Mind-boggled to organized in one easy step: Construction management trials, tribulations, and successes

Many inexperienced people have wrongly assumed that ‘anybody’ can build a house or commercial building and that the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do so are easily acquired. The reality has been that it takes years of effort to become skilled at construction and even more education and training to manage an entire project from start to finish. There have been many components to a successful build from the first meeting with clients to final billing, and IRS tax reporting. Project management in the commercial construction industry has always been challenging. In recent years, project management software has been developed to assist construction business owners with organization and control of all the components. This case examines the growth of one business from challenging start-up times to a successful multi-million-dollar business and how project management software was used to make big leaps forward in operational efficiency and organizational performance. Students and aspiring managers, accountants, and entrepreneurs will read how one company grew from a loosely organized fledgling startup to a sought-after builder of choice. More importantly, students will examine various project management software packages, learn how each can be used, and make informed decisions about options available to run their businesses while maintaining financial accountability. In turn, an alternative title for this case could have been: How to become a successful company through technological advances for enhanced operational efficiency and real performance results.