Project Planning and Design Phase

Planning and design phase aims at formulation of plan of actions for coordinating project activities on a time basis so as to achieve specified objectives. 

Planning Processes 

In a typical construction project, planning covers the following : 

• Basic designs and drawings planning, 
• Time planning, 
• Resource planning, 
• Cost planning and budgeting, 
• Communications planning, 
• Quality planning, 
• Organisational planning, 
• Risk management planning, 
• Procurement planning, and 
• Project development integrated plan. 

In this planning stage, the project manager, assisted by the chief project planner, performs the key development functions. 

These include to, but are not limited to, the following : 

1. Participate in the finalization of design, drawings and specifications so as to formulate construction methodology. 
2. Prepare project execution preliminary plan and formulate the schedule for processing various contracts. 
3. Advise the client on an early purchase of the items of plant and equipment needing a long lead time for procurement. 
4. Evolve the pre-tender construction plan for each tender package. 
5. Scrutinize the tender packages, including drawings and specifications, so as to minimize the discrepancies. 
6. Conduct the pre-tender briefing to contractors to ensure that the bidders understand the tender documents and the work involved in each tender. 
7. Evaluate project costs and compile project budget including preliminary allocations for the various heads of expenditures. 
8. Compile a project directive covering the scope of work, work plan, organisation, and the policies and procedures for implementing the project.