Civil Engineers - Dealing with Problems

Civil Engineers - Dealing with Problems

There are a number of issues to be dealt with;

1. Time constraints, 2. Budget constraints 3. Design elements and, 4. Dealing with people These four elements broadly deal with the problems and solutions for civil engineers.

1. Time constraints looks primarily at; running behind time or how to deal with other pressing activities. These issues or constraints can be dealt with if you understand the full measure, and when you run behind time other issues or other activities may also run on time which affects your bottom line. If you can get these into order and into a system where we have "High Payoff" activities and "Low Payoff" activities you then understand which activities you can actually delegate to others. This will inevitably help you as a project engineer meet your overall target.

2. When you look at budget constraints there are three main issues. You can either be over budget already and have to deal with the pieces, or you can be running a budget in which you're fast approaching your deadline cost, or you can be juggling the numbers trying to get your cash flow correct. The key element in all of these is 'Cash Flow'. You will want to understand what invoices are coming in and what has to go out. You r get a better understanding of which activity - which cost has to be paid straight away, and which costs can be delayed. It's not that we don't want to pay invoices when they come in, it's just that some invoices have a higher priority than others.

3. Design elements when they raise their head can be dealt with in such a way that you can deal with other aspects of the design which are not directly related to your project. That is to say, there are some activities or some elements which will always crossover other aspects of the spectrum, that may include service utilities, other disciplines, say civil engineering versus the electrical engineering, versus the the water and gas services etc. You need to get these into some sort of priority and order to work them. Altogether it is important that all of these aspects are looked at together. In order to recognize this it is probably best to look at them up front. Deal with the problems not just as they arise, but design a system that will allow you to meet them before they hit your desk or before they hit your plate as problems. All things will be changed around and you won't be chasing the fire, you'll be putting a fire block out there before it becomes a fire if that makes sense.

4. The fourth element is dealing with people. In all aspects of our life we have to deal with people. It is often easy to offend people if we do not watch how we say things. With our design and construction teams we have to treat them with respect. We have to work with others, and there are other disciplines that we have to deal with. Recognize their needs - to fill their needs that theirs don't clash with yours, and everyone should be able to work better together. If you recognize all four of these aspects; time constraints, budget constraints, design elements and dealing with people, there is one common element. That is recognizing the problems before they arise. This is the key to great project management, and indeed your success. Civil Engineers, moving the earth to success.

Source : www.engineersforsuccess.com