Columnists: Craig
A day in the life of a project manager
Big breakfast at McDonald’s at 6:00 a.m. Some time to relax and read the newspaper before heading down I-55 to the jobsite office trailer. A lifetime in project management and I’m still not used to getting up so early so I can be there when my guys start coming in. I’m the first one in, the last one out. ...
The difference between management and project management
Common sense will tell you that there are many degrees of responsibility between micromanaging a two-man crew as a working foreman and macromanaging a 2,000 employee company as a corporate president....
New project management definitions
The job description of what makes a project manager has gradually changed over time. The paper-pushing duties of a working foreman or superintendent used...
Selling a job when there's buyer's remorse
We've all been there, and more of us are getting there in this day and age than ever before. Our boss tells us to go out and get work at all costs! So,...
Project managers' creed: learn it, live it
The health and safety of those I'm in charge of takes precedence above all else, including my own personal health and safety if need be. I will be aware...
Networking Web sites: a two-edge sword
Years ago, in 1998, before the Internet became what it is today, I made the decision to learn HTML and take some previously existing published works,...
Three steps to follow when job hunting
If you're a project manager, but not managing any jobs, you should ask yourself if this could be because your company doesn't have any new jobs in the...
Create a game plan to survive a layoff
If you've been a project manager or senior-level estimator for at least five years and have worked for a company that has been in business for at least 10 years, doing primarily new construction, I'd bet it's a one in five chance that you are unemployed at the moment....
BIM knowledge is necessary for job bids
Back in 1980, I was the systems architect/analyst and building trades consultant for DataSonix, the second digitizer-based construction estimating software...
Use HARM to keep employees
Doing the by-the-numbers analysis of your people is at the basis of the concept of “HARM,” which is the acronym for Human Assets Resource Management, a new way of taking the emotion out of putting price-to-performance metrics on your management folks that make up the bulk labor cost of your SG&A....
Project management is an adventure
One thing I absolutely love about this business is that every day brings something new and different. Every day brings new challenges to face, joys to...
Be more productive - get an intern
I have to admit that there is a temptation to go off on a nice slew of off-color attempts at humor regarding this topic. For one thing, interns nowadays...
Federal contracting is enticing, but risky
Project management authority H. Kent Craig discusses the unique risks of taking on a federal contracting job...
How to start a commercial estimating department
In my September column, I outlined what not to do when trying to set up a commercial HVAC/plumbing estimating department. Using the worst remembered anecdotes...
Surviving the aftermath of the economic flood
As I write this, the first major effects of the economic flood, drowning our U.S. economy and other national economies, are being felt. From the home...
Celebrating my 10th anniversary here
This month marks my 10th anniversary as part of the CONTRACTOR family, and I couldn't be prouder, more pleased or even a little bit shocked to be honest...
How Not to Start Up Commercial Estimating
It's often said you eventually set up a commercial estimating department for your company the same way you become a prostitute. First you do it for money to supplement your main source of income since it seems like you're doing the rest of it for free anyway. Then you notice all your friends are also doing it and you're afraid you'll be left behind. And, finally, seeing all those huge checks your pals eventually bring in, you figure, “what the heck?” Why shouldn't that be me? ...
Managing, Protecting Materials is a Priority
We've all witnessed the severe rise in commodity prices and corresponding price increases for finished goods both within our industry and elsewhere. Things...
The New Daily Reality of Project Management
One day this spring, we woke up to a new reality. We joined the rest of the world in paying a very high-price for gasoline, food and other personal commodities....
Be a Saver, Not a Hoarder; Be Thrifty, Not Cheap
We all know that contracting is such a ruthlessly cutthroat business that we literally try to save a penny or two here or a nickel or two there every...
Adding an Extra Degree of Effort Has an Impact
Most of us know that an open pot of water sitting atop a constant heat source at 211F basically sits there doing nothing. As long as the heat source is...
The new paradigm of coopetition
Many subcontractors will do almost anything if they think there's another nickel's profit or another month's company survival in it for them. General...
Just the facts about those pesky headhunters
Over the years I've gotten many emails asking about dealing with professional executive employment recruiters or They all boil down to two general questions:...
A 30-second lesson on project management
My wife and I were lounging about on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday just being more or less quiet and happy and talking gently about the things the...
Cleaning out my New year’s closet
It’s that time of year when I take a deep breath and pray upon the past year, throw darts at a dartboard to get my net profit goal for next year and roll a single die to determine what percent of salary ...
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