The importance of Information Technology (IT) is, of course, relevant to all businesses. Sometimes overlooked however, is the importance of IT consulting in the pre-construction and construction phase of new building and large building renovation.
When construction projects begin that involve creating a new workplace or a new process, information technology is an underlying component. The recognition of the necessity of providing guidance in the planning phase as well as the implementation phase of new construction has led to the increasingly widespread use of a technology project manager. A lot of people, even in the engineering and architectural field, are unfamiliar with the IT consulting role of a technology project manager. However, clients are recognizing the opportunity to plan prior to construction and since their “work world” is sometimes synonymous with the data systems they use, bringing technology to the immediate post-blueprint stage is more and more common.
So What Does a Technology Project Manager Do?
In essence, he/she helps to align IT with strategic business goals from a new construction engineer perspective.
A Technology Project Manager plans, advocates, coordinates, and facilitates all the systems, services, and programs that enable the workplace or process to fulfill its goals. Technology is critical in many roles in almost all organizations; order processing, shipping, billing, sales, accounting systems, and customer communication. All rely on applications, systems, networks, servers, telephones, and the Internet. Yet, these critical systems are often not considered part of traditional construction or relocation projects. Therefore, IT consulting is overlooked.
Technology Project Manager Role
- Understand the business requirements and ensure that those requirements are met within budget and schedule.
- Determine and verify the ‘fit’. Is the space given sufficient to accommodate the systems needed? If not, are their alternatives or workarounds for improvement?
- Assess planned work-flow; look for changes due to the new environment, assessment of applications that support the work-flow, overseeing changes and the validation of those changes.
- Assessment and planning for networks and communications needed in the new location.
- Assessment of new or existing computers, printers, faxes, credit card systems and other critical technologies.
- Coordinating schedules and resources among suppliers, vendors, trades, as well as the schedule of the project itself.
- Management of the installation of the networks.
- Management of the installation or relocation of systems components. Assuring those systems are inventoried, assessed, setup, tested and validated.
- Development of documentation. Often overlooked, this is the singular opportunity to build the documentation that can be referenced for ongoing and future IT projects.
Another reason that the use of a Technology Project Manager is becoming more prevalent is the obvious opportunity that new building construction offers in upgrading technology. New construction can mean new infrastructure and with new and better cabling comes the opportunity to run faster and more robust systems and to take advantage of newer applications. Or perhaps it’s an opportunity to introduce wireless technology? If so, are their constraints in security or in delivery of data? IT consulting answers these questions.
Because of the various tasks assigned, the Technology Project Manager becomes an integral part of communicating to the rest of the engineering and construction community and his influence and contributions are as much in the questions proffered as in the answers offered.
Why Is IT Consulting Necessary?
Understanding technology needs both prior and during the construction phase results in a better building. The Technology Project Manager is responsible for assisting everyone in avoiding the pitfalls and advocating improvements. In essence, he/she helps to align IT with strategic business goals. From an engineering perspective.
If you want to enjoy the benefits of receiving IT consulting at the start of your next construction, contact us. During our conversation we can discuss feasibility and if our IT consulting services are the best fit for your next project.