It’s funny how life likes to throw old memories at you when you least expect it. As I was dusting off my college books (yes, actual books) to help prep for the construction jobsite management class I’m teaching this fall at a local community college, I stumbled across a relic. A paper titled “Project Management- Research Procedures VS Field Practices”, written by none other than Danielle Gittens, circa 2001. Go Terps!
This, dear readers, was my very first “official” white paper. And by official, I mean I slapped my name on it and turned it in. It discussed the wonders of project management, what it meant to be on a project team, the skills needed to be a successful project manager, and more. It even included interviews with an on-site engineer and a project manager from Clark Construction. Can you believe it? I was already interviewing pros before LinkedIn was a thing!
As I read through this masterpiece of youth, one thing became obvious: the topic of what you learn in the books versus what you actually practice in the field was on my brain way back in 2001. And it’s still sitting there, front and center, in 2024. Spooky, right?
The “Weak” Intro (Thanks, Professor)
Before we get into the juicy parts, let me share this golden nugget of feedback from my professor: “DG – Intro is weak, rest of paper only needs a little work.” Now, I’m not offended—okay, maybe a little—but let’s be real, if your professor doesn’t roast your intro at least once, did you even go to college? In fact, my college roommate, an English major (and my unofficial editor-in-chief), would probably agree. She proofread every one of my papers—because, let’s be honest, Grammarly wasn’t a thing back then—and would usually sigh dramatically before diving into my “creative” writing attempts. So, it’s safe to say my intro was more like an incomplete construction project—solid foundation, but definitely needed more framing.
Now, let’s dive into the actual content of this baby!
What is Project Management?
Back in 2001, Project Management Institute (PMI) was my go-to for all things project management. And back then, the world of project management functions was a lean list of nine: Scope, Quality, Time, Risk, Communication, Human Resources, Project Integration, and Contract/Procurement. Today, you’ll find Stakeholder Management in the mix, making sure everyone and their grandma has a voice in the project.
The paper also boasted about the importance of PMI and its PMP certification. And I won’t lie, that PMP is a beast. But, and here’s where young Danielle was a little off the mark, this paper was about not only project management but also construction management, but I hadn’t even heard of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) back then. If I were writing this paper today, I’d also be all over CMAA and their Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certification. But hey, 2001 me was just thrilled to know about PMI. Baby steps.
Realizing I Didn’t *Fully* Know What a Construction Project Manager Was
Reading my own words, it’s clear as day, back then, in 2001, I was convinced that project management and construction management were one and the same. Spoiler alert: they’re not the same thing. Today, I know better. (Thank you, experience.) I mean, who could blame me? PMI was all the rage, and I hadn’t even learned in detail of all the various areas of knowledge of construction management as its own discipline, let alone the CMAA certification.
Here’s the thing: PMI is fantastic for learning how to manage projects in general, but it’s not industry specific. And if you know me, you know I’m a “let’s get into the weeds” kind of gal. I like the nitty-gritty, the details. So, when I graduated college, I searched everywhere for information on how to become a great construction manager. I wanted every type of project experience, from office buildings to wastewater plants, and I even enrolled in a project manager academy three-day class. Construction project managers have a lot of responsibility—time, cost, and scope (oh my!)—and if you drop the ball on one, you’re playing catch-up on the rest.
Advice for 22-Year-Old Danielle: Slow down and learn the craft. But we all know 22-year-old Danielle wouldn’t listen. She was way too busy trying to prove everyone wrong.
The Value of Value Engineering
Now, this is where things get good. My interviewees dropped the knowledge that Value Engineering (VE) was a crucial part of project management. But my teacher? Oh, they were sassy about it. Their note on my paper read: “Value engineering can be thought of as spending the project’s money wisely! VE is best when an integral part of the design process and frequently focused on ‘constructability.’ Is there a way to design the project to make it easier to build?” Thanks, teach!
And here’s a hot take: contractors often don’t get enough credit for their knowledge. Let’s be real—if there’s a design problem during construction, I’m calling the contractor who’s got their hands on the work. If it’s electrical? Where’s the electrician? If it’s mechanical? I want the mechanical crew on speed dial. These are the folks who *know* how things work, day in and day out. That’s why they make great inspectors too. Some places even require their inspectors to have their journeyman card and let me tell you—young Danielle learned that lesson fast. This is probably why I didn’t bother getting my Professional Engineer (PE) license until much later. When I first started, degrees didn’t mean much if you couldn’t get the actual work done. Experience trumped it all.
Advice for 22-Year-Old Danielle (Again): Get your Engineer-In-Training license NOW. Don’t wait. Trust me, in twenty years, it will not get any easier.
Would she listen? Probably not. She was too busy juggling internships and trying not to bomb her next big interview.
The (Mighty) Project Team
Speaking of interviews, one of the funnier moments in my paper involved the project team. Back then, I had only worked on residential projects, where the “team” was essentially the owner, an office manager, a roaming superintendent, and me—straddling the line between field work and the office. Fun fact: sometimes, I even worked in the field, boarding up fire-damaged homes. If nothing else, this job taught me that I definitely didn’t want to deal with Harry and Harrietta Homemaker ever again. (No offense to residential construction—just wasn’t my thing!)
But then I got to experience the big leagues. I interned at a project for the Prince George’s County Sports and Learning Complex, where the project team was about as robust as you could get: Senior PM, PM, Assistant PM, Project Engineer, Office Engineer, Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents—you name it, they had it. My interviewees for the paper talked about how team size varies depending on project size and company size. And looking back, that was my first exposure to the harsh reality: Project Managers wear many hats. And not everyone can juggle them well.
And guess what? That’s precisely why, when I graduated, I only interviewed with companies that had project management rotation programs. I was on the hunt for experience and exposure. Funny enough, though, my interview with Clark Construction—my dream job at the time—was one of the worst interviews of my life. Top three, hands down. But hey, we can’t win them all, right?
Essential Skills of a Project Manager (Spoiler: Problem-Solving Is King)
One of the most interesting parts of my paper was the skills section. My research had already indicated some good stuff—identifying the needs of all parties involved, strategizing how to achieve goals, managing quality, and dealing with people. My interviewees, however, added some heavy hitters: knowledge of contracts, negotiating, problem-solving, scheduling (and its pitfalls), and reacting to unforeseen conditions. Now, if I could go back and add one thing to my paper? It would be to underscore problem-solving. It’s the one skill that separates the good from the great.
But hey, we live, we learn, and we laugh at our 22-year-old selves along the way.
Wrap-Up
So, that’s all the wisdom I’m dishing out for today! If you want more of my deep, insightful research (and maybe a few more stories of young Danielle trying to conquer the world), stay tuned for the next installment. We’ll dive into the thrilling world of planning and project phases—spoiler alert: it’s more exciting than it sounds. Until then, keep building, keep learning, and remember: Construction Management is way sexier than it gets credit for.
Danielle Gittens
Your construction management guide, teaching you how to build a solid career—without the weak intros.
