THE PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR COURSE CONTENTS

Acknowledgements i

Forward iii

About the Author v

Special Thanks To Contributors vi
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SESSION ONE: OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Course Introduction and Methods 1.2

Instructor Introduction 1.2

Time and Class Meetings 1.2

Class Participation and Assignments 1.2

Group Work 1.3

Outside Assignments 1.3

Attendance 1.3

Successful Course Completion Leading to Project SuperVISION® Professional Credentialing 1.3

What You Are Accountable For 1.4

How to Use the Materials 1.5

Overall Course Pre-Test 1.5

Overall Course Objectives 1.6

Introduction To Project SuperVISION® 1.8

Project SuperVISION® Core Courses 1.9

Project SuperVISION® Professional Certification Process 1.10

Professional Certification 1.10

 Four Different Levels 1.11

 Step 1 - Application 1.12

                Step 2 - Continuing Education/Other Relevant Experience 1.12

 Step 3 - Verified Competency and Verifier's Ratings 1.12

The Professional Construction Supervisor

 Follow-Up Program and Forms 1.13

The Project SuperVISION® Academy 1.17

The Project SuperVISION® Program Vision and Mission 1.17

Key Content in this Session 1.18

Learning Objectives 1.19

Introductions - Course Participants and Instructor(s) 1.20

My Personal Objectives For This Course 1.21

Exercise - My Personal Course Objectives 1.21

Job Descriptions

 Supervisor 1.22

 Foreman 1.24

 Superintendent 1.25

Professional Field Supervisor 1.26

The Construction Industry 1.27

 

SESSION ONE: OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Market Share 1.28

Bidding – versus – Negotiation 1.34

Types of Contracts 1.35

Revenue and Cash Flow 1.38

 Example Company 1.38

Carolinas AGC 1.44

Three Ideas for Implementation 1.46
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SESSION TWO: PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS

Introduction and Key Content 2.1

Learning Objectives 2.2

“People Skills” – Important to Success in the Construction Industry 2.3

Class Exercise: Meeting with Designer representative 2.3

Class Exercise: Meeting on-site between  Craft worker, Foreman, and Superintendent 2.4

Class Discussion – Four Scenarios 2.4

“Professional” – More Definitions 2.7

Marketing – What does it Mean? 2.9

Safety – A Key Element of Professionalism 2.10

Laws – versus – Ethics 2.12

Small Group Exercise: Laws and Ethics 2.13

Making the Case for “Environmental Ethics” 2.14

Ethics in the Construction Industry 2.15

Class Discussion Questions 2.17

Statute of Limitations 2.17

A Glance Over at “The Dark Side” 2.18

Class Case Study and Discussion 2.18

Class discussion questions 2.19

Doing the Right Thing, … What Could it Cost You? 2.20

Safeguarding Your Own Integrity 2.21

Three Ideas for Implementation 2.22
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SESSION THREE: UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMPANY CULTURE  AND JOBSITE CULTURE

Introduction and Key Content 3.1

Learning Objectives 3.2

Overview - Critical Importance of Communication 3.3

Class Exercise: Project Communication 3.4

Forms of Communication 3.5

Class Discussion Question- Communication 3.5

Class Exercise: Communication Noise 3.6

Forms of Communication 3.8

Official Company-wide Orientation vs. Site Company Orientation 3.9

Construction Scenario Examples 3.10

“Looking the Other Way”…? 3.12

Who is Responsible for Establishing the Jobsite Culture? 3.14

Management Tools for Establishing a Positive Jobsite Culture 3.15

Company / Jobsite Culture Related Interview Questions for  Prospective Employers by Prospective Employees 3.18

Company Standard Operating Procedures 3.21

Example of Standard Operating Procedures 3.22

                Table of Contents 3.22

                Policy examples 3.26

Three Ideas for Implementation 3.32
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SESSION FOUR: CONSTRUCTION BIDDING AND COST ESTIMATING

Introduction and Key Content 4.1

Learning Objectives 4.2

Front End, Bid Documents 4.3

Team Exercise- Front End, Bid Documents 4.3

Exercise- Complete Bidder Qualification Form 4.5

Team Assignment and Discussion- Bidder Qualification 4.5

Example of Pre-qualification of Requirements/Forms, NCDOT 4.6

Pricing Metrics: Lump Sum, Cost Plus and Unit Pricing 4.26

“Alternates / Alternatives” and “Allowances 4.27

Class Exercise- Alternates 4.28

Class Exercise- Allowances 4.28

Site Visits Before Bidding 4.29

Pre-Bid Meeting 4.30

Team Exercise- Pre-Bid Meeting 4.30

Assignment- Pre-Bid Meeting 4.30

Project Addenda 4.31

Marking up Direct Costs for Company Overhead Costs and Profit 4.31

Team Exercise- Overhead and Profit 4.32

Exercise – Team Competition: Receiving Last-Minute Contractor Bids 4.33

Bid Submission, Bid Opening and Review 4.33

Non-Responsive Bid 4.35

Apparent Low Bidder vs. Lowest Responsible Bidder 4.35

Three Ideas for Implementation 4.37
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SESSION FIVE: FROM THE SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR / SUPPLIER PERSPECTIVE

Introduction and Key Content 5.1

Learning Objectives 5.2

Class Discussion– Example Case Study: A day  in the life of a specialty contractor 5.3

Coordination of Work – Team Discussions 5.5

 Building Construction Example 5.5

Heavy Construction Example 5.6

 Bridge Construction Example 5.6

Who is Responsible for Cleaning Up? 5.8

Class Exercise- The Project Clean Up Game 5.8

When a Conflict Impacts Multiple Contractors 5.10

Creating Expectations and Achieving Quality Workmanship 5.12

Class Exercise- Jobsite Orientation Meeting 5.14

Strategies for Successful Outcomes – Working with Small Contractors 5.20

The Prospects and Potential Perils of being a Third(+) Tier Contractor 5.24

Contract Performance Conditions – Controlling (General)  Contractor vs. Specialty Contractor 5.25

Team Exercise – Subcontractor Agreements 5.25

Three Ideas for Implementation 5.29
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SESSION SIX: CONSTRUCTION PLANNING

Introduction and Key Content 6.1

Learning Objectives 6.2

Class Exercise: Establishing Progress Milestones

                Heavy Construction 6.3

                Institutional Construction 6.6

                Industrial Construction 6.8

                Highway Construction 6.10

In Construction Planning … what is “Success?” 6.12

Planning as a “Process” – versus – a “Procedure” 6.13

Planning Builds Upon Itself 6.14

Two Basic Functions of Planning 6.14

“Top – Down” Planning vs. “Bottom – Up” Planning 6.17

Case studies for class discussion 6.18

Three Ideas for Implementation 6.23
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SESSION SEVEN: CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SCHEDULING

Introduction and Key Content 7.1

Learning Objectives 7.2

Team Exercise: Build a Construction Schedule 7.3

Physical Work Activity Table 7.4

Calculating Total Project Duration 7.5

Team Exercise: Storyboarding – House  Construction and Team Presentations 7.5

Class Exercise – Comparison of Project Schedules 7.7

“Life Cycle” of a Construction Project Schedule 7.8

Levels of Project Scheduling 7.9

Team Exercise: Four Bids 7.13

Class Discussion - The Four Hour House DVD 7.16

Scheduling – A Tool for Managing Change 7.17

Project Scheduling, A Few Other Thoughts to Ponder 7.19

Three Ideas for Implementation 7.21
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SESSION EIGHT: FUTURE FACES OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Introduction and Key Content 8.1

Learning Objectives 8.2

Look How Far We’ve Come! 8.3

Construction Trades and Related Workers 8.5

Construction Workers From Other Countries 8.8

Working with Inspectors and Other Government Representatives 8.8

Building Standards and Quality 8.9

Training Challenges - Worker Safety Awareness  and Safe Work Practices 8.9

Getting Paid for Completed Work 8.10

Class Exercise – Communication 8.10

Team Exercise – Overcoming Barriers to Communication 8.10

Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity – Hispanic Workers 8.11

 Eye Contact 8.11

                Importance of Family 8.11

 Respect for Authority 8.12

                Religious heritage 8.12

 Jobsite geography and communication 8.12

 Who you are - vs. - what you do 8.13

Set-Aside Provisions for Historically Under-Utilized Businesses 8.14

Class Discussion Questions: 8.14

Team Exercise: Review of the Set-Aside Provisions 8.15

Another Key to Solving the Construction Industry Employee Shortage

 – Better Utilization of the “Other Half” of the World’s Population 8.23

Strategies for Achieving Greater Participation by Women at

 all Levels in Construction 8.24

Three Ideas for Implementation 8.26
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SESSION NINE: ANATOMY OF A CONSTRUCTION LAWSUIT

Introduction and Key Content 9.1

Learning Objectives 9.2

What is a Construction Lawyer? 9.3

The Many Expenses Involved in Litigation 9.5

                Client Meetings, Staff Meetings, Preliminary motions 9.5

                Staff Support Time, Discovery 9.5

 Reimbursables, Case Review and Preparation 9.6

                Telephone Conversations, Case-Related Conversations 9.6

 Preparation for Depositions, Depositions 9.6

 Expert witness meetings, Expert witness preparation 9.7

 Expert witness testimony, Preparation for Trial 9.7

                Settlement Discussions, Time in Court 9.7
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SESSION NINE: ANATOMY OF A CONSTRUCTION LAWSUIT

CASE # 1: Craft Brothers Development Project 9.8

                Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.9

CASE # 2: Kilgallen Research Park 9.10

                Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.11

CASE # 3: Fast-Track Project for Simpson Industries 9.11

                Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.12

CASE # 4: Hendrix Hotel Project 9.13

 Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.14

CASE # 5: The “Bean Dome” 9.14

 Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.16

CASE # 6: New Town Sewer Line 9.16

 Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.18

CASE # 7: Bonanno Republic Re-Paving Project 9.18

 Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.19

CASE # 8: Project “Neighbor Problems” 9.19

 Team Discussion, Class Discussion 9.20

Getting Ready for Court 9.21

If you “WIN” … How Do You FEEL? 9.21

Three Ideas for Implementation 9.23

 

SESSION TEN: CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND SUCCESS

 

Introduction and Key Content 10.1

Learning Objectives 10.2

Recruiting New Talent to the Construction Industry 10.3

Informational (non-job) Interviews 10.3

                Job Shadow Programs 10.3

 Mentor Programs 10.4

Construction Career Fairs 10.5

 Co-operative Programs 10.5

 Internship Programs 10.6

                AGC Student Chapters 10.6

Professional Credentialing and Other Career Opportunities 10.7

 Career Development Options - Apprenticeship 10.7

 Career Development Options - Community Colleges 10.8

 Career Development Options – Universities 10.8

Career Development Options – Contractor Licensing 10.9

The Many Benefits of Staying Active in / Service to Professional Associations 10.11

 Craft-Level Industry Partnerships 10.11

 Construction Industry Market Information 10.11

 Management Training 10.11

 Networking and Industry Representation 10.12

                Safety Resources 10.12

                Legislative and Regulatory Impact 10.13

Two Case Studies – Careers in Construction 10.14

Case Study #1: On The Fast-Track 10.14

Case Study #2: The Imaginary Coat 10.15

A Career Looking Back 10.17

 Ed Tucker 10.17

 Harry Mashburn 10.18

 Sam Hunter 10.18

Three Ideas for Implementation 10.20

Summary Review of Course Material 10.21

Review of Course Completion and Project SuperVISION® Certification Process 10.24

Glossary Glossary - 1

Index Index - 1

Recommended Reading Short List