Why is team building essential in construction projects? - Answers Because projects create
contractual relationships, involve different people each time, and individuals often have competing
objectives and motivations.
What are the two essentials for effective leadership? - Answers Communication and motivation.
What builds trust on a project team? - Answers Past experience, competence, reliability, consistency,
and shared values.
What are the two big parts of communication? - Answers Request (asking for accountability) and
Promise (agreeing to accountability).
What is committed listening? - Answers Listening intently without judging and restating the speaker's
views to confirm understanding.
What is committed speaking? - Answers Speaking clearly with intention and specificity (clear what,
when, and who).
What is the fading AEC culture? - Answers Command and control.
What is the gaining AEC culture? - Answers Transparency, collaboration, interdisciplinary teaming,
and integration.
What is the difference between management and leadership? - Answers You manage things; you lead
people.
What is an Integrated Project Leader (IPL)? - Answers The person primarily accountable for leading a
design-build team with strong communication and emotional intelligence skills.
In which delivery methods is preconstruction common? - Answers CM at Risk, Design-Build, and
Integrated Project Delivery.
What are the goals of preconstruction? - Answers Lower cost, improved schedule, higher quality,
more innovation, and fewer RFIs.
What is conceptual estimating? - Answers A Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate, typically +/-
20% accuracy.
What is detailed estimating accuracy? - Answers Usually +/- 2-5% when documents are complete.
What is Value Engineering (VE)? - Answers Reducing cost without sacrificing program needs.
What is constructability review? - Answers Reviewing whether something can realistically be built
efficiently and correctly.
What is Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)? - Answers Evaluating initial, maintenance, operating, and
disposal costs over time.
What is an estimate? - Answers A well-researched educated guess of probable project quantities and
costs.
What happens if an estimate is too low? - Answers The company may lose money and damage
relationships.
What are characteristics of a good estimator? - Answers Detail-oriented, reads plans well, visualizes
construction, meets deadlines, works well under pressure.
What are major factors impacting project costs? - Answers Size, complexity, location, time of
construction, quality, market conditions, and management factors.
What are the three types of estimates? - Answers Conceptual (ROM), Preliminary, and Detailed.
What are direct costs? - Answers Bricks-and-mortar costs (labor, materials, subcontractor work).
What are indirect costs? - Answers General conditions, overhead, insurance, bonds, profit.
What are the three concerns when preparing an estimate? - Answers Quantities, pricing, and time.
What is the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)? - Answers The system that organizes estimate and
schedule into work packages.
What is contingency? - Answers A judgment-based allowance for unknown risks.
Why is contract administration important? - Answers Poor administration is a main reason projects
get in trouble.
What is the purpose of the preconstruction conference? - Answers To establish rules, clarify
communication lines, and coordinate logistics.
What is an RFI? - Answers A formal Request for Information used to clarify design or document
issues.
What are submittals? - Answers Product data, shop drawings, and samples submitted for approval
before installation.
What are as-builts? - Answers Final drawings showing what was actually installed.