PDCA CPC cheat sheet

Work breakdown structure (WBS) decomposes scope into deliverable-oriented levels; the 100% rule requires child elements to sum exactly to the parent's scope.

Critical path method (CPM) identifies the longest duration path through the network; total float = LS − ES = LF − EF, and zero-float activities lie on the critical path.

Pre-construction services typically include constructability review, value engineering, preliminary scheduling, and cost modeling before design is complete.

Responsibility matrix (RACI) assigns each task one Accountable party, plus Responsible, Consulted, and Informed roles; multiple accountable owners per task is a defect.

Design-bid-build sequence: programming → schematic design → design development → construction documents → bidding → award → construction.

Project delivery selection drivers: cost certainty vs. speed, owner risk tolerance, design completeness at award, and single-point vs. shared responsibility.

Milestone schedules carry no duration and mark contractual or decision gates; master schedules integrate design, procurement, permitting, and construction.

Change control board reviews scope changes against baseline; approved changes rebaseline cost and schedule and flow into contract modification.

Contract documents hierarchy is set by the agreement's order of precedence clause; typically agreement → general conditions → supplementary conditions → specifications → drawings.

AIA A201 General Conditions defines the architect's role in site visits as observing for general conformance, not supervising or warranting the contractor's work.

Specification divisions follow MasterFormat: Division 01 General Requirements governs submittals, substitutions, quality control, and temporary facilities.

Submittals are the contractor's representation that materials conform to the contract documents; review stamps (approved, approved as noted, rejected, revise and resubmit) do not relieve the contractor of compliance.

Shop drawings are contractor-prepared detailing of fabrication and installation; they supplement, and never override, the contract documents.

A performance specification states required results (e.g., thermal, structural) and leaves means and methods to the contractor; a prescriptive specification dictates products and methods.

Addenda modify bidding documents before bid opening; after award, changes are made by change order, construction change directive, or minor change in the work.

Differing site conditions clauses distinguish latent physical conditions (subsurface, unknown) from unknown physical conditions of an unusual nature.

Quantity takeoff converts dimensions to units (LF, SF, CY, EA); concrete volume = length × width × depth ÷ 27 for cubic yards.

Bid price = direct costs (labor, material, equipment, subcontracts) + indirect costs (overhead, bonds, insurance, permits) + markup (profit, contingency).

Unit price contracts pay measured quantities at fixed unit rates; total price varies with actual quantities, so unbalanced bidding shifts risk to the owner.

Bid bond typically 5–10% of bid; performance and payment bonds each commonly 100% of contract price.

Contingency is an owner- or estimator-held allowance for known unknowns; it is not markup and is drawn down as risks resolve.

Life-cycle cost analysis discounts future operating, maintenance, and replacement costs to present value for comparison of alternatives.

Balanced bid check: front-end loading raises early items, back-end loading raises late items; both are detectable by comparing unit prices to the estimate.

Earned value: CPI = EV ÷ AC and SPI = EV ÷ PV; CPI below 1.0 means cost overrun, SPI below 1.0 means behind schedule.

Activity-on-node network: ES = max(EF of predecessors); EF = ES + duration; backward pass gives LF and LS; float = LS − ES.

Free float is the delay an activity can absorb without delaying any successor; total float is delay without delaying project completion.

A near-critical path has low total float; resource leveling may consume float and shift the critical path, so re-run the network after leveling.

Crashing shortens duration by adding resources to critical activities; cost slope = (crash cost − normal cost) ÷ (normal time − crash time), crash lowest slope first.

Fast-tracking overlaps sequential activities to compress schedule and increases coordination and rework risk.

Time impact analysis measures delay by inserting the delay event into a fragnet at the point of occurrence and comparing completion dates.

Concurrent delay exists when two parties independently cause overlapping delay; under many contracts neither party recovers time-related damages for the concurrent period.

S-curve plots cumulative percent complete against time; progress below the planned curve indicates schedule slippage.

Three phases of quality control: preparatory (review submittals, hold pre-activity meeting), initial (first work item inspected), and follow-up (ongoing inspection).

Inspection and test plan (ITP) lists hold points (work cannot proceed without sign-off) and witness points (notification required, work may proceed).

Punch list records incomplete or defective work identified at substantial completion; final completion follows correction and closeout documents.

Substantial completion starts warranty periods and typically shifts risk of loss and insurance responsibility to the owner.

Field density testing for compacted fill commonly uses nuclear gauge or sand cone; required compaction is expressed as percent of maximum dry density from a Proctor test.

Concrete slump test (ASTM C143) measures consistency; cylinders are cured and tested for compressive strength at 7 and 28 days.

Daily reports document weather, manpower, equipment, deliveries, visitors, and delays; they are contemporaneous records used in delay and change claims.

Mock-ups establish workmanship benchmark and must be approved before general installation; approved mock-ups become the standard of acceptance.

Hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment (least effective).

OSHA focus four fatality causes: falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution; fall protection is generally required at 6 feet in construction.

Competent person is trained to identify hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action; required for scaffolding, excavations, and fall protection.

Excavations 5 feet or deeper require a protective system unless the competent person determines stable rock; access/egress required at 4 feet.

Hazard communication (HazCom) requires safety data sheets (SDS) on site and labeled containers for hazardous chemicals.

Incident rate = (number of recordable cases × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked; 200,000 represents 100 employees at 40 hours for 50 weeks.

Job hazard analysis (JHA) breaks a task into steps, identifies hazards per step, and specifies controls before work begins.

Stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) controls erosion, sediment, and discharges under NPDES permit requirements.

A contract requires offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, and legality; a subcontract is formed when the subcontractor's bid is accepted by the contractor's award.

Promissory estoppel can bind a subcontractor to a bid where the contractor reasonably relied on it and the subcontractor should have expected reliance.

Mechanic's lien secures payment for labor, material, or services improving real property; notice and filing deadlines are statutory and strict.

Statute of limitations bars an action after a fixed period; statute of repose bars claims after a fixed period from substantial completion regardless of discovery.

Economic loss doctrine generally bars negligence claims for purely economic losses where the parties have a contract; design professionals may still face negligence claims in some jurisdictions.

Standard of care for design professionals is the skill and care ordinarily exercised by similarly situated professionals, not perfection or warranty of result.

Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and managed; accepting gifts or payments from vendors or contractors can violate ethics rules and procurement law.

Total cost method of proving damages is disfavored absent proof that the owner caused all cost overruns; measured mile analysis compares impacted to unimpacted periods.

Tuckman stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning; conflict peaks in storming and is resolved through clear roles and norms.

Situational leadership matches style to follower maturity: directing, coaching, supporting, delegating.

Communication model: sender encodes, message travels through a channel, receiver decodes, and feedback confirms; noise distorts the message.

Number of communication channels = n(n − 1) ÷ 2, where n is the number of participants; adding one member adds n channels.

Thomas-Kilmann conflict modes: competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, accommodating; collaborating seeks win-win and is preferred for important issues.

Partnering aligns owner, designer, and contractor goals through a charter, joint issue resolution, and periodic evaluation rather than contractual change.

Lessons learned capture is most effective at phase gates and project closeout, feeding organizational process assets.

Maslow and Herzberg: hygiene factors (pay, conditions) prevent dissatisfaction but motivators (recognition, growth) drive engagement.