Design and Construction Project Management

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Cesar Abeid is a father, an engineer, a podcaster, mentor and a soon-to-be author. He’s also an expert in design and construction project management.

Content Marketing & Construction

I was washing the dishes in my kitchen one winter evening, about 18 months ago. I’d given up on live radio years prior and was searching for some fresh podcasts – something similar to my own interests of sustainable design and eco building – when I came across House Planning Help from Ben Adam-Smith. And one of the first episodes I listened to was Ben’s interview with Cesar Abeid.

Cesar struck me as a really interesting person because he was technically trained, has a lot of construction industry experience, but he also understands the new era of social media, content marketing and podcasting. This was (and still is) something rare for construction industry professionals.

But it turns out that Cesar’s true area of expertise is in project management and his passion is simplifying the complexity. Cesar aims to help ‘the masses’ use the principles of project management to turn ideas into reality.

What’s Project Management?

The Project Management Institute defines a projects as:

“a temporary group activity designed to produce a unique product, service or result“.

Project management therefore is the process of achieving this result. And it is a process, which means it’s learnable and applicable to a wide range of projects.

With respect to making better buildings, I like Cesar’s idea that any major renovation or new build is at least two projects:

1. A design project – concept though to producing a final set of drawings
2. A construction project – turning those drawings into a house

Three Top Tips for Design and Construction Project Management

1. Scope – Know your scope in as much detail as possible
2. Plan – Map out deliverables, sub-deliverables and tasks to the point of having an accurate schedule. Also highlight risks and contingencies.
3. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate – Regular, effective, personal.

 Project Management Kickstarter Campaign

Cesar is turning his own idea into reality. I’m excited to get my hands on his book, which is due in early 2015. Get in quick to take advantage of his ‘no brainer’ Kickstarter offer.

Do you need a professional project manager?

When creating a home, do you need a professional project manager for either the design stage or the construction stage? Here’s my advice. If your eyes start to glaze over at the thought of preparing a plan in enough detail to produce a weekly (or even daily) schedule, and be able to plot the critical path through this, then you’re probably not the right person to manage the project.

The investment (in time, money or both) may seem painful upfront, but having effective project management in place is your best assurance for delivery within scope, on time and on budget.

Getting Things Done – Cesar’s Book Recommendation

Cesar has interviewed David Allen on his show, so once you’ve checked that out, definitely grab a copy of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity