Building Contract Management
BSc (Hons)
This programme is primarily aimed at students who wish to have a leading role in contracting organisations in Malaysia and Singapore. The degree develops IT skills and knowledge regarding the commercial aspects of construction including: Design Economics Many buildings are now procured using an integrated approach. Design and Build and Management Contracting are two such examples used extensively in Malaysia. The contractors commercial manager has a large role to play in ensuring that design is considered from both a production perspective as well as providing the client with good value. The programme uses a simulated project and develops skills in assessing design alternatives and consideration of cost information sources; whilst exploring value engineering and buildability issues. Business Management Modern construction firms, consultancies and developers are sophisticated businesses in their own right. Consequently students need an appreciation of the complexities of managing a business in addition to projects. Four perspectives of effective business management are examined, Managing People, Managing the Organisation, Marketing and Business Planning / Finance with a particular emphasis on knowledge based construction and property professions. The module uses lectures, integrative tutorials and guest speakers who give practical examples of the material covered. Economics of Production Contractors require managers who can ensure that the resources deployed on site are being used as efficiently and as effectively as possible. The latest management techniques such as benchmarking, best value and the use of key performance indicators are taught on this module. The students use techniques such as the balanced scorecard and apply them to simulated projects to devise skills in the development of management systems to monitor production. Integrated projects The management of construction organisations at a strategic level is fraught with difficulties such as tendering, entering new markets, raising and managing finance, production management and the interpretation of company accounts. This module integrates the knowledge developed by students in the other modules and uses an innovative computer simulation package to develop integrative skills. The Arousal package has been used by companies and Universities for many years in the development of world class managers. JMU has been using the package for some ten years and the feedback from students has been very positive. Procurement The construction industry is changing radically, Clients are becoming more demanding, construction technologies are developing rapidly and designs are becoming more user oriented. Every project has a procurement arrangement that embraces contractual, communicative and trust relationships. This module explores in detail how the Industry can make the most of currently used procurement arrangements and develops student knowledge about the fundamental features of construction procurement (that will remain stable as information systems become more developed). The module aims to develop an awareness of the latest knowledge and research in Construction Procurement. Cost and Financial Control Contractors commercial managers need to have a good knowledge of management and financial accounting systems in order to evaluate a projects profitability. A major part of the commercial managers working life is spent carrying out internal valuations, cost reports, cost and value exercises and the assessment of work in progress. All these function have to be conducted in an accounting framework that is acceptable to company directors and shareholders. Students use information technology to develop cost and value reconciliation systems for case study data. Actual organisations information systems are evaluated to assess their suitability for management purposes. The School of the Built Environment John Moores University received its Charter in 1992 having previously existed as Liverpool Polytechnic. The School of the Built Environment was formed out of the Faculty of Construction as part of a University wide restructuring in 1988. Over the years it has provided the whole spectrum of professional education relevant to the Built Environment. This ranges from programmes in Architecture and Design through to Facilities Management and encompass the whole property life cycle. To ensure the currency of the curriculum within these programmes the School has a number of industrial advisory groups whose output directly informs programme development and modification. Additionally, industry practice informs the curriculum through the School's policy of employing lecturers who have a blend of professional experience and are members of professional bodies such as the CIOB, RICS, RIBA as well as being professional educators. Through this mixture of industrial contact and staff experience the ethos of professional property and construction education within the School is strong. Staff within the construction programme areas have always had close contacts with industry. They have been actively involved in the professional bodies at both a national and local level. This involvement is actively encouraged by the School and supported both in terms of time and financial support. The School places a great deal of importance upon ensuring its programmes are professionally respected. The School was awarded 22/24 in the latest QAA teaching assessment (that gives us a top ten ranking of Built Environment programmes in the UK). An RAE grade of 3b was awarded in December 2001 with the area of Construction Procurement being highlighted as an area of focus. The School has a good atmosphere and staff regularly visit Malaysia and Singapore for conferences and course development. Consequently they have a good understanding of international student needs. Many of the School's alumni now occupy leading positions in Malaysian contracting and petro-chemical organisations Facilities The School has excellent IT facilities and teaching is carried out in seminar rooms. The very latest construction industry software is installed on our servers and students all have access to an innovative computer based learning support environment. Further Information please contact Mr A.D. Ross E-mail: a.d.ross@livjm.ac.uk
School of the Built Environment Liverpool John Moores University Clarence Street, Liverpool L3 5UG, UNITED KINGDOM School Web site: http://cwis.livjm.ac.uk/blt/welcome.htm