A well de fi ned schedule provides a structured

A well-de fi ned schedule provides a structured approach to planning, identi fi es problems before
they arise, forecasts cash fl ows, and assesses resource requirements.
Here are the fundamental and advanced scheduling techniques:
Gantt Charts : A Gantt chart is the easiest way to create a construction schedule. It lets
you visualize your project timeline by transforming task names, dates, durations, and end
dates into cascading horizontal bar charts. Learn more about creating and using Gantt
charts in Smartsheet .
Critical Path Scheduling : The most widely used scheduling technique is the critical path
method. This method calculates the minimum project completion time and the start and
end dates for all project tasks. It identi fi es the critical tasks that, if delayed, will delay your
entire project. The critical path method helps you reduce timelines, manage resources,
and compare planned with actual. To learn more, read our Ultimate Guide to the Critical
Path Method .
Line of Balance : This scheduling technique is best suited for repetitive work and is often
employed in road construction. It is a management control process for collecting,
measuring, and presenting facts relating to time, all measured against a speci fi c plan.
With a Line of Balance schedule, you must allocate resources for each step, so you can
make sure the next step is not delayed.
Q Scheduling : This form of construction scheduling addresses the sequence of activities,
relationships between tasks, and the total cost of fi nishing the project. It includes the
overall construction site and prevents two competing activities from happening at the
same time at the same location. While this technique is the closest to reality, it requires
special software and can take more effort from the project manager to evaluate cost
analyses for the different schedule alternatives generated.
Problems, Issues, and Legal Matters in a

Construction Project
Construction projects are always changing, and the constant level of uncertainty can often
bring con fl ict to project teams. Construction project managers are often tasked with resolving
disputes, identifying and mitigating risks, and understanding legal rami fi cations.
Here’s what construction project managers should know:
How to Resolve Disputes
Con fl icts will inevitably arise in any project. It’s the project manager’s job to resolve the
disputes, so the team can stay productive and work well together. Possible con fl icts in a
project could include poor communication, lack of clarity, con fl icts of interest, limited
resources, or power struggles. While every con fl ict is different, there are several resolution
strategies that you may employ:
Mediation : A third-party mediator will be hired to resolve the disputes between the two
parties. This strategy is the cheapest and least time-consuming.