Project management as an independent professional activity : an examination of its impact on the practice of architecture in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The architect had been identified as the only individual who can create an environment, that would contribute to the well-being and advancement of human race, as he was the only professional capable of possessing all the elements of such a role, the education, the will, the orientation, the desire, and the knowledge. Thus the architectural practice had to be consist of professional activities of architects necessary for designing and construction of buildings and their environment. The scope of services of an architect could be summarized as consultation, analysis, design, preparation of contract documents, and administration of construction work, selection of materials, equipment and coordination of other contributors for the accomplishment of the intended building. As the time evolved the building projects become complex and some services of the initial architectural professions as Engineering, Quantity surveying, interior designing and landscaping. In recent past, as the building projects become even more complex the managerial services extended by the architect was replaced by a separate person called the "Project Manager" Hence, project management which had its beginning in other fields and then in construction projects other than building worked had not been adopted itself well to the demands of building industry. As a result its emergence and development appears to be at the cost of established professions and the functions and responsibilities central to them, practically that of architecture.