• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Jobsite

  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Safety
  • Technology
  • World
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • United States
  • More
    • Cover Stories
    • Slideshows
    • Weekly Grind

Six Scheduling Mistakes That Can Cost You Time and Money

May 4, 2020 by Procore Editorial Staff

Construction teams are constantly in a race against time to reach their project targets and deadlines. All the while working through the day-to-day challenges that arise with each new project. It is no surprise then that if the schedule is not managed correctly you’ll make mistakes which can lead to a loss of productivity, rework, and may even hurt you your reputation.

Don’t let these six common scheduling mistakes continue to cost your company time and money. By being proactive and avoiding them in the first place, you’ll stay ahead of the game and have the extra time to do what you do best––build.

1. Unrealistic Resource Projections

Every company has a set amount of unique resources available for a project. Problems and delays occur when schedules are set in place without considering available resources or with the unstated assumption that there are unlimited resources. When creating your schedule, maintain a realistic sense of available resources. Critical resources can be properly utilized and allocated with this level of planning, and delays can be avoided that result from waiting for resources to become available.

2. Missing Dependencies 

Within every construction schedule there is a logical order of dependencies. If not properly defined, missing dependencies can lead to more than just missed deadlines. It can lead to difficulties in arguing fault during litigation, arbitration, or lawsuit. For example, wall foundations must be constructed before the walls themselves, and this must be properly represented on the schedule. Schedules should be thoroughly checked to ensure all dependencies are in the proper logical order to avoid delays.

3. Not Enough Details 

A lack of dependencies can lead to a lack of detail. One way that project managers get rid of this stress is by providing a simplified high-level view of daily tasks. This is fine for providing insight at a glance, as long as more detail is available at a sub-task level. As your build progresses, details should be regularly added to the critical path and fully describe the required work.

4. Being Reactive, Rather than Proactive

Overseeing schedules isn’t suited for optimists. This is the sort of task that requires you to be proactive and plan ahead. You can never be too prepared. It’s important to understand that in construction it’s not a matter of if, but when, things will go wrong. Be proactive by planning and allocating extra funds or buffer time to handle the unknowns. Using this method, when a schedule is updated, the completion date is then justified according to the realistic project’s progression. This scope of reference makes it easier for owners to cope with added overhead.

5. Lack of Concurrency

Claims of concurrent delay are used as both a sword and a shield in fighting schedule delay claims. A contractor may use concurrency to defend against a claim for liquidated damages by an owner, while an owner may use it to ward off the contractor’s pursuit of delay costs. This grows out of the developing trend by courts and arbitration panels to require critical path analysis as defense against delay claims.

6. Ineffective Documentation 

Concurrency leads us to the need for proper, accurate, and consistent documentation. Having an organized and integrated system of documents that spans all stages of construction could mean economic life or death. It also allows for decision makers to stay in the loop and make informed decisions that can prevent schedule delays from occurring. Inherent in today’s litigious nature of business is the need to document virtually every aspect of one’s activities. In delay disputes, the party with the best records has a great advantage.

A proactive schedule is one that is constantly adapting and evolving to serve each unique project. This means your team must also do the same to stay ahead of scheduling mistakes. Over time, this will become second nature to them, and instead of racing against time to meet their project goals, your team will be welcoming their deadlines.

If you liked this article, here is a webinar you might enjoy.

Linear Scheduling

Categories: Business, Canada, Featured, World Tags: Construction Scheduling

Procore Editorial Staff

Procore Technologies is a leading construction management software built to help you finish quality projects—safely, on time, and within budget.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Featured

How Utility and Transmission Companies Successfully Tackle Building Challenges with Tech

Eight Infrastructure Projects Built With Procore

Dormant to Dominant: Evolving Role of Data on Civil and Infrastructure Projects

Value of Connected Project Data on Civil and Infrastructure Projects

Build Better Bridges by Creating a Culture of Innovation and Harnessing AI

Subscribe to Jobsite

Footer

Jobsite Favicon

Jobsite News

  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Safety
  • Technology

World

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • United States

Resources

  • eBooks
  • Partners
  • Webinars

Education

  • Building Inclusion
  • Certification
  • Continuing Education
  • Safety Qualified

Procore

  • Procore Platform
  • Groundbreak
  • Procore Blog
  • Procore.org

© 2025 Procore Technologies, Inc. Privacy Notice Terms of Service