The CM assists the Owner/Designer by preparing initial cost estimates and construction schedules to support preliminary feasibility and design studies. This is called what?

The CM assists the Owner/Designer by preparing initial cost estimates and construction schedules to support preliminary feasibility and design studies. This is called what?

• A. Budgeting
• B. Pre-execution Studies
• C. Design Studies
• D. Conceptual Studies

Answer: (D)

At this stage, the focus is on an early, high-level assessment of the project to test feasibility and direction. The construction manager prepares rough cost estimates and a rough construction schedule to support preliminary feasibility and design studies. This combination—exploring options, constraints, and viability with approximate numbers to guide decisions—is described as conceptual studies. It’s about shaping the approach and scope early on, not about detailed budgeting or final design. Budgeting is more about setting and controlling costs during later execution and detailed planning. Pre-execution studies is a broader term that can cover various activities before construction but doesn’t specifically name the early, concept-level analysis. Design studies imply more detailed analysis tied to developing the design, not just initial feasibility. Conceptual studies specifically capture the purpose of testing viability with rough estimates to inform whether and how to proceed.

At this stage, the focus is on an early, high-level assessment of the project to test feasibility and direction. The construction manager prepares rough cost estimates and a rough construction schedule to support preliminary feasibility and design studies. This combination—exploring options, constraints, and viability with approximate numbers to guide decisions—is described as conceptual studies. It’s about shaping the approach and scope early on, not about detailed budgeting or final design.

Budgeting is more about setting and controlling costs during later execution and detailed planning. Pre-execution studies is a broader term that can cover various activities before construction but doesn’t specifically name the early, concept-level analysis. Design studies imply more detailed analysis tied to developing the design, not just initial feasibility. Conceptual studies specifically capture the purpose of testing viability with rough estimates to inform whether and how to proceed.