As any contractor will attest, a construction project is a constant juggling act. From scheduling to cost controls, communication to technology, it takes skill (and perhaps a good dose of patience and a little humor) to maintain control over the various parts that create the overall performance. It requires mental agility and coordination. In juggling, there are a few key things to remember:

* Develop a stance and keep it steady (this requires flexibility and concentration).
* Anticipate where the ball will drop.
* Take your time—don’t rush.
* Monitor your breathing and don’t panic.
* Ask other jugglers for tips.

Simply put, these same principles hold true for project controls:

* Set a goal and look for solutions to attain it.
* Plan ahead for possible problems.
* Proper planning will help yield project success.
* Keep your cool.
* Stay up to date with industry news and developments.

This month’s set of articles will help you keep all the balls in the air. For example, Larry True helps you anticipate the fallout of soaring material costs. John Jurewicz reviews of a solution-driven software package that helps you keep your eye on the ball (and important documents). Jerry Laiserin discusses the ultimate goal for information modeling. And, Gordon Aronson reminds you to think before you act when you schedule your project. Remember, whether in juggling or in project controls, the success of the performance is only as good as the sum of its parts.

By Larry True
It’s never easy to predict drastic cost escalations for materials. When it does happen, you need to take preventative steps to ensure you don’t preclude yourself from cost recovery. Larry True offers simple, yet important, steps to ensure you don’t lose money.

By John Jurewicz of ASPTIP.COM
Ever try to locate a document in stacks of papers, or worse, on an ill-organized server? The process is frustrating, at best. Software manufacturers are taking note and offering industry-specific search tools to speed the process. This month, John Jurewicz evaluates Centric Software’s InSight 6.0.

By Jerry Laiserin
The goal of a true solitary information model that covers all aspects of a project life cycle may still be a distance hope, says BIM guru Jerry Laiserin. But, as construction professionals develop field-specific models to accommodate their individual needs, the industry grows closer to attaining that not-so-unrealistic goal. This month’s BIM feature looks at various field-specific BIM formats.

By Gordon H. Aronson
Scheduling will never be an entirely automated process. As with any process that requires data entry, the information entered into the system will only be as good as the thought process of the person entering the data. Gordon Aronson warns against trusting the software to do all the work and offers examples of possible danger zones.

Here’s a look at recent items in the news.