Construction Business Management

Construction Business Management, First Edition

John Schaufelburger

Construction is a risky business! And unfortunately the reality is that construction company managers often lack the necessary “business management” skills needed to ensure the survival of their firms. This groundbreaking new text is the first of its kind that consolidates critical business management topics, and presents them practically and accessibly by showing how they relate to the management of a construction company.

Construction Business Management covers key business topics as they relate to the construction industry. These include financial management, strategic planning, business development, human resources management, information management, quality management, and risk management. The author believes that through good planning and ongoing evaluation, a well managed company can survive the economic downturns of a somewhat volatile industry.

Through numerous practical examples and identification of common pitfalls, this text stresses the importance of the following tactics:

• Creating a robust business and plan
• Strong financial management
• Effective communication, and marketing
• Recruiting and retaining effective employees.

In-text tools help ensure success in the field and the classroom. Practical features include:

• Overviews and summaries for every chapter, highlighting key points.
• Chapter review questions; application exercises
• Additional sources of information for every chapter
• Completed Strategic Plan sample
• Residential & Commercial Construction Case Study
• Sample Employment Manual

Construction is a risky business! And unfortunately the reality is that construction company managers often lack the necessary “business management” skills needed to ensure the survival of their firms. This groundbreaking new book is the first of its kind that consolidates critical business management topics, and presents them practically and accessibly by showing how they relate to the management of a construction company.

John Schaufelberger, Ph.D., PE, is the Chairman of the Department of Construction Management at the University of Washington, where he has taught since 1994. He teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of construction equipment management, construction practices, construction contract procurement, construction firm management, and international construction project management. A licensed professional engineer, he served thirty years as an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers prior to joining the University of Washington faculty. He managed major public works construction projects in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as at many locations throughout the United States. He has represented the United States in negotiations with foreign governments. He is the author of Construction Equipment Management, published in 1999 by Prentice-Hall, and co-author of Contracts with the Trades: Scope of Work Models for Home Builders, published in 1997 by the Home Builder Press, Management of Construction Projects: Constructor’s Perspective, published in 2001 by Prentice-Hall, and Construction Cost Estimating: Process and Practices, published in 2005 by Prentice-Hall.