How Project Managers Balance Design Quality and Cost Control? – The Surveyor (1985)

Featured in The Surveyor magazine in 1985, this article “Project Management in Relation to Design” written by Ken Yeang, a methodology is outlined to help project managers balance cost control and design quality throughout a project.

Key Insights:

1. Cost Controlling vs. Cost Minimizing:
   • Focus on strategic cost control instead of cutting costs indiscriminately. Allocate resources to meet quality goals effectively.
2. Design Skills in Cost Control:
   • Designers with cost awareness help projects stay within budget through pre-planning, reviews, and coordination.
3. Management Skills Matter:
   • Strong management ensures alignment between design goals and budget constraints.
4. Project Objectives Influence Strategy:
   • Clear project goals guide cost allocation and help balance symbolic, functional, and investment purposes.
5. Designing-to-Cost vs. Costing-of-a-Design:
   • Designing-to-cost integrates budgets early, while costing-of-a-design estimates after design completion, risking overruns.
6. The Cost Control Method:
   • A cyclic process of “Control-Checks-Options” repeats at each project stage to ensure targets are met.
7. Time-Frame for Cost Control:
   • Adopt structured phases: Pre-Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation, and Management.
8. Cost Management Framework:
   • Develop a framework for budgets, assumptions, and corrective actions.

Conclusion:

Effective cost control relies on proactive planning, regular reviews, and strong collaboration between designers and managers. Strategic allocation of resources ensures both design quality and budget adherence, delivering successful projects.

Key Takeaway: Balance is achieved through structured frameworks, timely reviews, and expert coordination.