budgeting,

scheduling, setting performance requirements, and selecting project participants.
 Maximizing the resource efficiency through procurement of labor, materials and
equipment.
 Implementing various operations through proper coordination and control of planning,
design, estimating, contracting and construction in the entire process.
 Developing effective communications and mechanisms for resolving conflicts.

b) Describe three ways to avoid accidents in a construction site. (6marks)

 Protection(clothing, safety)
 Use of standards and, technical skills
 early warning systems
 improved maintenance
 better housekeeping

c) Explain three techniques used to measure performance in construction management.

(6marks)
Standard time
Stopwatch time study
Historical times
 Predetermined data
Work Sampling
d) Discuss three bid selection methods applied in a project (6marks)
• Low-bid selection:
This selection focuses on the price of a project.
Multiple construction management companies submit a bid to the owner that is the
lowest amount they are willing to do the job for.
Then the owner usually chooses the company with the lowest bid to complete the job for
them.
• Best-value selection:
This selection is focuses on both the price and qualifications of the contractors
submitting bids.
This means that the owner chooses the contractor with the best price and the best
qualifications.
• Qualifications-based selection:
This selection is used when the owner decides to choose the contractor only on the basis
of their qualifications. The owner then uses a request for qualifications (RFQ), which
provides the owner with the contractor's experience, management plans, project
organization, and budget and schedule performance.
QUESTION FOUR

a) State any three advantages of lump sum contract (3marks)

• Lump sum: This is the most common type of contract.
 The construction manager and the owner agree on the overall cost of the
construction project and
 the owner is responsible for paying that amount whether the construction project
exceeds or falls below the agreed price of payment.
b) List any four project network activities used as a tool in project management
methodology (4marks)
• Project network of activities
 Critical path method (CPM)
 Resource management
  Resource leveling
 Risk assessment
c) Explain any four types of construction project (8marks)
 Agricultural: Typically economical buildings, and other improvements, for agricultural
purposes( barns, equipment and animal sheds)
 Residential: Residential construction (houses, apartments, townhouses, and other
smaller, low-rise housing, small office types.)
 Commercial: This refers to construction for the needs of private commerce, trade, and
services.
 Institutional: This category is for the needs of government and other public
organizations. i.e schools, fire and police stations, etc
 Industrial: Buildings and other constructed items used for storage and product
production
 Heavy civil: The construction of transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, railroads,
tunnels, airports, and fortified military facilities. Dams are also included, but most other
water-related infrastructure is considered environmental.)
 Environmental: Environmental construction is dealing with projects that improve the
environment. i.e water and wastewater treatment plants, sanitary and storm sewers, solid
waste management, and air pollution control.
d) List any three contents of a tender document (3marks)
Tender Documents
Tender Notice
Scope of work & General Instructions
Technical requirement
Application for Technical Bid
Declaration
Application for Financial Bid
Terms and Conditions
Documents required for Technical Bid
e) Define the term contract as implied in the construction sector (2marks)
Contract -when two parties have reached an agreement
QUESTION FIVE

a) Define the term work study (2marks)

 The systematic examinations of the methods of carrying on activity to improve

effective use of resources
 To set up standards of performance

b) Differentiate between the following as applied in project scheduling

i. Early start time and late start time (4marks)
Earliest time is earliest time for the preceding event plus the duration of corresponding
activity
ii. Critical path and dummy activity (4marks)
Dummy / float is the point where other activities are waiting for others to complete
before moving onwards. By moving backwards over the various activities from the
project finish event, we can determine the path (critical path) of activities that contain no
floats
c) Use the information given below;
i. to construct a network diagram (5marks)
ii. to get the critical path (3marks)
iii. to calculate the float (2marks)

Activity Duration Precedence

A 3 -
B 3 A
C 4 -
D 1 C
E 3 B, D
F 2 A, B, D
G 2 C, F
H 4 G
I 1 C
J 3 E, G
K 5 F, H, I