Managing the Profitable Construction Business – The Contractor′s Guide to Success and Survival Strategies
The Contractor′s Guide to Success and Survival Strategies
Gebonden Engels 2014 2e druk 9781118836941Samenvatting
Take control of your construction contracting business and manage it through the natural highs and lows of the construction market.
Learn from a team of construction business veterans led by Thomas C. Schleifer, who is commonly referred to as a construction business "turnaround" expert due to the number of construction companies he has rescued from financial distress. His financial acumen, combined with his practical, hands–on experience, has made him a sought–after private consultant. His experience and no–nonsense philosophy have truly given him a unique perspective. Important topics covered include:
Understanding the primary areas of construction business failure in the next decade
Minimizing business risk with real–world examples
Developing a positive and competent management attitude and strategy
Discover how to maneuver through this complicated and risky industry by using the authors′ research and proven success strategies to sustain and grow your business.
Specificaties
Lezersrecensies
Inhoudsopgave
<p>Preface xv</p>
<p>Acknowledgments xix</p>
<p>How to Use This Book xxi</p>
<p>Part 1 xxi</p>
<p>Part 2 xxi</p>
<p>A Teaching Text xxi</p>
<p>About the Authors xxiii</p>
<p>PART 1 1</p>
<p>1 Managing with Confidence 3</p>
<p>1.1 Lessons Learned 3</p>
<p>1.2 Objectives of This Book 4</p>
<p>1.3 Managing Areas of Risk 4</p>
<p>1.4 Recognizing Signs of Potential Trouble 5</p>
<p>1.5 Layers of Management 6</p>
<p>1.6 Owner versus Top Management 7</p>
<p>1.7 Disciplining Performance 7</p>
<p>1.8 Boards of Directors 8</p>
<p>1.9 Accountability 9</p>
<p>1.10 Selecting the Members 9</p>
<p>1.11 Importance of Credit 10</p>
<p>1.12 Volume versus Profit 11</p>
<p>1.13 Employee Benefits and Compensation 12</p>
<p>1.14 Borrowing 13</p>
<p>1.15 Business Planning 13</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 17</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 17</p>
<p>2 Elements of Contractor Failure 19</p>
<p>2.1 Capitalizing on Experience 19</p>
<p>2.2 Increase in Project Size 20</p>
<p>2.3 Unfamiliarity with New Geographic Areas 21</p>
<p>2.4 Moving into New Types of Construction 23</p>
<p>2.5 Changes in Key Personnel 26</p>
<p>2.6 Lack of Managerial Maturity in Expanding Organizations 28</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 29</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 30</p>
<p>3 Increase in Project Size 31</p>
<p>3.1 Limits of Growth 32</p>
<p>3.2 Increased Risks with Larger Projects 32</p>
<p>3.3 Case Study 33</p>
<p>3.4 Case Study Review 37</p>
<p>3.5 Underestimating the Size 37</p>
<p>3.6 Owners and Retainage 39</p>
<p>3.7 Allocating Time 39</p>
<p>3.8 Alternatives to Taking on Large Projects 39</p>
<p>3.9 Conclusion 41</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 41</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 42</p>
<p>4 Change in Geographic Location 43</p>
<p>4.1 Defining Normal Area 43</p>
<p>4.2 Reasons for Changing Geographic Area 43</p>
<p>4.3 Case Study: Long Distance Project 44</p>
<p>4.4 Review of the Long Distance Project Case Study 46</p>
<p>4.5 Managing the Risk with Long Distance Projects 47</p>
<p>4.6 Case Study: Regional Office 48</p>
<p>4.7 Review of the Regional Office Case Study 49</p>
<p>4.8 The Need for Personal Attention 50</p>
<p>4.9 Opening a Regional Office 50</p>
<p>4.10 Regional Office Contingency Plan 51</p>
<p>4.11 Conclusion 53</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 54</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 54</p>
<p>5 Changing or Adding to Type of Construction Performed 57</p>
<p>5.1 Reasons for Changes in Type of Work 57</p>
<p>5.2 Challenge: Lack of Experience 58</p>
<p>5.3 Challenge: Differences That Appear Subtle 60</p>
<p>5.4 Resolution: Know Your Specialty 60</p>
<p>5.5 Background to Case Studies 61</p>
<p>5.6 Case Study 1 61</p>
<p>5.7 Case Study 2 62</p>
<p>5.8 Example: Union versus Open Shop 64</p>
<p>5.9 Know the Risks 65</p>
<p>5.10 Volume versus Profit Alternative 65</p>
<p>5.11 Withdrawal Plan 66</p>
<p>5.12 Conclusion 67</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 67</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 68</p>
<p>6 Replace Key Personnel 69</p>
<p>6.1 Identifying Key People 69</p>
<p>6.2 Partners 70</p>
<p>6.3 Founders and Succession 71</p>
<p>6.4 Inactive Founders 72</p>
<p>6.5 Succession Case Study 72</p>
<p>6.6 New Management Team 75</p>
<p>6.7 Adding Key Personnel 75</p>
<p>6.8 Management Dilution 76</p>
<p>6.9 Summary 77</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 78</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 78</p>
<p>7 Managerial Maturity 81</p>
<p>7.1 Start–Up Construction Companies 81</p>
<p>7.2 Importance of Management Skills 82</p>
<p>7.3 Company Growth Phases 83</p>
<p>7.4 Limit of Managerial Effectiveness 84</p>
<p>7.5 Company Growth and Management Thresholds 85</p>
<p>7.6 Telltale Signs of Insufficient Managerial Maturity 85</p>
<p>7.7 The Challenge of Management Changes 86</p>
<p>7.8 Delegation of Authority 87</p>
<p>7.9 Test of Delegation 87</p>
<p>7.10 Managerial Maturity Case Study 88</p>
<p>7.11 Summary 90</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 91</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 92</p>
<p>8 Accounting Systems 93</p>
<p>8.1 Accounting and Information Management 93</p>
<p>8.2 Types of Systems 93</p>
<p>8.3 Who Is Responsible? 94</p>
<p>8.4 Accounts Payable 95</p>
<p>8.5 Disputed Invoices 96</p>
<p>8.6 Case Study 96</p>
<p>8.7 Recording Liabilities 98</p>
<p>8.8 Accounts Receivable 99</p>
<p>8.9 Timely Data Entry 99</p>
<p>8.10 Summary 100</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 101</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 101</p>
<p>9 Evaluating Contract Profitability 103</p>
<p>9.1 Measuring Performance 103</p>
<p>9.2 Accounting for Profit 104</p>
<p>9.3 Selection of Systems 105</p>
<p>9.4 Percentage of Completion 106</p>
<p>9.5 Estimated Profit 107</p>
<p>9.6 Case Study 107</p>
<p>9.7 Percentage of Completion Method of Accounting 108</p>
<p>9.8 Construction Work In Progress Method 110</p>
<p>9.9 Over– and Underbilling 113</p>
<p>9.10 Impact of Total Revenue 114</p>
<p>9.11 Cost Control 116</p>
<p>9.12 Timeliness 116</p>
<p>9.13 Cost Control versus General Ledger 117</p>
<p>9.14 Tracking Costs 117</p>
<p>9.15 Working without Information 118</p>
<p>9.16 Summary 119</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 119</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 120</p>
<p>10 Equipment Cost Management 123</p>
<p>10.1 Ownership Costs 123</p>
<p>10.2 How Much to Own 123</p>
<p>10.3 Reasons to Buy 124</p>
<p>10.4 Competitive Position 124</p>
<p>10.5 Calculating Equipment Costs 125</p>
<p>10.6 Time and Usage 125</p>
<p>10.7 Replacement Costs 127</p>
<p>10.8 Equipment Costs Charged to Projects 127</p>
<p>10.9 Idle Equipment 128</p>
<p>10.10 Cash Flow 128</p>
<p>10.11 Equipment Obsolescence 129</p>
<p>10.12 Equipment Obsolescence Case Study 130</p>
<p>10.13 Replacement Cost Incurred Daily 131</p>
<p>10.14 Summary 133</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 133</p>
<p>Critical Thinking Questions 134</p>
<p>11 Other Industry Concerns 135</p>
<p>11.1 Introduction 135</p>
<p>11.2 Growth and Risk 135</p>
<p>11.3 Market Driven 136</p>
<p>11.4 Controlling the Need for Volume 136</p>
<p>11.5 Rate of Growth 137</p>
<p>11.6 Flexible Overhead 138</p>
<p>11.7 Mobility of the Industry 139</p>
<p>11.8 Diminished Profits 140</p>
<p>11.9 Employee Benefits and Compensation 140</p>
<p>11.10 Motivation and Loyalty 142</p>
<p>11.11 Internal Company Disputes 142</p>
<p>11.12 Debt 143</p>
<p>11.13 Business Planning 144</p>
<p>11.14 Recommendations 145</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 145</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 145</p>
<p>PART 2 147</p>
<p>12 Financial Management Issues 149</p>
<p>12.1 Keys to Success 150</p>
<p>12.2 What Financial Statement Are Supposed to Convey 150</p>
<p>12.3 Three Major Functions 151</p>
<p>12.4 Financial Statement Basics 152</p>
<p>12.5 Balance Sheet 153</p>
<p>12.6 The Holding Tank Concept 155</p>
<p>12.7 Assets 156</p>
<p>12.8 Current Assets 156</p>
<p>12.9 Property and Equipment 157</p>
<p>12.10 Other Assets 158</p>
<p>12.11 Liabilities 158</p>
<p>12.12 Equity 159</p>
<p>12.13 Income Statement 160</p>
<p>12.14 Financial Statement Sets 161</p>
<p>12.15 Summary 163</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 163</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 164</p>
<p>13 Financial Analysis and Indicators 167</p>
<p>13.1 Working Capital 168</p>
<p>13.2 Calculating Target Backlog 169</p>
<p>13.3 Calculating Target Annual Income 169</p>
<p>13.4 Maximizing Working Capital 169</p>
<p>13.5 Liquidity 171</p>
<p>13.6 Current Ratio 171</p>
<p>13.7 Quick Ratio 172</p>
<p>13.8 Receivables to Payables Ratio 172</p>
<p>13.9 Leverage 173</p>
<p>13.10 Financial Capacity 173</p>
<p>13.11 Additional Indicators 174</p>
<p>13.12 Break–Even Point 174</p>
<p>13.13 RScore 176</p>
<p>13.14 Change Percentages 177</p>
<p>13.15 Summary 177</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 179</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 180</p>
<p>14 Projection and Budgets 181</p>
<p>14.1 Terms 181</p>
<p>14.2 The Projection Process 182</p>
<p>14.3 The Pre–Projection Process 183</p>
<p>14.4 Key Operational Factors 184</p>
<p>14.5 The Projection Process 185</p>
<p>14.6 Putting the Projection to Use 191</p>
<p>14.7 Short–Term Cash Flow Projections 192</p>
<p>14.8 Summary 193</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 193</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 194</p>
<p>15 The Effective Use of Credit 195</p>
<p>15.1 Introduction 195</p>
<p>15.2 The Primary Creditors 195</p>
<p>15.3 Banking 196</p>
<p>15.4 Bonding 198</p>
<p>15.5 Leasing 200</p>
<p>15.6 Summary 202</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 203</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 204</p>
<p>16 Making Decisions in Volatile Conditions 205</p>
<p>16.1 The Effects of Market Cycles 205</p>
<p>16.2 G & A Stair–Steps 207</p>
<p>16.3 Using Cycles Positively 209</p>
<p>16.4 Consecutive Cycles and Fighting Tendencies 210</p>
<p>16.5 Summary 210</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 211</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 212</p>
<p>17 Success Factors for a Changing Industry 213</p>
<p>17.1 What a Client Wants 213</p>
<p>17.2 A Client Perspective of the Contract 215</p>
<p>17.3 How Contracts Are Awarded 217</p>
<p>17.4 How Contracts Are Won 218</p>
<p>17.5 Relationships and Contract Divergence 219</p>
<p>17.6 The Client s Vexing Problem 221</p>
<p>17.7 Goals of Alternative Delivery Methods 221</p>
<p>17.8 Successful RFP Response Strategies 224</p>
<p>17.9 Effectively Using Risk Analysis in a Proposal 225</p>
<p>17.10 How to Develop a Winning Proposal 230</p>
<p>17.11 Successful Interviewing Strategies 231</p>
<p>17.12 Summary 233</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 233</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 234</p>
<p>18 Performance Measurement 237</p>
<p>18.1 What to Measure 238</p>
<p>18.2 Setting the Client s Expectations 238</p>
<p>18.3 Risk–Based Preplanning 239</p>
<p>18.4 Measuring Project Performance 242</p>
<p>18.5 Measuring Past Performance 244</p>
<p>18.6 Performance–Based Client Relationships 244</p>
<p>18.7 Measurement and Leadership 245</p>
<p>18.8 Summary 248</p>
<p>Chapter Review Questions 248</p>
<p>Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions 249</p>
<p>Appendix: Answer Key for Chapter Review Questions 251</p>
<p>Index 253</p>
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