Projects must be managed.On success.

This practical handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the relevant components of the German Construction Tendering and Contract Regulations Part B (VOB/B) and the additional regulations of the German Civil Code (BGB) with regard to the topic of ‘interrupted construction progress’, serving as an introductory volume for construction lawyers and as a constant companion for construction professionals. Numerous graphs and flow charts contribute to the structure and clarity of the contents, making it easy for reader to orient themselves and use the book as a reference in case of specific questions.

Delays or excessive construction times are one of the main problems facing construction projects. This is a complex subject, both in practical and legal terms, involving construction engineering, construction business management and construction law. The authors take an interdisciplinary approach, explaining problem areas based on practical examples from numerous case studies. The diverse team of authors, consisting of legal experts and construction managers, ensures a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective.

From the contents

• Planning and Controlling Construction Progress
• Financial and Scheduling Impacts of Interrupted Construction Progress
• Handling Construction Time During the Construction Process
• Cooperation of Lawyers and Construction Business Managers/Engineers

Systematic project management is the basis for successful completion of construction plans with regard to financial, scheduling and technological goals.

The authors provide clear answers to these questions: What does project management mean exactly? Which types of services does it entail and what is its basis in law? The book provides readers with a thorough description of methods, from the initial project idea to project completion.

For optimal management of processes, planning and realisation of construction sites, all the basics of management are explained using numerous illustrations and practical examples. The authors also devote a separate chapter to the topic of ‘Information and Communication in Construction Projects’ which discusses the use of new media.

This well-received book is designed to be an effective guide for future project work in construction. The fourth edition has been revised and updated (e.g. covering new guidelines such as AHO booklet 9, VOB, DIN 276, HOAI)

Detailed construction time analysis is a precondition for any legal proceedings, but also serves in resolving conflicts that may arise during the course of executing a construction plan. There is apparently no getting around the close interconnection between legal contracting and construction management work. The practical solution lies in a formalised process which takes the ‘interruption report’ as its starting point for analysing any individual incident.

Change-orders have long been seen as one of the most pressing and difficult topics in the course of carrying out construction contracts. Construction professionals and lawyers are confronted with questions and disputes every day which arise from demands for compensation due to changes with regard to the contractual relationship. The topic of change-orders is fraught with considerable legal misconceptions and misunderstandings. As a result, financial errors are practically inevitable.

That is why this book not only focusses on the latest legal standards, but also provides new solutions and perspectives, particularly with regard to the topics of ‘the legally binding force of change-order agreements’, ‘the option of refusing service in case of disputes about the basis and amount of compensation’, and proving claims of construction-time delays. Established German civil case law on drafting construction contracts is systematically presented so that the construction lawyer as well as the construction professional can determine whether at all their specific case constitutes grounds for initiating a compensation dispute. Additionally, the authors provide suggestions for usages and formulations to avoid legal uncertainties or to cite strategically in case of a dispute.

The book is an ideal guide for consultants working on complex construction plans, but is also helpful for establishing a basic understanding of the topic of change-orders.

The market for construction services has grown increasingly complex in recent years. More and more builders are demanding not only traditional construction services but also resources for specific tasks, budgets and time frames. As such, companies are often no longer tendering for the construction of an architect’s pre-planned production work. Instead, they are seeking contractors who will take over planning, construction, operation of the building as well as production logistics for a specific period of time, all at a fixed price.

From the state’s point of view, commissions for realising public infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and toll roads, have expanded considerably. The public-private partnership model, for example, also entails the organisation of the necessary preconditions for the constructions, installation of legal and operational structures, project financing, or the creation of management concepts as well as long-term project management. That means that a new market has emerged for construction-related services and the management of construction-related processes.

This book provides the latest information on this topic with regard to financing, planning and implementation of real estate projects.

Merely expanding existing buildings is no longer enough in this day and age. Today’s buildings have a life cycle.

This book is written by construction engineers for construction engineers who work in the real estate industry. Each building is subject to a life cycle which produces costs. These foreseeable costs must be taken into consideration during future planning. The authors present a comprehensive and practical guide to all important management services that are essential to the successful planning, preparation and implementation of a real estate project.

Contractual conflicts in the construction industry are leading to ever-increasing levels of personal and financial strain. Lengthy legal proceedings inflict severe damage on professional and personal relationships, making future partnerships difficult, if not impossible.

To avoid these kinds of problems, mediation offers the possibility of resolving conflicts in an extrajudicial setting. The process is voluntary and consensus-based. All parties involved in the conflict also take part in the process. An impartial mediator supports the conflicting parties through a fair process of mutually developing a resolution. The mediator is responsible for expertly leading the process along the path to consensus. The mediation process usually results in a binding, executable agreement between the parties which settles the conflict. By proactively joining together to work out solutions, the parties are able to develop sustainable, long-term relationships with one another which extend far beyond the process itself.

This book introduces mediation as a form of extrajudicial conflict resolution, demonstrating its application on the basis of selected case studies from the construction industry. It is based on mediation experiences from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The authors investigate the preconditions of a successful contracting strategy for large-scale projects. They start with an analysis of the risks facing construction stakeholders and present options for how to award contracts for planning and construction services. Afterwards, they discuss the possibilities and limitations of recent, trendy contracting models, especially the awarding of contracts with guaranteed maximum prices and the commissioning of construction managers. Based on this, as well as an analysis of the classic structure of a (large-scale) construction project, the authors develop a contracting model that accounts for stakeholders’ risks while also allowing builders the flexibility they require. This enables builders to realise their construction plans in a competitive environment while adhering to their expectations in terms of costs, quality, and scheduling.

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