What is infrastructure project
management?
It is already clear that infrastructure construction projects can improve both
the economic production of society and the quality of life of its members. In
that sense, the value of up-to-speed infrastructure project management is
immense.
Infrastructure project management could simply be defined as the
management of infrastructure construction projects. From a general point of
view, it follows the same processes and principles as other categories of
project management in construction.
The slightest delay in one aspect of an infrastructure project may lead to
serious delays in the entire project resulting in budget overruns and costly
disputes between the different stakeholders
ypes of infrastructure construction
projects
Of course, not all infrastructure construction projects are the same. Despite
the similar pains they have to battle against, there are a number of different
types of such projects. In a nutshell, here are the main categories of
infrastructure construction projects:
Roads and highways: One of the most common types of infrastructure
construction projects. When it comes to roads, these projects mainly
focus on repair and maintenance as the reconstruction of an entire road
can be pricey. In the case of a highway, things might differ a bit with the
reconstruction or expansion to be considered as one of the main
options.
Airports: Airports are in need of continuous improvements and
expansions. In an effort to provide services of high quality and resolve
the air traffic congestion, airports invest both in constructing new
runways and creating more utility areas for the passengers.
Energy network: According to the CPA (Construction Products
Association), electricity is the largest subsector of infrastructure projects
in UK construction and it is expected to grow exponentially by 2020.
Such projects may focus on power generation or transmission. In
addition, maintaining and/or repairing a power plant can also be a part
of this process.
Read also: How to ensure your 3-6 week planning will be
delivered on time
Rail: The development and maintenance of rail depots and
infrastructure is another area of great activity in infrastructure projects.
Their main goal is to reduce congestion for passengers, support the
regeneration of different neighborhoods and connect cities and areas in
a quick and efficient manner.
Telecommunications infrastructure: Telecommunications cover a wide
spectrum of technologies and services that connect the entire world.
Depending on the geographic location the quality of telecommunications
might vary.
Water infrastructure: Water infrastructure projects ensure that all
citizens can have access to the most precious good on Earth. Projects
that fight water scarcity and projects that facilitate its distribution are two
of the most characteristic examples of water infrastructure projects. It
goes without saying that the nature of such projects may differ from
country to country depending on the local climate.
Bridges: Another common yet very important infrastructure project has
to do with the construction or repair of bridges. They can provide great
service with regard to alleviating traffic but they come with huge admin
burden. One of the biggest challenges is the maintenance/repair of
bridges as they continuously accommodate a large number of people.
Waste management: Regardless of the type of waste, waste
management projects hold a significant role in the effort to keep both
the people and the environment safe. This could translate to projects
that focus on the removal and transportation of waste and dangerous
materials out of the cities.
Social infrastructure: Schools and hospitals are two of the most classic
examples of social infrastructure. Simply put, it’s the infrastructure that
is targeting to provide a service of societal value to the public.
The biggest challenges of
infrastructure project management
Managing an infrastructure project isn’t easy. There are a plethora of
parameters that should be taken into account for a project to start and
complete on time and on budget. Stakeholders and tasks are inextricably
connected to each other so every alteration to the agreed plan matters.
That being said, it is of paramount importance that the programme is followed
with precision and that all stakeholders have access to a centralised hub
where all information is stored. In that way, nobody is working on an outdated
version of the programme and costly misunderstandings are avoided.
All in all, here are some of the biggest challenges that emerge on a typical
infrastructure project in construction:
Finding a way to increase work efficiency across many stakeholders
Facilitating better communication on and off-site
Tracking project performance effectively
Collaborating and communicating efficiently with all project stakeholders
Having traceable contractual requirements
Checking project status in real time
It becomes easily evident that a unified digital platform could help industry
stakeholders increase efficiency and improve communication while ensuring
adherence to contractual obligations.
“We often have it where a contractor would turn up and
find they can’t get on with their work because the previous
works haven’t been completed. If they’re on site, it’s more
of a problem than if you tell them a week out. If you can
tell them two weeks out, it’s even better. So LetsBuild
actually helps us in getting that visibility of seeing if we are
going to be on time. So we can warn people as quickly as
we can and deal with the problems.” says Matt Ghinn.
What is the ability to work under pressure?
This relates to how you respond when put under pressure. In a work context, pressure can be defined as;
The stress or urgency of matters requiring attention, the burden of physical or
mental distress and the constraint of circumstances.
The ability to work under pressure involves dealing with constraints which are often outside of your control
- these might be resource or time constraints, the difficulty of the task or having insufficient knowledge
required to complete the task, or unforeseen changes or problems. Effective planning and time-
management (to mitigate or allow for unexpected problems for example) can reduce the likelihood of
some pressurised situations occurring but will not eradicate them completely.
Why do employers value the ability to work under pressure?
Changes and unexpected events, problems or challenges can - and do - often occur, regardless of how
well-planned or organised you are. The ability to respond effectively to pressure and stress is therefore
extremely important in any line of work. How you respond will vary from person to person; some people
thrive on it and perform better when under pressure, others may panic or become ineffective. It is
important that you are aware of how you act in such situations and what steps you can take to improve
your effectiveness in such situations if necessary.
Examples of how the ability to work under pressure can be developed or evidenced
Dealing with an emergency.
Overcoming problems or issues to achieve a goal, e.g. losing assignment data or work.
Reorganising responsibilities in a group task if one member unexpectedly drops out.
Managing well when work is unexpectedly busy or short staffed.
