Semester 2

Unit(s) of Assessment	Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
3 hour unseen examination	70
Coursework	30
Qualifying Condition(s)      An overall mark of 50% is required to pass the module.

The prime aim of this module is to give the student the ability to operate in the varying and changing environment of construction. It is also the aim of the module to develop students’ ability to critically analyse and give opinion on the construction industry as an economic institution.

At the end of the module students should be able to:

• Define construction as a market - competition on price and price theory

   

• Understand and critically review the use of concepts and techniques such as partnering, benchmarking, KPI’s, supply chain management and lean construction in order to achieve project success

   

• Analyse construction procurement for efficiency

   

• Recognise the efficiency problems in allocating risk in construction contracts

   

• Advise on the management of risk in the internal organisation

   

• Analyse the role of the client and how construction is instigated

   

• Analyse the role and limitation of the client’s agent

   

• Be able to make decisions on the choice of project strategy

   

• To have knowledge and understanding of construction business economics and the effect of competition on price

   

• To develop an awareness and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in the construction process especially the client, the project manager and the designer

   

• To develop an appreciation of the present state of the construction industry in terms of efficiency and current practices
• To gain an appreciation of the dynamics of the contractual arrangements both in the marketplace and within the organisation

• Procurement and Contract types - suitability and selection

   

• Identification of different procurement routes

   

• Selection and suitability of procurement strategy

   

• Efficiency of construction organisations

   

• Construction economics and finance

   

• Production and efficiency of construction organisations and projects

   

• Roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in a construction project

   

• Effect of competition on price and risk

   

• Optimisation of production on construction projects
• The economic goal of individuals and organisations

Harris F and McCaffer R, Modern Construction Management, 3^rd ed, Blackwell Science, 1989.

Barrie DS and Paulson BC , Professional Construction Management, 3^rd ed, McGraw-Hill, 1992.

Potts K, Major Construction Works - Contractual and Financial Management, Longman, 1995.

Acs ZJ and Gerlowski DA, Managerial Economics and Organisation. Prentice Hall, 1996

Finnish RT - register and standards.

Turk C and Kirkman J, Effective Writing, 2^nd ed, Spon, 1989.

Murdoch JR and Hughes W, Construction Contracts - Law and Management, 2^nd ed, Spon, 1996.

Wallace IND, Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts, 11^th ed, Sweet & Maxwell, 1999.

ICE Conditions of Contract, 6^th ed.

Paulopoulos Prokopis, Contracts for Publics Works, 3^rd ed, 1996

Jelen FC, Cost and Optimisation Engineering, McGraw Hill, 1970.

Park WR, Cost Engineering Analysis, Wiley, 1973.

Pilcher R, Principles of Construction Management, McGraw Hill, 1992.

Pilcher R, Project Cost Control in Construction, Collins, 1985

Taylor GA, Managerial and Engineering Economy, 6^th ed, Van Nostrand, Reinhold, 1980.

Fryer B, The Practice of Construction Management, Blackwell Science, 1998.

Harris RB, Precedence and Arrow Networking Techniques for Construction, Wiley, 1978.
Efremidis, Construction Management, Athens .