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

Many inexperienced people wrongly assume that ‘anybody’ can build a house or commercial building and that the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do so are easily acquired. The reality is 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 are many components to a successful build from the first meeting with clients to final billing to 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 organization performance. Students and aspiring entrepreneurs will read how one company grew from 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 own businesses. 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. This case highlights the business decision to purchase and implement a project management software application within a construction management company. The case provides for a platform for students to define internal control and evaluate adequate or strong internal controls compared with weaknesses or deficiencies in internal controls for the organization. Next, based on utilization of the Prosci ADKAR change management model, students will examine the phases of change. Furthermore, students will evaluate various project management technologies in order to discuss and present their recommendation(s) on the optimal application acquisition for the organization. Finally, students will identify and consider how organizational stakeholders could be potentially influenced by the business decision of purchasing and implementing project management software.