In a nutshell, planning and scheduling involves examining what tasks are required to
complete a project, how they are sequenced, what equipment, labor and materials they need,
and what is the cost for each of these tasks. Using the techniques discussed in this
course, a schedule is then developed. It communicates when each task will be performed,
and shows its cost and resource implications. Other aspects are equally important. For
example, this course also discusses how the schedule is used to control costs, and how it
is updated.
Why is all of the above so important? The vast majority of projects require the
coordination of several subcontractors, and involve large amounts of money over a long
period of time. They can be technically complex, and are not strange to legal conflicts. A
project manager comes to appreciate the value of formal planning very quickly.
Textbook
The textbook for this course is:
Associated General Contractors of America
Construction Planning and Scheduling
Washington, DC: Associated General Contractors of America , 1994
(AGC Stock No. 1107.1)
We do use the texbook. Each lecture tries to follow the structure of the corresponding
chapter in the book, and I "give away" a few points in each exam that can be
answered rather straightforwardly if you have read it. Ideally, you would not get more
than a "B" if you don't read the text, and no more than a "C" if you
only read the book but do not take notes and attend the lectures.
This Web Site
This site is geared towards CSU students currently enrolled in MC 461. Although it does
not contain anything not discussed in lass, you will want to visit it periodically. It
does contain the lecture transparencies, handouts, homework assignments and the other good
things listed on the left bar. But do not make a hard copy of material not
covered in class yet, because that material was used in the last semester, and I
reserve the right to change any material for this semester (and of course I will do so for
homework assignments).
