Projects must be managed.

Contractual disputes in the construction industry are increasingly tying up significant human and financial resources. Long-running legal battles severely hinder both business and personal relationships, making future collaboration difficult or even impossible.

To avoid such disputes, mediation has become an effective out-of-court conflict resolution process. The procedure is voluntary and consensus-oriented. All parties involved in the conflict participate in the process. An impartial mediator supports the parties in developing a consensus-based solution through a fair process. The mediator is responsible for professionally facilitating the process to encourage consensus. Mediation typically concludes with a binding, actionable agreement between the parties to resolve the conflict. By developing solutions together and taking personal responsibility for the outcome, the parties are able to build sustainable, long-term relationships that extend well beyond the process itself.

This book introduces mediation as an out-of-court conflict resolution method and demonstrates its application using real-world case studies from the construction industry. It draws on experience from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The authors examine the prerequisites for a successful procurement strategy in major projects. They begin by analyzing the risks for those involved in construction and presenting various options for awarding planning and construction services. Subsequently, they discuss the possibilities and limitations of recently "trendy" procurement models, specifically Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contracts and the appointment of construction managers. Building on this, and on an analysis of the typical structure of a (large) construction project, a procurement model is developed that accounts for the risks faced by project participants while providing the client with the necessary flexibility. This allows the client to realize a construction project that meets their expectations regarding cost, quality, and schedule within a competitive environment.

This textbook provides a systematic introduction to the project management of construction facilities. It explains the foundation for successfully executing construction projects with regard to economic, scheduling, and technological goals.

The authors provide precise answers to questions such as: What exactly does project management mean? What scope of services does it cover? What legal constraints must be considered? The reader is taught the methods in detail, from the initial project idea to final commissioning.

To ensure optimal process control during the planning and realization of construction facilities, all management fundamentals are explained and supplemented by numerous illustrations and practical examples. The authors have also dedicated a separate chapter to the use of new methods such as BIM and Lean Construction Management.

This successfully established book has become a structured foundation for goal-oriented project work in the construction industry.