087. ARE Technical: Top 5 Tips for Project Management (PjM)

In Episode 87 of the ARE Podcast, David and Eric break down the five most important strategies for passing the Project Management (PjM) division and how to think like a project manager on exam day.

We begin with discussing the top five tips for project management, focusing on the AIA Contracts B 101 and A 201, which outline the roles and responsibilities of the owner, architect, and contractor. We emphasize the importance of understanding these documents for both the ARE exam and real-world practice. We also cover accounting in project management, which involves tracking changes and staff utilization, and the nuances of project delivery methods. Additionally, we discuss the differences between owner’s consultants and architect’s consultants, the significance of bonds and insurance, quality assurance and control processes, and the distinction between billable and direct labor rates.

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Show Notes

Understanding the AIA Contracts

• David introduces the episode, focusing on the top five tips for project management, specifically the AIA Contracts B101 and A201.
• Eric emphasizes the importance of familiarizing oneself with these documents, noting that they are readily available online and through NCARB.
• David explains the B101 (Owner–Architect Agreement) and its significance in understanding architect services and roles during contract administration.
• They discuss A201 (General Conditions of the Contract for Construction) as covering applications for payment, schedule of values, and the different ways to handle changes (change orders, CCDs, ASIs).

Accounting in Project Management

• They discuss accounting in project management as different from accounting in practice management.
• Focus is on:
  • Tracking changes to contracts.
  • Tracking schedules and fees.
  • Staff allocation and hours.
• David notes it is more staff / personnel related: allocating hours, making sure the team doesn’t exceed budgeted hours.
• Eric stresses thinking like a project manager, not an employee:
  • Don’t always pick the most “qualified” staff person if their utilization is already very high.
  • Look for underutilized staff and opportunities for mentoring and growth.

Project Delivery Methods

• They review the main project delivery methods:
  • Design–Bid–Build (DBB)
  • Design–Build (DB)