16: Owners Hire Construction Managers for One Reason … To Protect the Owner’s Interest in the Project

The owner’s interest is not protected when a CM reviews the CPM baseline and update schedules instead of hiring a competent CPM scheduling expert. Nor is it protected when the CM approves a front loaded schedule and proceeds to prematurely disperse funds accordingly. It is surely not protected when a CM hides behind the means & methods clause, when the GC is managing a complex project with a to-do list.

If the schedule is not accurate, not even close to accurate, what do you think the contractor is using to manage the project with? Does partnership trump leadership? Does incompetence trump common sense? Sometimes …

Construction managers; don’t be afraid to hire a project controls consultant. Turn it around,  explain to the owner that it is your experience and wisdom, that leads you to seek out a specialized scheduling expert. Explain to the owner that allowing anyone to review the schedule outside from a professional scheduler would be assuming unnecessary risk for the project. Having said that, no two schedulers are the same and finding a competent consultant required due diligence. Get references, call the references.

It still might not be a slam dunk, but at least you won’t have to spend the rest of the project covering-up for mistakes you made in the schedule review.