Construction planning involves balancing costs, with scheduling, to keep the project moving along. Some planners concentrate more on costs, to make sure the project remains within budget, while others focus more on the actual time needed to complete the project. Emphasizing one over the other are alternative methods, and each comes with its own risks. It is vital you understand what these are and how they could impact your project. For instance, if you focus on construction costs over scheduling, you have to obtain accurate estimates for each task. You also need to be aware of both direct and indirect expenses. Direct expenses include such things as equipment, permits, supplies, insurance, and labor, which are measurable based upon specific tasks. Indirect costs include the expenses needed to prepare the project plan and other administrative costs. Even when using costs as your primary focus, you still need to develop a schedule to avoid going over budget and being able to deliver the project on time. On the other hand, if you use scheduling as your primary emphasis, you are less concerned with the expenses. Instead, you are more focused on completing the project in the shortest amount of time by following the critical path method. This method outlines what tasks need to be completed, and in what order, to meet the deadline. The critical path follows a set line of tasks and does not include every single one. While following the critical path, there could be other tasks also occurring simultaneously, such as running electrical wiring and plumbing at the same time. However, you still have to keep an eye on your budget to ensure you have enough money to complete the project.
