The Business of Building
A Professional Guide to Construction Project Delivery
By Matt O’Malley
Construction project delivery is a complex and multidisciplinary process whose success hinges on technical expertise, effective communication, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the entire delivery process. The Business of Building is a comprehensive guide to construction for students and professionals entering the fields of real estate, construction, architecture, and engineering.
Construction project delivery is a complex and multidisciplinary process whose success hinges on technical expertise, effective communication, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the entire delivery process. The Business of Building is a comprehensive guide to construction for students and professionals entering the fields of real estate, construction, architecture, and engineering.
The Business of Building identifies the key team members and critical performance factors for success: safety, cost, time, and quality. It explores the business fundamentals of construction delivery, covering delivery methods, procurement strategies, and contractual issues. The book explores all phases of a construction project, from preconstruction and estimating to project management and final completion.
The Business of Building demonstrates how project delivery is a business endeavor involving multiple stakeholders with diverse goals and motivations. It provides insights into industry norms and the relationships needed for effective project delivery.
What People are saying
This book provided valuable insights into the construction process from the perspective of a general contractor. As a real estate development student, I found the content especially helpful in understanding construction costs and the relationships between the contractor, developer, and other stakeholders. It offers useful information on the operations of a construction company, making it a worthwhile read for anyone studying or working in the real estate industry.
Graduate Student, University of Maryland
The Business of Building book by Matt O’Malley, has been extremely resourceful to me throughout this Spring 2025 semester. The explanations/content in the book is just simple to understand. I believe anyone can take this book and have great insight into the construction process. I know I’ll definitely come back to read this book after school. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about construction practices.
Paul Abonjuah
Student, University of Maryland
This text is a fantastic resource for any college classroom involving the study of construction. The author's top tier expertise in the construction field combined with his experience with teaching at top universities shows through with the way the material is communicated. This text is a comprehensive guide to anyone who wants to learn or teach the construction business from concept to final completion. I will use this text when teaching my students in my next college construction course. I am in management working for a large GC and am considering giving this book to new engineers as a guide to our business.
Paul Kennedy
Sr Project Manager, Balfour Beatty Construction
What a great, straightforward book on construction project delivery. It comprises 80% or more of what you need to know about construction in just 20% of the page-length. If you are considering or already decided you want to follow a career path in construction, this is a must-read before your first day. As a former international graduate student, I found valuable insights on the industry norms and practices, critical to understand "how things work" here. This helped me transition my construction career to the US much easier. Now, as a college instructor and researcher, I consider it a quick reference guide on any construction management topic from the perspective of a seasoned professional ---You can't find these things on peer-reviewed articles. I definitely recommend.
David R. Guitierrez
Assistant Professor of Engineering, University of Virginia
Course Adoptions
The Business of Building has been adopted for use in construction and real estate courses at the following universities
University of Virginia
University of Maryland
Georgetown University
Texas A&M University
Oklahoma State University
Covered Topics
Submittals
Change Orders
Pay Applications
Closeout
The Design Team
Design Phases and Design Process
Insurance and Bonds
General Conditions and Requirements
Preconstruction
Estimating
The Delivery Team, Communication and Relationships
Construction Risk and Performance
Delivery Methods
Contractor Selection and Procurement
Lump Sum vs GMP Contracts
Key Contract Terms and Conditions
Bidding and Leveling
Scheduling
Project Management
Author Matt O’Malley
Matt O’Malley brings over two decades of experience in commercial construction, having worked with two of the largest general contractors in the U.S. His career has spanned project management, estimating, and preconstruction, with a focus on business development and client relationships. He has led projects across the Washington, DC region and nationally, including work for real estate developers, government agencies, data centers, and healthcare clients.
With degrees in Architecture (University of Virginia), Business (University of Maryland), and Real Estate (Johns Hopkins University), Matt pairs industry expertise with a strong academic foundation. He has taught over 40 courses in construction management and real estate development as an adjunct faculty member at UVA, the University of Maryland, and Georgetown. He lives in Potomac, MD, with his wife and two children.