Decoding the Roles: Project Manager vs. Construction Manager in Modern Construction

In the Construction Industries, the discipline of "Project Management" is often confused with "Construction Management". Even though this confusion has a reasonable historical background, still it is not correct. Let's try to highlight the difference.

Project Management is a discipline where you have to be a "generalist" in order to be engaged in different disciplines during the whole lifecycle of the project. While, in Construction Management, you have to focus on finalization of the construction within already defined scope, already agreed time, on dedicated budget and with defined resources:

Project Manager should be involved in a construction project preferably before the contract is signed in order to work close with the Buyer to finalize the conception and define the correct scope. All the other disciplines such as budgeting, design, procurement will rely on this "correct scope". So, defining the scope is the most important part of the Project Management.

On the other hand, Construction Manager can be involved into the project at a rather later period. By then, the scope will already be defined, design and procurement will be mostly finalized and agreed on, resources are already assigned. Construction Manager has to be "the Maestro of the Orchestra" to lead the teams and activities of the construction.

In the good old days -when the world was slower, the tasks were simpler, buyers were less demanding- a Construction Manager was able to perform the tasks of the Project Manager with the support of executive management. However nowadays it is obvious that companies should build a "Team of Managers" for different disciplines and ensure an organisation to let them work in harmony.

It is no surprises that the success will only follow a good cooperation and team work! The Project Manager must be supported on site with a skilled Construction Manager. The needs of the Construction Manager must be understood and supplied by the Project Manager. Both must be supported with a good organisation and preferably with a Project Management & Planning Office (PMO).