Operation and Resource Management

Learning Outcome 1: An understanding of the human resource and people management strategies used in the construction industry.

Learning Outcome 2: Recognize the importance of effective planning, scheduling of projects for the scale and structure of the construction industry.

Learning Outcome 3: An understanding of the resource management techniques and the benefits of efficient supply chain management.

Learning Outcome 4: Highlight theories and practical considerations of resource management and its implications for construction firm performance.

Assessment Component(s) - Summary

Overview:
Considering the given scenario, you are required to write a professional report presenting information in relation to human resources and people management, including effective planning and scheduling of projects, as well as theories and practical considerations of resource management.

The report should highlight the relevant processes and techniques used in estimating and managing human resources and other resources allocated to construction projects, including the steps involved in resources allocation and distribution.

Project Scenario
Following your brilliant completion of a degree in Construction Management, you have just been employed as an Assistant Project Manager in one of the renowned local construction companies that has over the years established a great reputation on multiscale design and built projects across England. The organization is aiming to integrate new and diversified management methods into their practice.
Early this year, in its constant effort to secure decent housing for the less privileged, the UK government launched a nationwide campaign for the construction of apartment blocks in all major cities in England.
Your company has been shortlisted for one of the unit block of 3 bedrooms apartment to be built across the nation, through a selected tendering procurement method. Knowing how much importance the government attaches to timekeeping and cost control in public funded projects, your company is keen to use "state of the art" management methods to maintain and go beyond its renowned standard.
You have been assigned to prepare a professional report, presenting information in relation to human resources and people management for the construction of this project. This report should include theoretical and practical considerations of resource management, effective planning and scheduling used to deliver construction projects.
The report should highlight the relevant processes and techniques used in estimating and managing human and other allocated resources for the construction of this project. This includes the steps involved in resources allocation and distribution.

Assessment Task(s) - Detailed Instructions

Introduction (approx. 300 words)
In this section, you should introduce the topic in general, mentioning the purpose of this report, including a brief discussion of the structure.
The Main Sections of the Report addressing:

Human Resource and People Management (900 words)

Define human resource management and explain the meaning and the impact of 4Rights on the successful completion of this project.
Discuss the main differences between Project and Business resource management and explain the process of acquiring a team for the realization of this project.
Discuss the roles and responsibilities of human resources commonly used in UK construction projects and their implication at different stages of the above-mentioned project.
The inclusion of a table would best highlight the above-mentioned key roles and responsibilities.
Discuss the importance of Welfare facilities and their impact on the workforce productivity.
This should include a clear understanding of the ratio of welfare facility provision to the size of the workforce.
Discuss the 9 protected characteristics under Equality act 2010 and their relevance for the realization of this project. This should highlight a clear difference between direct and indirect discrimination in human resource management.

Effective Planning and Scheduling of Resources allocated for the construction of the project. (900 words)
You should provide a list of physical resources including machinery and equipment needed at every stage of the project including their performed functions. It would be preferable to group together resources of similar functions. (example: transportation, excavation, lifting, etc..............)
The inclusion of a table would best highlight the above-mentioned key roles and responsibilities.
You should illustrate the supply chain used to deliver the resources for this project and explain the importance of supply chain management in ensuring resources are successfully delivered on time and within allocated budgets.

Theories and practical considerations of resource management (800 words)
You should describe some of the long-term strategies including techniques and processes used in the management and development of employees in the construction industry.
Using a practical example based on the project, explain the concept of ‘Resource Levelling' as a project management technique used to ‘fast track construction' projects and maintain good overall productivity and profitability.
You should describe the three key steps involved in the planning and scheduling process including allocation, aggregation, and scheduling. Use practical scenarios from the project to illustrate your description.
You should explain why in modern human resource management, the workforce is considered an ASSET.

Considering that the site allocated for the project is free from any rehabilitation work, the engineer has proposed a Strip foundation as the most suitable for the project based on the load bearing capacity of the soil. (800 words)

Conduct research on how to construct a strip foundation, then based on the above project, use your findings to draw a table stating the different activities for the construction of this foundation including their dependencies as well as the estimated timeframes.

Use this table to draw a Network diagram including the early start (ES) and late start (LS) together with the early finish (EF) and late finish (LF).

Use one paragraph to carry out an interpretation of this network diagram of activities of the construction of the strip foundation. This should include:

The duration of the foundation
The critical activities in the foundation
The Critical path in the construction of the strip foundation
The time within which activities could be delayed without impacting the duration of the foundation (Slacks)