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A Guide into the Construction world

Introduction:

Every time you hear a couple of professionals talk about a subject in their field. We do not

completely understand all of what they talked about. This happens every day of our own lives, in

school, at the doctors office etc. at one point in time we must eventually learn to adapt to

different situations and different types of jargon and genres of communication. Communication

is essential to express our feelings. This Guide will lead you to a construction workplace

environment. Through the information gather by interviews and observations I have analyzed

you will find the way project managers communicate and interact with coworkers and

subcontractors.

The information gathered was from an interview to Mr. Project manager for privacy issues and

the observation at the project x by construction group 1; we will be using this names for

privacy issues.

This Guide purpose is to guide or escort people interest in becoming project manager at a

construction business where you will find how they communicate within the company and to the

customers and or other people or subcontractors. This primarily will be most effective for a small

to medium size company.

Community Goals:

More than an effective writing communication as a project manager you need to be very

effective in verbal communication. As a project manager or when applying for this position.
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Mr. Project manager stated at the interview that this is not an office job, almost 90% of the time

you are out in the field taking care of the project you are assigned and your job is to be a

translator between your boss (engineer) and labor workers. They know how to be formal and

informal. They are also key to bring the organization into the project. They know the rules

construction and must instruct when and how to do things in a way to be more efficient so the

company can reduce wasting capital in wasted material and labor hours.

Roles and Identities:

Project Manager might not be essentially be doing the labor work such as masonry, cement, etc.

but visually they have seen it from start and play an important role in the construction business.

Their main goal is to accomplish a building or house on time, to give a hands up as to what a

project manager does is plan, budget, oversee and document all aspects of the specific project

they are working on. Project managers may work closely with upper management to make sure

that the scope and direction of each project is on schedule, as well as other departments for

support. Project managers might work by themselves, or be in charge of a team to get the job

done. For example a project manager must inspect the framing and the piping laid out before

throwing the cement for the foundation of the house, as project manager he must ensure there are

no leaks as this can provoke issues and losses to the company at the end of the construction. The

company is trusting you to make sure you efficiently conclude a project and resolve any issues

along the project without stopping the project a long time. This means that collaborating with

workers, subcontractors and providers are essential. Do not let this turn you down as this job has

a lot of duties it also gives you a lot of benefits.

When we asked our interviewer Mr. Project Manager he stated as a project manager you have

to make them know you are on top of things, you must let them know that they cannot fool you
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as you know the procedures of things, you have to do this without making the workers feel

incompetent or lower and you got to learn to talked to them individually and as a team I cant

talk the same way to the person that his only job is to put cement blocks that to the person that

installs and programs the home automation program. I do not mean in a superiority way, what I

mean is I cannot use complex vocabulary because he will simply would not understand my

directions; I still have to make sure I communicate with the same level of respect to everyone.

You do not want to waste your time when your job is to be more efficient and he is simply there

for his paycheck at the end of every week, imagine that I am a referee between the blueprints and

the workers. I interpret the rules of the blue print and they make the plays. Whenever the play is

not right I whistle and point the fault.

Specialized Language (Lexis):

Within the construction world there are a lot of terms that a Project Manager must use at

the appropriate time. In many other fields this specialized language usually has to deal with legal

terms or in big companies that have designed their own methods usually have acronyms for their

own inventions in this community and specially in this region the definitions for finishes or

methods are usually in English or Spanish. Mr. Project Manager explain that when ordering

concrete or talking to the person that will be working on the cement depending on the weather

the concrete must be applied at a certain wetness in which varies from 1-5. 4 just means how

many gallons of water there is per yard of cement. Some of the other terms used when using

cement are flotear, lechita, brocha,cepillado. For example when working cement of that

at the end of the constructions will be exposed as is, the project manager has to make sure this

part of the concrete gets a final detail touch. Sometimes due to the weather especially in this

region it is necessary that when working cement on windy days you make sure to work it fast as
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you can so the cement would not dry and crack. This can be achieve by applying lechita which

is a cement a bonding adhesive with a similar look to milk which is the literally translation for

lechita that helps prevent this cracks. Mr. Project Manager says little words like this which

have other literally meanings once you are in site job, this words change their meaning. (Attach

below is a table Words that are used in the construction word that their meaning is different from

the one that on the dictionary.)

LECHITA Concrete Adhesive

FLOTEAR To smooth the surface of the concrete slab
BROCHEAR To smooth the surface after removing the wood frame of the cement
slab
CEPILLADO Finished to cement that includes passing a long brush horizontally or
vertically to create lines
1,2,3,4,5 Liquidity of concrete
MANO DE Backhoe
CHANGO(MONKE
Y HAND)
SAPO(FROG) Compactor
FREMEADO Slang word that comes from the word framing which comes from the
English language and has been turn to a universal way to call the
framing installed to pour the concrete.

Credibility:

As a new employee at a construction business there are different way in which you have to prove

your experience to your superiors and to the people you will be managing. In this case talking

using the terms they are familiar with tends to let them feel you were at some point in their feet

doing the same work as them when in reality you are just communicating efficiently with your

team. Mr. Project Manager says that while it might be uncomfortable to them and to you he says

that you should spend time during your first weeks to their conversations on the job site. As he
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believes talking to the people you manage would be the hardest part of the job as when you talk

to your superiors you will feel very confident as they know that if you have experience or

finished projects. You efficiently communicate your issues and solve problems at the best way

possible. Written communication is need it to make your daily reports and write any time you

had to correct the workers as they might put it on you that is your proof that you warned them

about the mistake and they should have fix the problem. When there is any warranty issues the

company will then turn to your reports to see if you ever identify the issue. Mr. Project Manager

stated that is your job security. Keeping a journal of your daily activities and duties within the

company is not a bad idea. Mr. Project Manager gave us a few tips when writing daily reports:

Dates and times are really important

Explain in detail the situation and the course you took to fix it
If warned make sure you get a written proof and if possible a witness of a verbal warning

If you do this not only you will be helping the company you work for save money on the long

run but your credibility within this community will positively grow.

Genres of communication:

In this modern world, technology is everyday making our lifes easier and so it is doing it to

project managers. The use of cellphone calls, text messages, e-mails, radio, design programs and

satellite images of the earth, Microsoft Office are some by not say all that have help project

managers accomplish more in less time. But which ones is use the most and which is the most

effective? Mr. Project Manager stated Well, this are two different questions that can be answer

with one answer and that is cellphone. Although the radio is still use in this industry, whenever

we do not get an authorization that is need it asap we rapidly called main office and talk to the
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General Director for approval, such on cancellations for material or any approval that is need it.

For example,

E-mails are great to communicate with material providers as you are also getting a proof of it by

doing so. This would not been as professionally as sending a text message to the driver that

usually delivers the material to let him know material would have to be arrange for another time.

On the other hand making a phone call for a meeting would also be too formal for a request like

this.

This are completely different Genres but each serves its purpose if used right at the right moment

with the right person that you are trying to communicate.

Conclusion:

This guide we have examine different areas of a Project manager for the constructions business.

We have find the best approach on communication towards the workers and what your main role

is in the company you will be working for. Unlike other jobs the project managers at the

construction business has to deal with very different types of people and the communication is a

key to proper deliver your message and your goals for the benefit of your career and the

company.