The culture of a construction company relies heavily on the company’s ability to have strong program management skills, attention to detail, and most importantly, the ability to monitor a wide range of tasks to keep projects on time and within budget. Additionally, the culture involves making sure everyone is at their assigned position, performing their designated task, at the proper time. For that reason, the construction industries culture promotes a high degree of efficiency and accountability, as delays become extremely costly to the overall project.
Project Management
A main benefit is driven from the project management culture that emphasizes meeting deadlines and avoiding minor errors. Luckily, project managers can base their projections on past experiences. This culture promotes having the most experienced member of your team as project manager. Most project managers are given the duty of maintaining daily operations and delegating tasks when needed. These managers take care of a number of different variables, including scheduling, cost control, quality management and safety.
Organizational Structure
The culture in the construction industry tends to have a hierarchical power structure. However, compared to other industries, many of the duties, aside from the owner and senior management, seem to be separated by functional expertise more than anything. The centralized project has one PM overseeing operations, while a matrix structure will have multiple managers with autonomy to complete their appointed tasks. This level of autonomy in construction has helped the industry grow, since lower employees can still learn to work on their own deadlines.
Strategic Planning
The strategic culture of the industry, especially in the early stages, helps the industry thrive as a whole. The decisions made prior to the initial groundbreaking heavily influences the remainder of the project. As a result, the industry culture has become one that leaves very little to chance. Everything is estimated and tested long before any action is made. Understanding all of the industries moving parts allows firms to win business and satisfy customers, and those who don’t fail.
Risk Management
Most importantly in recent years has become the culture of risk management in the industry. Construction companies have to deal with risk on a daily basis, in almost all parts of the project. Risks can include physical harm to an employee, or harm to the project itself. The management team has to make sure that the men and women working on the site have safe conditions, but also account for environmental damage, economic downturns, project delays and other factors that can effect their final product.
