Fast Track Approach

Traditionally, the construction management process follows a sequential approach. It start with the owner's decision to procure a facility, followed by design finalization by the architect/engineering associates, and is delivered by the contractor under the supervision of the client's consultant - each stage is completed prior to commencement of next stage as shown in Figure.

  Fast Track Development Approach

The sequential traditional approach has the following disadvantages : 

• The owner's decision regarding the budget for building the facility is generally based on the assessment of the feasibility report without tendering the work. Thus, it lacks the input from the contractor, which may not match the budgeted cost. 
• It delays the project as the contract is finalised after the entire set of drawings and specifications are completed by the designer for the tendering bids. 
• Price to be paid by the client increases as the lowest quoted general contractor includes his mark up both on his department executed work, as well as the subcontractor quotation received by him. Ultimately, it is the back-to-back specialist sub-contractor who remains responsible for the quality of work and whose performance guarantee remains with the client till completion of his contract. 
• In order to secure the contract, the general contractor perceives the works to be of such quality that meets the minimum quality stipulation. Thus, minimum quality and quantity attitudes result in conflict and claims between the client and the contractor. 

In the end, it is the owner who pays for time delays and cost of inefficiency inherited in the sequential approach.

At times phases can overlap to some extent provided the risks involved are acceptable. This practice of overlapping phases is called the fast tracking approach. Fast track development approach aims at reducing project construction time by overlapping project development phases, For example, in a building construction, foundation work can commence after its architectural and foundation drawing are ready and it need not wait till completion of all the building drawings. 

Fast-track approach requires a high degree of co-ordination and faster information processing to keep pace with the construction. It adds further complications to the already complex projects, but certainly makes them move faster.