For people involved in the construction business, this is a strange time. For designers, contractors and construction management firms, work is plentiful. For owners, the economy is good and funding generally is available to meet capital spending needs. But this robust market also has led to a situation where supply often cannot meet the demand for services and huge materials and labor cost swings are squeezing owners and construction firms. It has put pressure on construction managers to find innovative ways to ensure that, despite the market’s volatility, work can proceed without major mishaps.