Category: Construction

The Case Story

The Organization: History and Mission

I have been working as an intern at the Construction Bank of China. This is one of the widely recognized banks in the world today. The financial institution was founded in the year 1954. Its original name was the Peoples Construction Bank of China (China Construction Bank, 2016, para. 3). The banks current name was adopted in March 1996. The institution is currently owned by the Chinese Government Holding Company (China Construction Bank, 2016, para. 2). The company has been focusing on the best initiatives in order to support the diverse needs of its customers. The firm uses a powerful mission in an attempt to promote its business model. The banks mission is to provide superior services to the targeted customers, promote shareholders value and build up broader career path for associates, and assume full responsibilities as a corporate citizen (China Construction Bank, 2016, para. 5). This mission is supported by powerful values such as prudence, integrity, and impartiality.

Targeted Situation

From personal experience, I believe that the Construction Bank of China uses the best initiatives to address the diverse needs of its customers and stakeholders. During my internship, I have acted as an assistant in the banks business department. As an assistant, my major responsibilities in the bank include assisting the securities business department to collect files. I always collaborate with different teammates to upload business receipts. The team also assists different customers to open new bank accounts successfully. These roles have led to numerous challenges at the institution (Oliphant, 2016). This fact explains why our team has encountered several challenges. For example, there is a time when the members of my team stopped communicating with one another. This issue made it impossible for us to address the needs of our customers.

Stakeholders Involved

The identified issue affected the quality of services available to different customers. This problem attracted the attention of different stakeholders such as the employees, the managers, and the customers. In order to deal with the situation, the assistant Human Resource (HR) manager used his competencies to empower the workers. The leader focused on the best initiatives to understand the potential causes of the problem. The next thing was to implement new changes capable of empowering the members of the team. The most outstanding fact is that the assistant HR manager embraced the best strategies to empower the workers (Oliphant, 2016). This practice addressed the problem and made it easier for the individuals to realize the targeted business objectives.

Description of How the Situation was Addressed

After realizing that our team was not delivering positive results, the leader embraced the best strategies in an attempt to transform the situation. The leader encouraged the individuals to come together and present their grievances. During the process, one of the team members indicated that the supervisor allocated the available resources unfairly. For instance, some of the interns and workers had not been equipped with adequate skills to address the needs of the customers (Oliphant, 2016). The department was unable to embrace the concept of work-life balance. Since the majority of the individuals were required to work for more hours, it became impossible for them to lead healthy lifestyles.

After identifying the nature of the situation, a powerful conflict resolution was embraced by the assistant manager. Different stakeholders such as the workers, the supervisor, and the affected clients were involved throughout the process (Oliphant, 2016). Specific skills such as communication, listening, and problem-solving were embraced throughout the process. I strongly believe that the manager used an approach similar to Kurt Lewins Change Model. This is the case because he examined the nature of the issues affecting the stakeholders. This approach made it easier for him to identify the most appropriate strategies towards transforming the situation (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). The leader was able to unfreeze, freeze, and refreeze the situation (Oliphant, 2016, p. 5).

The members of the team were empowered and encouraged to focus on the best outcomes. A powerful change emerged since the followers started to communicate with each other. The leader presented the best resources depending on the individual needs of the targeted followers. The other critical issue was that the individuals in the department were encouraged to develop their personal work-life balance philosophies. This initiative encouraged the followers to deal with burnout and stress (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). The concept of empowerment was redefined by the leader. The HR manager argued that every individual was encouraged to undertake various leadership roles. This approach demystified the meaning of leadership in order to empower the team members.

Results of the Undertaken Actions

As an intern at the company, I observed that more customers received better services after the assistant HR managers intervention. The implemented change led to new practices such as teamwork, collaboration, interaction. The members of the team were ready to focus on the targeted goals. The individuals were ready to act as leaders and guide their customers. The new wave of collaboration made it easier for the firm to achieve its objectives. Decisions were made much faster than ever before. Such attributes played a positive role in redefining the companys organizational culture (Northouse, 2015). The implemented action plans made it easier for the workers to engage in various work-life activities. The outcomes explain clearly that the manager (short form for assistant HR manager) was the right person to deal with the situation.

The Analysis

The above case study shows clearly that leadership is a powerful approach that can address the major problems affecting every working environment. The manager embraced the best concepts and initiatives to transform the situation. The process of leadership is tailored in accordance with the encountered challenges and the expectations of different stakeholders. The Kouzes/Posner Five-Part Framework can be used to analyze the presented case story (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). The model outlines the achievements and best practices that can be embraced by leaders to address various challenges.

The first practice outlined in the framework is Modeling the Way. As a participative leader, the manager committed himself to the needs of the targeted followers. He used a powerful model to implement new practices and behaviors. The leader outlined specific practices in an attempt to drive performance. The leader encouraged the members of the teams to remain consistent, focus on the best initiatives, and engage in positive practices (Northouse, 2015). During the process, the leader encouraged the individuals to focus on the best concepts such as teamwork and collaboration. The workers were also encouraged to engage in continued conflict resolution (Oliphant, 2016). This practice has the potential to improve the performance and productivity of many workers.

The next practice is Inspiring a Shared Vision. After collaborating with the workers in the affected department, the leader encouraged them to have a clear focus. A new vision aimed at transforming the situation and improving productivity was communicated to the workers. The leader believed strongly that the issues affecting the team could be addressed successfully. The HR manager indicated clearly that a new culture was appropriate towards transforming the situation. He inspired the best vision and empowered the workers to act ethically. The supervisor was also reproached and guided to support all the followers equally (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). By so doing, the leader was able to generate a sense of excitement. The promotion of the work-life balance concept encouraged the workers to re-pattern their experiences.

The actions of the leader were in accordance with the third principle of the Kouzes/Posner Five-Part Framework. This step focuses on the best approaches to challenge the existing process (Northouse, 2015). The HR manager used his superior skills in an attempt to implement new strategies. The leader began by challenging the existing system and promoting new processes capable of empowering more workers. Throughout the process, the leader encouraged the members of the team to present the best ideas that could make a difference for the department. The manager used a powerful strategy to transform the situation. The process made the organization successful. The leader clearly understood that the existing situation was making it impossible for the team to realize its objectives.

The next practice outlined by the model is Enabling Others to Act (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 39). After outlining the unique issues that were affecting the department to realize its goals, the leader was on the frontline to foster empowerment and collaborations. The members of the team were guided to make the most desirable decisions in an attempt to improve the level of performance. The leader created the best environment and encouraged the individuals to formulate their personal work-life balance philosophies. This approach made it easier for the team members to focus on the best outcomes. The team members felt powerful and more empowered than ever before. Consequently, every individual embraced the best approaches in order to deliver quality services to the targeted customers. The supervisor was encouraged to equip the followers with the right resources. The followers were also allowed to have a sense of responsibility (Northouse, 2015). The workers became motivated and ready to deliver positive results. This strategy made it easier for us to analyze and address the changing needs of the customers. This practice will play a critical role in making the bank successful.

Conclusion

The next process is Encouraging the Heart. The process focuses on the most desirable strategies towards empowering employees. The leader was aware of his personal goals and those of the followers. In order to produce the best outcomes, the assistant HR manager motivated and encouraged the workers to act independently (Oliphant, 2016). The leader recognized the achievements of different individuals in the department. This kind of recognition encouraged the workers to work hard and address the changing needs of the targeted customers. The leader was involved throughout the change implementation process. The practice increased the sense of belonging and encouraged the workers to perform better. The members of the team were willing to focus on the anticipated organizational goals. The supervisor supported the team members after the leaders intervention. That being the case, the assistant HR manager proved that every person can take up leadership roles to transform the situations affecting his or her working environment.

References

China Construction Bank. (2016). Web.

Kouzes, J., & Posner, B. (2012). The leadership challenge: Workbook. New York, NY: Jossey-Bass.

Northouse, P. (2015). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice. New York, NY: Sage Publications.

Oliphant, J. (2016). Applying Kouzes & Posners leadership concepts to poverty alleviation work in the developing world. The Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 9(1), 1-10.

Naflos investments company is a dynamic and leading construction company wishing to expand its business investments into the far East. Our main reasons as to why we choose the Philippines is because of it rapidly expanding market and its strategic location.

Philippines also offers a conducive investment environment which is bound to attract many investors world-over.

Introduction

• Philippines as a republic gained independence in 1946.
• It comprises of 7000 Islands with a total area of 300000sq. Kilometers.
• Most of its citizens are descendants of Indonesians and Malays.
• However the largest language group currently is the Chinese.
• Save for intermarriages, Philippines population comprises of Arabs, Americans, Asians, Spaniards and the Chinese.
• Philippines main natural resources are copper, gold, iron, silver and nickel.
• The main cash crops grown are mainly for export and the food crops are for domestic consumption.
• These crops include; coconuts, rice, pork, bananas among others.
• The agricultural sector employs most of the work force but contributes about a fifth of the countrys GDP.
• The type of industries found in this country includes food processing, textile and garment production, paper and paper products production among others.

According to U.S. department opt the state n.d).Philippines is a republic and it gained its independence in 1946. Geographically Philippines comprises of 7,000 islands with a total land area of 300,000 km2. Most of the people in this country are the descendants of Indonesians and Malays. However, currently the largest language group is the Chinese but Arabs and Indians trade with the Philippines. Due to intermarriages, the population of Philippine includes; Arabs, Americans, Asians, Spaniards and the Chinese. The Chinese group has created a great impact on commerce because they mostly came to trade.

Aim

• The aim of the report is to analyze the economic sectors of Philippines. This will aid AXN Limited which is in the process of undertaking international business. As a result the firm will be able to determine the viability of Philippines as an investment destination. The analysis is conducted with respect to the countrys neighbors. Neighbors.

The aim of the report is to analyze the economic sector of Philippines and its neighbors and how to manage a business if one is to invest in Philippines.

Scope

• Analysis of issues that affect the economic growth Philippines.
• Analysis of Philippines economy and its neighbors over the past few years.
• strength of the service sector.
• Relationship between Philippines and other countries.
• conclusion and recommendations.

The report entails analysis of issues that affect the economic growth Philippines. Analysis of Philippines economy and its neighbors over the past few years is conducted. In addition, the report also gives the strength of the service sector which is the strongest. Relationship between Philippines and other countries is identified and discussed. Finally, a conclusion and a set of recommendations are given.

Discussion

• Economy of Philippines and its neighbors:
  • Philippines is among the largest economies in the world today with a GDP of 7.3% in 2007.
  • However in 2008, the growth rate declined with 4,5% mostly due to the global financial crisis.
  • Besides agriculture and industry, the other major contributors of economic growth in the Philippines includes natural resources including energy reserves (such as) natural gas, coal, oil, hydro and geothermal energy among others.
• The strength of each economic sector in the country:
  • The service sector is stronger than the other sectors in the Philippines since it contributes about 50% of the countrys total output.
  • The industry sector is equally strong and contributes about a third of the countrys output.
  • The agricultural sector contributes only about 0.2% same as the business process outsourcing, food processing, electronics, textiles, garment and automobile parts.
• Does the Philippines and its neighbors complement each other:
  • Philippines has a good relationship with most of its Asian countries linked through its membership in ASEAN, ASEAN (Regional Forum) and APEC forums.
  • It also has a close relationship with other Middle East countries which provides employment opportunities for most of its people.
  • The country has also signed agreements with JPEPA including trade agreements with Korea, China among other countries.
  • The trade agreements have contributed to the countrys economic growth through market expansion.
  • Philippines has also expanded its market to the USA whereby it exports computer peripherals while importing raw materials and partially processed materials.
  • Therefore, the Philippines and its neighbors are not competitors but rather they complement each other.

According to Madoc n.d. para.1) Philippine is considered to be among the largest economies in the world. It has a mixed economy and its economy is growing very fast with a GDP growth rate of 7.3% in 2007. This growth was mostly influenced by some factors such as increase in agricultural production, increase government and private expenditure and a robust information communications. In addition increased private consumption by workers from overseas also contributed to the economic growth. (U.S. department t of state. n.d. para 5)

However, in the year 2008 the growth rate declined with 4.5% mostly due to global financial crisis. In the Philippine economy agriculture and industry are the most important sectors. In agriculture food processing is boosting the Philippine economy while in industry electronics, textiles and garments and automobile parts are the ones mostly contributing to the economy. ( Madoc .n.d .para.1). As a newly industrialized nation, the Philippines is still an economy with a large agricultural sector, however services are beginning to dominate Asian. Much of the industrial sector is based on manufacturing electronics and other high-tech components.

In addition Philippine has natural resources such as copper, nickel and chromites. The country also has energy reserves such as natural gas, coal, oil, hydro and geothermal .natural gas is mostly found in the island of Palawan. Therefore mining is also contributing to the Philippines economy. Although this country is considered as the leading gold and copper producer, its production is declining because of high production costs required, decrease in the prices of metals and poor infrastructure. in Philippine industrialization mostly is urban areas but also in other areas such as metropolitan Cebu which attracts both the local and foreign investors.

During the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, the economy grew at a rate consistently slower than the years preceding his reign and following his exit. This was mainly because he embezzled billions of dollars from the national treasury. By the time of the people power revolution, there was less to be saved since the economy had fallen below the growth rate of other Asian countries.

However the current administration under the leadership of Madam President Gloria Arroyo has been marked by radical and risky moves pushing towards faster and more rapid economic growth.

In Philippine according to (history central n.d ) the service sector is stronger than the other industries in the economy. This is because it contributes more than 50% of the countries output. The industry sector is also strong in Philippine because it contributes not less than a third of the countries total output while the agricultural sector only contributes about 0.02%. Therefore business process outsourcing (BPO), food processing, electronics, textiles and garment and automobile parts

The service sector contributes more than half of overall Philippine economic output, followed by industry (about a third), and agriculture (less than 20%). Important industries include food processing; textiles and garments; electronics and automobile parts; and business process outsourcing.

Philippine has a good relationship with most countries such as Asia and even the Asians neighbors. Philippine is linked to these countries through its membership in (ASEAN) the association of southwest Asian nations. Philippine is also a member of the ASEAN regional forum (ARF) and the Asia-pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The Philippines also has a relationship with the countries in the Middle East where most of its people are employed (US department of state .n.d. para. 10).

In addition the Philippine also signed agreements with Japan under the Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). According to U.S department of state( n.d. para 11) the Philippine also has some trade agreements with other countries such as Korea, China, and Australia. These trade agreements have contributed to the growth of the economy of Philippine because they have enabled it to easy market its products.

In the United States of America its major exports are mostly the industrial products such as computer peripherals, electric machinery and also the automobile parts. In addition it exports agricultural products such as wheat, coconut oil and animal feeds among other goods. On the other hand Philippine imports the products from United States of America. Philippine imports mostly the raw materials and the partially processed materials to process and manufacture its products. There Philippine and its neighbors mostly do not compete but rather they complement.

Conclusion

• Philippines is among the countries whose economy is growing at a fastest rate.
• However, potential investors are concerned about the countrys infrastructure, corruption, law and order and political instability.
• Therefore the Government should make considerations in terms of addressing these shortcomings.
• Although almost 40% of the farmland is arid, Philippines is rich in agricultural potential.

In addition the Philippine also signed agreements with Japan under the Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). According to U.S department of state n.d. para 11) the Philippine also has some trade agreements with other countries such as Korea, China, and Australia. These trade agreements have contributed to the growth of the economy of Philippine because they have enabled it to easy market its products.

In the United States of America its major exports are mostly the industrial products such as computer peripherals, electric machinery and also the automobile parts. In addition it exports agricultural products such as wheat, coconut oil and animal feeds among other goods. On the other hand phillippine imports the products from United States of America. Philippine imports mostly the raw materials and the partially processed materials to process and manufacture its products. There Philippine and its neighbors mostly do not compete but rather they complement.

Recommendations

• The level of corruption should be maintained at minimal levels.
• Effective strategies should be formulated to ensure political stability.
• Provision of funds to various economic sectors.
• Conducting an in-depth environmental analysis

In order for Philippines to attract foreign investors, a number of policies should be considered.

The government should ensure that the level of corruption is maintained at minimal levels. In addition, effective strategies should be formulated to ensure political stability.

The government should provide funds to various economic sectors to improve various economic sectors.

Before determining on the economic sector to venture into, investors should conduct an in-depth environmental analysis to determine the feasibility of venturing into the sector.

Reference List

Economy Watch. (2010). Phillipines economy. London: Stanley St Lab. Web.

Historycentral.com. (n.d). Nation-by-nation: Philippines. Web.

Sutter, R. & Huang, C.H. (2010). Comparative connections. Trade agreement registers Chinas prominence. Georgetown: Georgetown University. Web.

Us Department Of State. (n.d). Background note: Philippines. Web.

Swiss Business Hub. (2006). Food processing and packaging equipment market in ASEAN: an industry overview. Singapore: Converging Knowledge PTE Ltd. Web.

Abstract

Contractors often juggle the notions of Quality Assurance and Quality Control as they go about their everyday work on construction projects. The construction industry faces challenges in assuring high-quality outputs from the construction phase if neither the owner nor the workforce. To save money, paying close attention to all aspects of material management is essential. The modernization of construction methods has been made possible by employing cutting-edge tools and forward-thinking methods. Organizations that need to appreciate the significance of new technologies and adapt to new circumstances are, quite rightly, no longer welcome in the mainstream of construction activities. The underlying assumptions regarding the nature of procurement are crucial in determining the type of procurement practices seen as sensible. Production must be envisioned alongside transformation (T), flowing (F), and value generation, according to standard practice in Lean production (LC) (V). On the other hand, it is required to recognize and deal with the risk of loss of value with the same vigilance as has been shown in dealing with the other difficulties so far. Materials management is a crucial aspect of every projects organization and management.

Introduction

Quality Assurance (QA) is a collection of systematic and well-planned actions that guarantee a certain standard of quality in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. It ensures that quality is built into the beginning of the project rather than the finish. External factors, such as setbacks in permission, inspection, quality control, availability of raw materials, labor, weather, etc., can cause issues with material demand and ultimately delay the projects completion date. The planning stages are affected by the fact that each construction phase has its own set of needs and that any delay in the project will have an impact. Resource and labor availability are two of the most pressing issues in the building industry. To what extent one may participate in a construction project relies on whether or not the process is controlled internally or outside. Job dependence is something that can seldom be avoided. If construction management does not live up to standards for resource management, then a lot of management work and procurement studies could be required. Standardization efforts in architecture, engineering, and design provide the basis for many essential needs. To ensure that all essential materials are up to par with the firms quality requirements, the company has established a set of criteria for marking drawings and plans from conception to final approval.

Supply

Inadequate materials for storing are a common cause of problems on websites. The survey results indicate that supply chain and buying managers have a clear window into the financial health of their organization (Keenan et al., 2021). Material requests must be placed at the appropriate times to ensure on-time delivery at the agreed-upon quality. In order to fulfil the suppliers demand, it was necessary to arrange the desired sports at the optimal times (Faeq et al., 2021). Procurement costs, waste, and other dangers can be drastically reduced when adequate storage space is available at a site.

System architecture

Inspection checklist

Materials management

Urban areas and restricted environment sites provide unique challenges when dealing with materials. Manufacturing materials help enhance the overall performance of creative initiatives in terms of triple constraints and productivity (Keenan et al., 2021). Standards for various types of work can be found in the publications of groups like the American Testing and Materials Society (ASTM), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) (CSI). Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges are produced by the American Organization of State Road and Transportation Officials, while American Welding Society welding standards are issued for specific construction activity (Keenan et al., 2021). Changes must be made to these general parameters to account for differences in climate, culture, materials available, legal requirements, and other factors.

Materials Delivery Form

Methodology

Figure 1 demonstrates the research approach.

Construction materials and equipment

Inadequate Access to Necessary Tools and Materials

Cement, gravel, gravel, iron, wood, brick, paint, ceramic, natural stone, and other building materials are some of the many construction materials that fall into one of two categories: the material names themselves and the derivative manufacturing that relies on them. In addition, indigenous and non-indigenous components were used in its manufacture, and it has a uniquely Indonesian trademark rather than belonging to a worldwide franchise network (Luo et al., 2022).On the other hand, using imported, non-native materials in production necessitates importing methods for getting such materials to market. Indonesia imports materials like metal, metal, and zinc and exports materials like aluminium, copper, and forests (Luo et al., 2022). Even though some resources are brought from Malaysia and China, there is significant evidence that other materials, primarily Portland cement and metal, are unavailable for reasons beyond production or trading difficulties.

About the Software Designed

Benefits of SPSS

SPSS has a wide variety of information and is simple to usesoftware for managing content and creating edits. Extensive statistical tools should take advantage of SPSS when there is a need for a versatile and adaptable method for getting granular on even the most complicated data sets (Egwunatum et al., 2022). It also frees up more time for the researcher to focus on the most critical tasks, such as recognizing patterns, creating prediction models, and reaching conclusions based on the evidence. Labeling variables and data values explicitly, saving information and documents in system files and documenting enormous datasets thoroughly.

Research Findings

T-Test, Evaluation, and Independence

T-test is applicable when a continuous variable has been collected on a sample of persons or products, and the mean value is compared to a hypothetical population means. Because it is based solely on the typical distribution, the one-sample t-test can only be used with numerical and continuous data from the sample (Egwunatum et al., 2022). However, if the information sequence technique became random, it would be reasonable to conclude that the observations were independent. To illustrate, instead of using a systematic sample, we may randomly pick laptop computers (Amusan et al., 2019). This ensures there is no chance of amassing a biased pattern, which could lead to incorrect conclusions. The one-sample statistics are displayed in Table 1.

Table 1: One sample statistics

T-test 1 is displayed in Table 2.

Table 2: T-Test 1

Table 3 shows a one-sample t-test.

Table 3: T-test 2

Considering Multiple Factors

The SPSS factor analysis is depicted in Fig. 2.

Statistical Methods for Quality Assurance

All materials and labor in a given facility might be put through a battery of tests as part of an optimal quality control program. X-ray inspection of welds is just one example of a non-destructive technique that can be utilized extensively throughout a building (Amusan et al., 2019). An on-site inspector can verify at any moment whether or not current practices meet standards. The fact that skilled workers may evaluate their supplies and progress as they go is a huge plus. However, having inspectors perform thorough, or 100%, tests on all materials and work can be very costly. Extensive testing is usually impossible since it necessitates destroying a material sample during testing (Faeq et al., 2021). Therefore, we use sample sizes to determine whether or not to accept a work item or a shipment of materials. In order to conclude the quality of an entire bunch or lot of materials or finished goods, statistical methods are employed to analyze the results of tests conducted on a small sample.

Test results with a limited sample size might be highly deceptive if not correctly interpreted. To illustrate, let us say that out of a batch of one hundred, ten are flawed (Amusan et al., 2019). Out of a sample size of five, the inspector will not identify any defects. Based on these samples, one cannot conclude that there are no defective items in the population. Because samples are selected randomly, there is a wide margin for error in any tests performed (Faeq et al., 2021). Only with statistical approaches can problems like the likelihood of varying degrees of defective parts in the complete lot be thoroughly examined from a relatively small test.

The results of the factor analysis are presented in Table 4.

Table 4: Factor analysis  statistics

The Collapse of the Trench

A hole between 12.5 to 18 feet deep was dug along the middle of a four-lane street to upgrade 1,200 feet of the sewer system. The contractor started digging the 12.5 ft. deep trench from the less deep end (Amusan et al., 2019). The contractor then dug a 92 deep, 42 wide rebar trench box to hold the soil in place. A trench box is a steel structure with an open top, bottom, sides, and ends. This strategy benefited from allowing two lanes of traffic to remain open during the reconstruction process. The trench box was holding its own in the shallower sections of the trench. However, as the depth of the trench increased, a larger volume of soil was left unreinforced beneath the trench box. In the trench, the soil began to collapse at irregular intervals.

After some time, a parallel six-inch water main gave way, flooding the ground below the trench and causing major soil collapse. The main water replacement was a last-minute addition to the original agreement. The contractor started sloping the trenchs sides, and the whole roadway had to be shut down. The trench box served its purpose for a while, but it soon became apparent that it needed to be more adequate and safer. Accidents from soil collapse were a constant threat to the trench crew (Faraji et al., 2022). Consequences for the surrounding infrastructure, including the parallel water main, were likely. Of course, the sloped excavation that was ultimately chosen over the use of tongue and grooved vertical sheeting for the entire height of the trench is the better option. Table 5 below shows the initial Eigenvalues.

Table 5: Initial Eigenvalues

Table 6 shows the component matrix, and the component matrix is shown in table 6 as shown below:

Table 6: Component matrix

Frequency Analysis

Consistently reliable vendors are analyzed in Table 7.

Table 7: Consistently reliable vendors

Trustworthy suppliers are depicted graphically in Fig. 3.

The frequency analysis of the companys interactions with its vendors is displayed in Table 8.

Table 8: Analysis of the companys communication patterns with its vendors

The connection to its providers is depicted in a graph (Fig.4).

The process of development is analyzed for frequency in Table 9.

Table 9: Methods of frequency analysis in product creation

The development process is depicted graphically in Fig. 5

ANOVA

Anova co-efficient data are presented in Table 10.

Table 10: ANOVA Coefficients

The residual data are presented in Table 11.

Table 11: Residual data

The Concept of Autocorrelations

In order to guarantee the facility performs as intended by design, control, and improvement in construction often involves verifying adherence to basic standards of craftsmanship and materials. Acceptance or rejection of batches of finished work or supplies is often based on random sampling and statistical methodologies to ensure compliance (Faraji et al., 2022). It will be rejected if a batch fails to meet or slightly deviates from its intended design parameters. The following sections elaborate on the steps in carrying out this quality assurance procedure. These conventional quality assurance methods presume a threshold below which defects are unacceptable (Amusan et al., 2019). If the projected defective percentage falls under the acceptable quality threshold, the inspection of the materials purchased from suppliers or the work conducted by the organization is considered successful. Delivered products with defects are fixed after they have been received.

The objective of total quality control stands in stark contrast to the more conventional quality assurance method. This method entirely eliminates faulty materials from the building process (Faraji et al., 2022). Despite the impossibility of ever achieving it, the objective of zero defects serves as a benchmark for measuring the success of a companys quality assurance efforts. The idea and method of quality control were initially created in Japanese and European manufacturing enterprises but have now expanded to numerous construction firms. The International Body for Standardizations ISO 9000 standard is the most widely recognized formal accreditation for quality improvement (Faraji et al., 2022). ISO 9000 requires thorough records to be kept alongside established quality standards and regular cycles of preparation, execution, and evaluation.

Total quality control, or TQC, is an approach to business that emphasizes excellence in every facet of operations. It is crucial to conduct design reviews to guarantee efficient and risk-free building practices (Abdullahi et al., 2019). Additional factors include thorough employee training, a transfer in the onus for defect detection from quality control inspectors to workers, and regular equipment upkeep. Quality circles are a systematic method of worker participation in better quality control in which groups meet regularly to offer suggestions for enhancing quality. All suppliers of raw materials must guarantee that their products are flawlessly supplied. Certified suppliers can undergo a partial inspection if they have performed well in the past. Table 12 displays the inter-factor autocorrelations.

Table 12: Inter-factor autocorrelations

Control charts

The operational plans control chart is depicted in Fig. 6.

Correlations between deliveries are shown between themselves in Table 13.

Table 13: Correlations between deliveries

The chart for monitoring dispatch operations is depicted in Fig. 7.

Safety

The selection of appropriate technology can also play a significant role in defining the level of safety present at a worksite. The machinery operators can be alerted to problems by safeguards incorporated into the machinery, which can prevent injuries (Abdullahi et al., 2019). For instance, even the most straightforward switches might prevent machinery from running if protection barriers exist. The availability of onboard electronics and sensors has substantially increased the possibilities for developing sophisticated machine processors and monitors for tools and equipment used in the construction industry. Choices regarding the work procedure and the materials used can impact the level of safety in construction. Replacing asbestos with another material might lessen or even eliminate the risk of developing a condition that manifests over an extended period, such as asbestosis.

It can directly affect workplace safety by educating workers and supervisors on the appropriate procedures and potential hazards. Recognizing the significant financial expenses associated with construction-related diseases and injuries offers significant impetus for education and awareness efforts. On virtually every work site, conducting routine safety inspections and holding safety meetings are now considered standard practices. Pre-qualification of general contractors and inter- and intra about safety is another essential step toward improving workplace safety.

Solution

Evidence-Based Practices (Case Studies) Presentation

Four selected case studies to examine requirement control methodologies, associated problems, and recommended enhancements in depth we used in this study. Details about the projects at hand in the case studies, including the types of projects and the industries served by the clients in question (Abdullahi et al., 2019). Exact results from the projects use of necessity management techniques, including a breakdown of the approaches taken, the people involved in the RSM techniques, the data collection procedure, and some excellent observations on the requirements control of each project, as well as the techniques themselves (Abdullahi et al., 2019). It is important to note that these case studies were designed to provide illustrative insights into the requirement analysis process inside a single project, not to be representative of prerequisites control procedures generally. Case study A was chosen for further examination and description because it has the most in-depth data.

Misunderstanding of Client Wants and Needs

Based on the findings of the semi-structured interviews, miscommunication about what customers want and need has emerged as RSMs top challenge. Most respondents believed that ambiguities should compromise the accomplishment of the overall mission and the clients satisfaction (Faraji et al., 2022). Therefore, gathering information about the customers wants should be the first stage in developing the project. Inadequate completion of this stage makes it extremely difficult to complete the project successfully and achieve the desired end.

Conclusion

Organizing and controlling the flow of materials is crucial to any artistic endeavor. This study ranked the most significant elements impacting the procurement, distribution, and management of construction projects in India. Experts with more than twenty years of real-world knowledge have identified and vetted various relevant elements from the existing literature. Twenty-eight considerations were listed in their search questionnaire. All we looked at were Indias construction projects, so that is what we did. Information was compiled from general and speciality contractors and subcontractors involved in various construction projects. According to the investigation findings, managing materials is a top concern, even though they need more space or are being stored incorrectly.

References

Abdullahi, U., Bustani, S. A., Hassan, A., & Rotimi, F. E. (2019). Assessing quality management practice in the Nigerian construction industry. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 3(2), 17-25. Web.

Amusan, L. M., Osinowo, S., Osawaru, F. A. I. T. H., Awotinde, L., Adelakun, A., & Peter, N. J. (2019). The building informatics approach to modeling construction quality assurance parameters to prevent the structural collapse of the building. International Journal of Technology, 10(2), 386-393. Web.

Egwunatum, S. I., Anumudu, A. C., Eze, E. C., & Awodele, I. A. (2022). Total quality management (TQM) implementation in the Nigerian construction industry. Engineering, Construction, and Architectural Management, 29(1), 354-382. Web.

Faeq, D. K., Garanti, Z., & Sadq, Z. M. (2021). The Effect of Total Quality Management on Organizational Performance: Empirical Evidence from the Construction Sector in Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan RegionIraq. UKH Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 29-41. Web.

Faraji, A., Rashidi, M., Meydani Haji Agha, T., Rahnamayiezekavat, P., & Samali, B. (2022). Quality Management Framework for Housing Construction in a Design-Build Project Delivery System: A BIM-UAV Approach. Buildings, 12(5), 554. Web.

Keenan, M., & Rostami, A. (2021). The impact of quality management systems on construction performance in the North West of England. International Journal of Construction Management, 21(9), 871-883. Web.

Luo, H., Ling, L., Chen, K., Fordjour, A. A. M., & Chen, L. (2022). Digital technology for quality management in construction: A review and future research directions. Developments in the Built Environment, 100087. Web.

Introduction

Critical thinking plays an integral part in a successful organization as it provides essential grounds for evaluation and analysis. Considering methods and instruments of critical thinking, a leader can effectively address the existing challenges within a company. This paper aims at accurate assessment and subsequent analysis of the incident that has occurred in the Truss Construction Shop.

Explanation of the Issue

The case study presents the issue related to the injury of one of the workers. In particular, John Craftsman was injured while performing his work with the help of a machine. It seems necessary to emphasize that this is the third similar case of workers injury. On the one hand, Craftsman claims that the unsafe work environment led to the incident. This opinion is supported by his co-worker. On the other hand, both the shop manager and the shop foreman insist that the machine was safe. However, according to the health and safety report, the safety guard was designed in an insufficiently safe manner. Having been reported to the media, the incident became a serious problem that needs to be interpreted.

Analysis of the Information

Analyzing this situation, it is necessary to pinpoint that the company lacks leadership that is willing to adhere to the rules of safety. In particular, every company is required to report to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about work-related injuries. In this case, none of the three injuries was reported. Therefore, it becomes evident that the company prefers to ignore safety measures and investigate corresponding problems. Thus, the failure of leadership is one of the factors that escalated the emergence of the problem.

The lack of effective collaboration and communication within the organization can be regarded as another crucial aspect that caused this problem. The case illustrates that there were no clearly identified safety standards, and the company utilized mechanisms that were designed inappropriately. The fact that different workers reported different visions of the situation proves that each of them defined safety in his or her way that, in its turn, can be considered as another factor leading to the growth of the problem. Furthermore, it seems appropriate to present alternative positions to create a comprehensive vision of the case.

Analysis of Alternative Viewpoints, Conclusions, or Solutions

Along with the factors that were identified earlier in this paper, there is a range of others that should also be noted. Pherson (2013) reckons that the emergence of structured analytic techniques in the organization is essential to ensure adequate working conditions. According to Pherson (2013), these techniques help analysts mitigate the proven cognitive limitations and side-step some of the known analytic pitfalls (p. 55). In this regard, it is possible to note that the Truss Construction Shop had no elaborate and properly-structured emergency reaction tool. The context of the situation was not properly investigated. The companys management failed to accurately study the environment and either external or internal events that could affect the emergence of the problem.

Personal Conclusion and Suggestions for Remedying the Situation

From the above observations, it becomes evident that the company needs a range of decisions to address the problem and remedy its reputation. First, it seems appropriate to reconsider the system of leadership by focusing on collaboration with safety-associated organizations and public agencies. This would help the company to re-establish its relationships with the public and mitigate rumors that were caused by the media. In the context of enhanced leadership, it is also significant to develop and maintain an open and communicative atmosphere within the company so that every worker feels comfortable and free to express his or her concern related to work. In effect, the solution that was proposed above can reduce the level of work-related traumatism. While working on a productive collaboration with workers, it is important to pay attention to alternative explanations (Chuang, 2013). This assumption is likely to eliminate the existing bias that occurred as a result of the one-sided consideration. At the same time, inconsistent data is also to be regarded by a leader as this contrary evidence can provide information that is to be either rejected or accepted.

The other potential decision is associated with the deployment of strategic initiatives. For instance, since the health and safety report showed that the machines were designed poorly, it is necessary to substitute them by newer versions and deploy the technology. Chuang (2013) claims that the integration of technology can significantly improve a companys internal state by providing various benefits such as updated safety systems as well as timely identification of safety violations. At this point, it seems of great importance to pinpoint that mere implementation of one of the proposed solutions can be insufficient to remedy the company. Instead, it is essential to recommend employing all of these solutions comprehensively and systematically to achieve the best outcomes.

Conclusion

To conclude, it should be emphasized that the analyzed case revealed such challenges as the lack of leadership and appropriate mechanisms and failure to collaborate with workers. In the course of the thorough analysis, the following decisions were proposed: to enhance leadership by promoting communication in the company, initiate collaboration with safety agencies, and implement strategic initiatives, focusing on the modern technology.

References

Chuang, S. F. (2013). Essential skills for leadership effectiveness in diverse workplace development. Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development, 6(1), 1-24.

Pherson, R. H. (2013). The five habits of the master thinker. Journal of Strategic Security, 6(3), 54-60.

Throughout their lives, people encounter numerous challenges of different natures which require them to use various skills which they have learned. Construction and engineering skills can be considered uncommon but extremely beneficial for people since they can provide them with many advantages in different spheres, including both their personal and professional life. Basic construction and engineering skills can enable a person to successfully engage in the work of their own house and be able to start a new technical career.

First of all, knowledge of construction and engineering principles is essential for every individual who plans on redesigning and refurbishing their property. The costs of construction have been rising steadily for decades, and the growth is projected to continue (Bottero et al., 2020). Such a rise also affects the prices charged by construction and renovation professionals. At the same time, a person possessing basic construction and engineering skills can avoid hiring other people and solve the existing problems and tasks themselves. Essentially, an individual possessing engineering knowledge will easily be able to do plumbing, repairs, roofing, and other similar types of work.

Another important advantage possessed by people with basic construction and engineering skills is that they can change their careers and try working in different positions requiring technical expertise. A person with engineering expertise knows the basics, which they can apply in various technical occupations and build upon their foundation (Buckley et al., 2022). As a result, construction and engineering skills are, to a considerable extent, universal and provide people with many career prospects.

It is essential for people to have basic construction and engineering skills since they can apply them both in their daily lives and at work. Such skills enable people to avoid spending financial resources on hiring construction professionals and doing renovations and other similar activities at home themselves. Additionally, even basic engineering skills constitute a significant theoretical and practical foundation that can help people to start different technical jobs.

References

Bottero, M., Caprioli, C., &, Oppio, A. (2020). A literature review on construction costs estimation: Hot topics and emerging trends. In P. Morano, A. Oppio, P. Rosato, L. Sdino, & F. Tajani (Eds.), Appraisal and valuation (pp. 117131). Springer.

Buckley, J., Trevelyan, J., &, Winberg, C. (2022). Perspectives on engineering education from the world of practice. European Journal of Engineering Education, 47(1), 17.

The debate over the construction of gender, sex, and sexual orientation is high on the agenda among the public as no consensus has been reached yet. Notably, the contrasting arguments in the debate over the construction of the mentioned concepts have been attributed to different social and political ideologies, which is why the argument has not been resolved. While some argue that sex, gender, and sexual orientation are rooted in the DNA of an individual and therefore stem from biological origins, others argue the opposite. In their view, society constructs gender, sex, and sexual orientation through the categorization and delineation of males, females, and others as a social decision. Thus, the question remains: are sex, gender, and social orientation real (biologically determined) or socially constructed ideas?

To further the discussion on the social construction of gender, sex, and sexual orientation, it is important to provide definitions and differentiate between them. Sex refers to either of the two categories, male or female, in which the majority of animals, including humans, are divided based on their reproductive functions. Gender identifies the state of being either male or female in regards to both cultural and social roles that are seen as expected and appropriate for men and women. Sexual orientation refers to the type of attraction individuals have and therefore pursues in their relationships. Most common orientations include straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and asexual. Thus, sexual orientation is different from gender because the latter identifies something and someone with whom an individual identifies. This means that being transgender is different from being bisexual: while a person feels that their assigned sex is different from the gender with which they identify, their sexual preference has no impact on that feeling.

One Side of the Argument

Since the overwhelming majority of humans are born either with an XY or XX chromosomal constitutions, most researchers in the field have held a view that sex cannot be socially constructed. The bimodal distribution of chromosomes is binary, except for intersex births, which means that an individual is born either male or female. The reproductive organs present in either of the sexes play distinct roles in the differentiation between genders, with the social roles being seen as secondary. In addition, sexual reproduction involves only two individuals: a male and a female, which also supports the idea that there are two sexes (Colegrave, 2012). However, the opponents of the view that there are more than two sexes suggest that sex is socially constructed and that physicians at birth should not assign sex to infants. Nevertheless, the biological underpinnings of sex cannot be doubted, which is why the debate regarding this issue has been ongoing.

The publishing of Gender by Ivan Illich in 1982 marked the emergence of the perspective that gender has been severely politicized to mean the arbitrary and socially developed nature of sexes. It is important to understand that Illich meant that deeper gender roles were essential to the art of living, and their loss in social discourse would be ineffective. Unfortunately, this perspective made Illich an enemy of the feminist establishment that saw his book as an attack on the integrity of the movement that worked toward the equalization of sexes.

In the current social discourse, such activists as Jordan Petersons are supporting Illichs view to suggest that differences between sexes and genders matter and that they are far more complex than others may perceive. For some, the message of no matter how much we are trying to flatten the differences between sexes, they stubbornly endure seems depressing (Sweeny, 2018, para. 6). However, it is important to understand that within this perspective, gender was not socially invented to ensure that men can oppress women. Rather, eliminating gender categories in society can have unintended effects, such as what occurred in Sweden. The establishment of institutional equality in gender roles among men and women led to the biological imperative to come through. For instance, there are as many women-physicians and men-engineers in the country as there have never been before (Women and men in Sweden, 2018). Therefore, the assignment of gender roles to men and women are seen as imperatives among the opponents of the social construction of gender.

The Other Side of the Argument

The social construction of gender is an aspect of the feminist and sociologic theory that explores the operations of gender roles and differences in societies. According to Lindseys (2015) The Sociology of Gender: Theoretical Perspectives and Feminist Frameworks, society and culture play defining roles in developing and prescribing appropriate behaviors of individuals of a specific sex. The theory leads to the idea that behavioral differences in males and females are completely social conventions as opposed to Illichs view that there are biological factors that shape the behaviors of individuals of opposing sex.

Gender roles have been loosely divided into personality traits, domestic behaviors, occupations, and physical appearance. The general gender stereotype of women refers to the expectation of them be emotional and accommodating. Men are seen as aggressive and self-confident in regards to their personality traits. In terms of domestic behaviors, some societies expect women to take care of their households, raise children, prepare food, and clean (What are gender roles and stereotypes?, 2019). Men, on the opposite end of the spectrum, should be in charge of finances, work on their cars, and do home improvement projects. In occupations, societies usually assume that teaching and nursing are more acceptable for women than men while the latter should be engineers, lawyers, pilots, or politicians. Physical appearance is also a component of socially constructed and expected norms: while women are expected to be graceful and thin, men should be tall and muscular.

According to the study by Diamond and Butterworth (2008), similarly to gender roles, gender identity is not stable or fixed but rather is influenced by society and can vary in one individual over time. This means that the researchers argue against the assignment of sex at birth and support allowing individuals to decide for themselves the sex with which they want to identify. Sun and Yu (2016) suggested that children wanted to align with the accepted constructs attributed to their sex. As mentioned in their research findings, 6-year-old children tend to conform to choices and behaviors that their peers exhibit regularly. This means that socially expected behaviors are learned from a young age, especially given the finding of Sun and Yu (2016) that children tend to sustain conformity with accepted peer behaviors and can change their private opinions due to the social impact of their peers.

To further focus on gender identity, it is notable to mention that Diamond and Butterworth (2008) suggested that both sexual and gender identity are fluid and cannot always be categorized into desired concepts and characteristics. They concluded interviewing sexual minority women over ten years. The interviews provided some insights into womens lives and pointed to the range of unique experiences and perspectives. For instance, one of the interviewees indicated that her early childhood was predominantly regular and only in her adolescence she started posing questions about her sexuality, although not making any changes. Only when she grew up and started working along with men she developed a masculine perspective on the world and questioned her identity again. This led to her identifying as he while remaining attracted to men, which meant that the woman in the past would become a homosexual man. The example illustrates the fact that sex, gender roles, identities, and orientations are not fixed for some people and that they can shift through the lifetime.

One of the main misconceptions associated with the social construction of gender is that the idea overlooks any biological underpinnings of genders. However, the core message of the theory of social construction is that society has a direct effect on how gender roles and other related concepts are shaped and how people choose to navigate them. In instances when individuals choose to identify with a different gender or are attracted to people not in a socially acceptable way, there will always be instances of oppression, public misunderstanding, and conflicts. Also, social status, culture, and education can influence the shaping of gender roles and identities (Chalabaev, Sarrazin, Fontayne, Boiché, & Clément-Guillotin, 2013). In addition, in countries with strict social policies that are supported by religious doctrines, reaching equality in the sense of choosing ones identity or roles can be extremely limiting for citizens. Overall, there is an undoubted influence of social norms on how individuals conduct themselves in gender roles and identities; however, it is important to consider the opposite perspective on the topic.

Conclusion

Giving a concrete answer to the question of whether gender, sex, and sexual orientation are constructed by society is hard given the exploration of opposing opinions. The findings of researchers who studied the impact of society on gender roles, gender identity, and sexual orientations differ depending on the nature of their exploration. For example, the study into Swedens institutional elimination of gender roles in society showed that equality plays no role in responsibilities or occupations that either men or women choose to pursue. The fact that the numbers of women-nurses and men-engineers increased suggested that society did not push them to choose the professions; rather, it was their choices and aspirations that drove their choices. On the other end of the spectrum, scholars found that gender roles and gender identities are rooted in social norms, as the study with six-year-olds showed.

Thus, even if sexual orientation, gender roles, and sex are all socially constructed, it does not mean that they are not real. In many instances, an individuals shaping of gender identity is a combination of both biological and social factors, and putting one perspective against the other is ineffective to the current discussion. It is important to acknowledge both sides of the argument and find matching points and shape the discussion based on them rather than the differences.

References

Chalabaev, A., Sarrazin, R., Fontayne, P., Boiché, J., & Clément-Guillotin, C. (2013). The influence of sex stereotypes and gender roles on participation and performance in sport and exercise: Review and future directions. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(2), 136-144.

Colegrave, N. (2012). The evolutionary success of sex. Science & Society Series on Sex and Science. EMBO reports, 13(9), 774-778.

Diamond, L., & Butterworth, M. (2008). Questioning gender and sexual identity: Dynamic links over time. Sex Roles, 59(5-6), 365-376.

Lindsey, L. (2015). Gender roles: A sociological perspective. New York, NY: Routledge.

Sun, S., & Yu, R. (2016). Social conformity persists at least one day in 6-year-old children. Scientific reports, 6, 39588.

Sweeny, A. (2018). Jordan Peterson and gender and the disappearance of Ivan Illich. Medium. Web.

What are gender roles and stereotypes? (2019). Web.

Women and men in Sweden. (2018). Web.

Executive Summary

This report aimed at analysing three aspects of the Lobby Café Construction project, including external factors affecting the project, stakeholder analysis, and assessment of ethicality and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The purpose of the project was to build the Lobby Café in The Pearl Hotel & Residences, a hotel located in Doha, Qatar. The project was delivered between September 2018 and December 2018 with a budget of 250,000 QR.

First, external analysis was conducted using PEST analysis and Porters Fiver forces analysis to understand the external environment of the project. Numerous political, economic, social, and technological factors that influenced the project were identified. Second, stakeholders were identified and categorised using the stakeholder matrix. Stakeholder analysis revealed that the team sued exquisite stakeholder management practices to achieve the purpose of the project. Finally, CSR practices were analysed, which demonstrated that the company acted proactively to build strong relationships with the stakeholders through promoting ethical practices.

Introduction

Report Objectives

This report aims at evaluating the Lobby Café Construction project from three viewpoints. The purpose of the report is to provide a list of recommendations that can be used for implementing similar projects in the future. Several objectives were identified that helped to reach the goal of the study:

1. Briefly describe the project, its location, and relevance;
2. Identify external factors that affected the project;
3. Analyse stakeholders;
4. Critically appraise the role of ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

First, the report discusses the external influence that affected the implementation of the project using PEST analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis. Second, the influence of different stakeholders is analysed using Mendelows Matrix to understand if the project was managed adequately. Third, the report provides a discussion of how the project delivered benefits to the community in terms of CSR. The report is concluded with a list of recommendations outlined based on the results of the analysis.

Project Description

The purpose of the project was to build the Lobby Café in The Pearl Hotel & Residences, a hotel earned by First Qatar Real Estate Development Company (1st Qatar), a B2C company with roots in Kuwait. The hotel is located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, with a population of 2.4 million people. The aim of the project was to build a new café on the territory of the hotel with a budget of 250,000 QR. The project started in August 2018 and finished in December 2018, which implies that the length of the project was four full months. Project scope and deliverable can be described as the complete construction of the cafe with the exact specifications required by the client. The client of the project was Doha Hilton, The Pearl Hotel & Residences.

By building Lobby Cafe, a new product was successfully delivered after completion. The project provoked a significant increase in the level of competition in the cafe market, resulting in improved quality of service. Additionally, new job opportunities were provided, which influenced the level of supply in the job market. The café was also expected to attract new customers to the hotel and help to meet the needs of the current customers. A photo of the Lobby Café is provided in Figure 1 below.

External Analysis

This section of the report aims at conducting an analysis of the external factors that affected project implementation. First, a PEST analysis was conducted to outline the factors affecting the project. The PEST analysis included an assessment of macroeconomic and microeconomic factors that affected the project. Second, Porters Five Forces analysis was conducted to understand how different stakeholders, including competitors, suppliers, and buyers, affected the project. The results of the assessment of the external environment will be used for stakeholder analysis provided in Section 3 of this report.

PEST Analysis

PEST analysis is one of the most frequently used methods for conducting environmental scans. PEST analysis includes the evaluation of political, economic, social, and technological factors that affect a business (Dalirazar and Sabzi, 2020). The pest analysis was conducted with the assumption that The Pearl Hotel & Residences operated in the hospitality business of Qatar.

Political Factors

The central factor that affected the hospitality business in Qatar was the preparations for FIFA World Cup 2022 (Alshahrani et al., 2021). Since it was decided that the championship will take place in Qatar, a large number of visitors started to arrive in Qatar. According to Statista (2021), the number of tourists increased from 1.7 million in 2010 to 2.94 million in 2016. Since the number of visitors was growing, it was crucial to build the Lobby Café was imperative to meet the needs of the customers (see Figure 2 below).

In 2018, Qatar experienced significant pressure from its neighbours as a result of the blockade. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt stated that the country had significant human rights issues and demanded significant reformation (Human Rights Watch, 2018). As a result, the number of tourists in the country decreased from 2.94 million in 2016 to 1.82 million in 2018, which was a significant shock to the industry. However, the GCC hospitality industry expected a significant rise, which could mitigate the consequences of the blockade (Alpen Capital, 2018).

Economic Factors

A large variety of macroeconomic and microeconomic factors affected the project. An in-depth analysis of these factors is provided in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Economic Factors

Social Factors

There are two central social factors that affect the hospitality industry. First, young people make it a priority to travel rather than buy things. According to a survey conducted by CNBC, more millennials were saving up money for travelling in comparison with any other generation (Leonhardt, 2019). The results of the survey are demonstrated in Figure 2 below. Young generations are looking for new places to visit, and Qatar can be a destination of choice due to FIFA World Cup 2022.

The second trend that affected the hospitality industry is the push for sustainability in the industry. Alpen Capital (2018) stated that tourists become more aware of the environmental problems as people want to pass the natural and cultural riches to future generations. Thus, organisations in the hospitality industry tend towards transforming their operations to attend to sustainability goals.

Technological Factors

The hospitality industry nowadays uses a wide variety of technological advances, as they have become essential for the customers. Such technology as Wi-Fi for connectivity and CTTV cameras for protection is widely used in the industry. However, the central technology that affected the industry the most was online booking and ranking systems (Gavilan, Avello, and Martinez-Navarro, 2018). Online ranking creates an image of a hotel based on the reviews from the visitors. Thus, the hotels are motivated to improve their rankings using all the available methods.

Porters Five Forces

Porters Five Forces analysis is a commonly used method for assessing the strengths and weaknesses associated with the industry in which the company operates (Bruijl, 2018). The framework aims at assessing five aspects of the external environment, including the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitution, the bargaining power of suppliers, the bargaining power of buyers, and competitive rivalry (Bruijl, 2018). The results of the analysis are provided below:

• Threat of New Entrants  Medium: On the one hand, new entrants in the hospitality industry are possible due to increased interest in Qatar as a destination for FIFA World Cup 2022. However, there are significant entry barriers, as the initial investment to enter the luxury hotel industry should be large and the new hotels need to build a reputation, unless they are established by a well-known hotel network.
• Threat of Substitution  Medium: Hotels can be substituted by hostels, rental apartments, or Air BNB. However, the substitutes are underdeveloped in Qatar, and they cannot provide luxury services similar to Doha Hilton The Pearl Hotel & Residences.
• Bargaining Power of Buyers  High: The customers have a large variety of options for staying, which makes them a significant power affecting the industry. The influence of the customers is clear when taking into consideration the power of online feedback and rankings (Gavilan, Avello, and Martinez-Navarro, 2018). Thus, hotels make everything possible to please the customers.
• Bargaining Power of Suppliers  Low: The number of suppliers is high, and hotels are free to select the ones they prefer based on any criteria. Therefore, suppliers do not have a high power over the Doha Hilton The Pearl Hotel & Residences.
• Competitive Rivalry  High: The scan of competitors revealed a hectic competitive environment in the industry. The PEST analysis also demonstrated fierce competitive rivalry in the industry.

The summary of Porters Five Forces analyses is provided in Figure 4 below.

Stakeholder Analysis

Internal and External Stakeholders

Stakeholder management is an extremely important part of project management, as it helps to understand how to minimise resistance from stakeholders with an optimal amount of effort (Pedrini and Ferri, 2019). There are two general types of stakeholders, including internal and external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders are people whose interest is directly related to the performance of the company (Fernando, 2021). In other words, internal stakeholders are people directly affected by the project due to close ties, such as employment, ownership, or investors (Fernando, 2021). Thus, the internal stakeholders included the owner of the hotel and the café, which is the Kuwaiti-backed 1st Qatar construction company, shareholders, as they are the investors of the company, and the personnel, as they are connected with the company through employment. It is crucial to mention the project team as a special kind of employee of the company, as these stakeholders are directly engaged in the project implementation.

External stakeholders are the people and organisations that are affected by the project indirectly (Fernando, 2021). External stakeholders include suppliers, creditors, customers, communities, and public organisations (Fernando, 2021). For this project, the bank, contractors, suppliers, customers, and local government were identified as the external stakeholders of the Lobby Café building project. The government deserves special attention, as it is difficult to classify as the internal or the external stakeholders. In Qatar, the government often has a direct influence on business, as it is usually the central shareholder of companies. It may be assumed that the Qatari government owns the companys shares, which makes the government an internal stakeholder. Table 2 below provides a list of all the stakeholders by their status.

Table 2. Stakeholder list

Stakeholder Matrix

The stakeholder matrix, also known as Mendelows Matrix, suggests that stakeholder groups are analysed based on their level of power and level of interest (Meredith and Mantel, 2011). The framework views the level of power as the ability of the stakeholder to influence the project directly or indirectly (Meredith and Mantel, 2011). At the same time, interest is measured based on how concerned the stakeholder is with the success of the project (Meredith and Mantel, 2011). The division of stakeholders based on this criterium is provided in Figure 5 below.

According to Mendelows Matrix framework, the key stakeholders that needed to be managed closely were the owner, the project team, the shareholders, and the customers. The owner financed the project and could directly influence the project by setting the objectives and giving tasks. The shareholders could influence the decisions of the owner of the project, 1st Qatar, which could affect the flow of the project. Both the owner and the shareholders were interested in the success of the project, as it was expected to affect the profitability of the company and its reputation. The customers had a high interest in the project because they wanted to receive a high level of services. At the same time, the customers were free to demonstrate their expectations based on their needs. Finally, the project team could directly affect the flow of the project, and they were interested in its success, as the teams reputation and pay depended on it. Therefore, these stakeholders needed to be managed carefully through frequent effective communication, constant analysis of wants and needs, providing progress reports, and a personal approach (Meredith and Mantel, 2011).

The banks interest was only in the companys ability to pay the current portions of debt. Additionally, the bank had the power to affect the project only in specific cases when the owner did not fulfil its obligations. Therefore, the bank needed to be monitored to ensure that all the obligations were fulfilled (Meredith and Mantel, 2011).

The contractors, suppliers, and employees were interested in the outcomes of the project, as they could befit from the success of the project financially. However, that cannot affect the project by any other means except failing to provide the services in time or altering the cost of their service. Therefore, these stakeholders needed to be informed about the projects success through frequent communication (Meredith and Mantel, 2011).

The state government and the local authorities had a significant influence on the project, as they were authorised to interfere directly. However, the government had little direct interest, as it was interested only in the project complying with all the rules and regulations. Thus, the Government of the State of Qatar, along with the local government were, needed to be satisfied (Meredith and Mantel, 2011).

Corporate Social Responsibility

Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined as practices and policies undertaken by corporations intended to have a positive influence on the world (Fernando, 2022, para 12). CSR is a concept that helps companies to stay socially accountable to all the stakeholders (Fernando, 2022). CSR is helpful for both the companies and the communities. On the one hand, the community receives benefits in different forms, such as a better environment and the promotion of health and safety. According to Latapí Agudelo, Jóhannsdóttir, and Davídsdóttir (2019), CSR is usually demonstrated in the fight against discrimination, health promotions in the communities, and improved waste management. On the other hand, the company benefits from CSR as it builds positive relationships with the customers and authorities by improving its reputation (Fernando, 2022). Even though CSR may be a costly endeavour, it is a crucial part of the operations of modern-day companies.

CSR and Ethics in Lobby Café Construction

The project team demonstrated that they wanted to contribute to the local community and the Qatari society on several levels. First, it is beneficial to look at the level of project implementation. It is crucial to notice that the owner promoted ethicality during the implementation project by ensuring the absence of any discrimination on the construction site. The project team monitored the practices of the contractors to ensure that workers were not discriminated against. The project team ensured that all the supplies were received from ethical sources, which were the suppliers that did not exploit their workers or harm the environment to receive higher income. Additionally, the project team protected the health of the construction workers through health and safety training and regulations. The company provided special training to all the employees and contractors concerning the safety measure on the construction site. The project team also ensured that all the construction workers were protected from heat and did not work in the open between 11 AM and 4 PM. Thus, the project demonstrated its CSR and ethical behaviour through care for all the stakeholders during the project implementation.

The project team also ensured that the café operated in an ethical way. First, the café was dedicated to managing its waste effectively. All the cups were made from recycled materials and the café also promoted the recycling of PET and glass bottles. Second, the café provided jobs for women, which demonstrated the companys position in terms of discrimination. Finally, the company promoted ethicality in relations with the suppliers. In particular, the café ensured that all the supplies for the café, such as food, drinks, dishes, furniture, silverware, etc., were sourced from socially responsible suppliers.

It is crucial to notice that the project team did not only follow the regulations of the government but exceeded them in demonstrating social responsibility. For instance, the heat protection laws in Qatar prohibit working in the open between 11.30 AM and 3 PM (Human Rights Watch, 2018). However, the company changed this standard to ensure the protection of the workers. Similarly, the project team increased the standards of waste management, which was not required by the government. In other words, instead of being reactive to outside pressure, the project team was proactive. The project management team built strong relationships with all the key stakeholders, including the community, monitored their expectations and ideas about ethicality and CSR, and implemented CSR practices accordingly.

Conclusion

This report provided a detailed analysis of the Lobby Café Construction project from three viewpoints, including external influencers, stakeholder analysis, and CSR practices. First, the assessment demonstrated that the project was influenced by a wide variety of economic, political, social, and technological factors. The most influential factors included the increased attention to Qatar due to FIFA World Cup 2022, growing demand for services, the blockade, and increased influence of online rankings of hotels. Second, the report identified all the stakeholders and divided them between internal and external, as well as classified them according to the stakeholder matrix. The results of the analysis revealed that stakeholder management practices were outstanding. Finally, the assessment of CSR practices demonstrated that the project management team made every effort to build strong relationships with the stakeholders by promoting ethical practices during and after the implementation of the project.

Reference List

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Alpen Capital (2018) GCC Hospitality Industry [online]. Web.

Alshahrani, N. et al. (2021). FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar; Health Advice and Safety Issues for Travelling Attendees. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research, v.11 (S2), pp. 417-422. Web.

Bruijl, G. H. T. (2018) The relevance of Porters five forces in todays innovative and changing business environment [online]. Web.

Dalirazar, S. and Sabzi, Z. (2020) Strategic analysis of barriers and solutions to development of sustainable buildings using PESTLE technique. International Journal of Construction Management, pp. 1-30.

Human Rights Watch (2018) Qatar: Events of 2018 [online]. Web.

Fernando, J. (2021) Stakeholder [online]. Web.

Fernando, J. (2022) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) [online], Web.

Gavilan, D., Avello, M., and Martinez-Navarro, G. (2018) The influence of online ratings and reviews on hotel booking consideration. Tourism Management, v.66, pp. 53-61.

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Race

People of the modern world discuss the concept of race and racism daily. Some may face it directly, while others experience interracial communication through social media. It happens because today humans live in a diverse society: individuals may look or feel differently, but they share the same work and social spaces. One of the most challenging questions the community faces today is the following: whether races were created by nature or society or not.

The History of Races

Like humankind itself, races have been around for thousands of years. Golash-Boza T.M. (2015), the author of Race & Racism. A Critical Approach, allows her readers to briefly glance at the term race and its history through the years. Her work does not replace the in-depth research on this subject but provides a compact overview.

First of all, people need to agree on the definition of the word race. Golash-Boza (2015) suggests the following: a social construction to describe a group of people who share physical and cultural traits as well as common ancestry (p. 6). Races are not biological, as people from the same racial group may differ more than individuals from various racial backgrounds. In ancient times, humans made assumptions about others based on individuals geographical origin and their skills. This approach seems logical because particular natural surroundings shaped peoples looks at those times. The idea to divide humans according to their genetic traits flourished during colonial times (Golash-Boza, 2015). The reasons were in the human desire to justify immoral actions towards other individuals.

Then, colonialism brought Europeans ambitions into the New World. English explorers used the idea of belonging to a superior race to justify exploitation, slavery, colonialism, and genocide (Golash-Boza, 2015, p. 7). Through centuries, people of non-European heritage experienced unfair treatment due to their genetic differences. It is crucial to understand that division by race is not natural and did not come into existence until greedy colonists started referring to themselves as better human beings. Individuals of races may be free today, but they still struggle with the aftermath of the dark colonial times.

References

Golash-Boza, T.M. (2015). Race & racisms. A critical approach. Oxford University Press.

Introduction

Hemophilia does not do good to anybody; on the contrary, it causes a greater deal of harm and detriment. It is seen that lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) are virtually ostracized in US community settings, besides being despised as being mentally sick, biologically perverse or having unnatural sexual tendencies, inferior to normal hereteorsexals. Homophobia, or the aversion for people who have same-sex preferences, are categorized under personal, interpersonal, institutional and societal. Studies conducted by the National Gay& Lesbian Task Force(NGLTF) state that 90% of the respondents were targets of sexual victimization on the strength of sexual preferences, and nearly 30% have been vulnerable to direct violence. (P.269) Gender Construction and Heterosexism. (Adams, 2000, p. 269).

Employment, professions, occupations, and scope for advancement are denied to LGBTs.

Homophobia and bisexuality

It is believed that homophobic heterosexual men and women may react almost similarly to bisexuality as they would respond to homosexuality. But they could also feel threatened by the awakening of heterosexual desires by a bisexual. A male bisexual could leave a male partner for a female one, or, in the case of a female bisexual, a female partner for a male one. Coming to the aspect of internalized homophobia among gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, such genre do face psychological challenges and hostility, and therefore, there are strong justifications for the need to hide or facade their sexual preferences. Positive sexual impulses are inculcated in childhood itself, and thus, having sexual feelings outside accepted mores may be viewed with anxiety, or even guilt, among teenagers or adolescents.

This could be exasperated by family or peer rejections, which creates a mental void that stays on for long. For a young man to believe that he is attracted to the same sex, would be as good as seeing himself abnormal, or different from other kids, at least to his own conscience. They live under constant fear that, should their sexual preferences become public, they risk losing employment or family ties. LGB victims of hate crimes may face special psychological challenges. (Adams, 2000, p. 282).

Next, when coming to the aspect of black male dominated society, it is seen that black gay men are more acceptable than black lesbian women. This is under the misnomer that womens role as child-bearers are negated when they become active lesbians, even though the institution of marriage. Yet, it would be difficult to know who are gay and who are heterosexuals, unless they express it themselves. Often it is seen that preachers who preach to the black Christian community against the evils of homosexuality are themselves ardent homosexuals or bisexuals in their private lives. (Adams, 2000, p. 285).

Violence and sexual deviance

Same-Sex promiscuity is now very common occurrences in many European countries and often has group violence and anti-social overtures. It is also seen that police action would only exasperate tense situation, in that violent mobs would set fire to trash cans and even pelt bottles and bricks at the place, whose weaponry may not be sufficient to defuse the situation. Even when police reinforcements arrive, pitched battles would be fought between spray water hose wielding policemen and infuriated, impassioned crowds. This could be a common phenomenon in any minority dominated locality in the US. The Bisexual Gay and Lesbian Alliance (Glad) is a forum for bisexual, homosexual people with different kinds of sexual proclivities, and such people need to be private and discreet about their activities. In case their sexual preferences are found out by the institutions that house or educate them, there are threats of physical violence, rustication from educational agencies, etc. (Adams, 2000, p. 301).

When one considers the issue of transgender, it is seen that they are the mind of one gender, possibly female, trapped in the body of a male or vice versa, Young adolescent children tend to be tomboyish, or sissy, during the transitional period from childhood to maturity. But transgender desires are something more serious, or severs. It is often found that the assigned genders are not often what the person wished to be identified as. It is also possible that he/she rebels against such physical gender cast and seeks to present himself or herself as a member of the other gender, even bodily, as the other sex, in which there are no mental conflicts or in which a person feels himself happy. The fact that remains is that a person has complete freedom over the choice of his gender, sexual preferences or likes and dislikes. Any outside interference, as long as his actions are within the ambit of law and jurisprudential cause is contrary to public policy.

Conclusion

It is seen that students need to develop a broad framework about the kind of societal fabric and sexual moorings in which they are living, and to know and differentiate between normal and queer, or deviant behavior. While the choice is highly individualistic, it would be very much in place to consider the community and family impacts of ones actions or conduct. Peer pressures, group dynamics, and a host of other factors do contribute to the shaping of ones future behavior patterns and reactions to situational stresses.

Reference

Adams, Maurianne et al 2000. Readings for diversity and social justice. Routledge, p. 269. Web.

Adams, Maurianne et al 2000. Readings for diversity and social justice. Routledge, p. 282. Web.

Introduction

This paper outlines social community constructions, expected social conduct, and economic structures within the society. Also, it analyzes the governments support for occupations and unfortunate citizens. It evaluates various aspects of society and their significance to the culture.

Come the unity refers to a social set up with values and strings of consciousness of shared associations between persons (Delanty 28). They live under and share similar Environment and situations, or are in one geographical location. The community thus has a lot to do with links, values, and cultures of people.

Social Structure and Behavior of the Community

This deals with systemized organizations, which establish a community as one functional unit. It has a major role in the influence of the behavioral patterns of an individual. It means the cultures, norms, and the way they sway the members of that community (Sorrentino 34). Also, it may relate to economic stratification and distribute ion of major social facilities and resources.

Social structure affects governance, bylaw, and the economy. Social behaviors are usually contextual. They determine how persons view and lead their social lives and insights into how individual expectations condition us. Individuals obtain social norms and direct their characters to honor them, failure of which conflicts arise.

Other factors that have significance on social expectations include our stereotypes, set institutional and social functions, or media. Generally, ones behavior should honor the culture and set virtues of the society in question.

Economic Stratification System and governments help

Normal society is composed of categories of individuals, groups, and organizations with a unique endowment. There is indeed an economic stratification in all communities. Stratification refers to the alignment of persons in line with their uniqueness from one another in terms of income, job, and resource availability. In the socioeconomic view, there exists a lower level, middle, and the top class (Taylor & Andersen 217).

The government may issue jobs to the less fortunate or generally the public. It allocates revenue to diverse economic sectors. Informal employment industry may benefit from incentives and loans for enterprise. There are legislations that safeguard employees and prescribe their remuneration and work benefits.

Also, there exist allowances for social protection and work equipment purchase for employees. There are lowered medical care to the needy, education and basic shelter and hygiene services. These are commonly constrained by limited resources in countries.

The Five Aspects of Community

Aspects of the community refer to the set of common values to which the morals and behavior patterns of individuals are attributed (Homan 52). Shared territory refers to the physical area where every member of the society occupies. It embodies all the community members and distinguishes concepts. Shared values dictate the behavior and traditions of a community. It links people to a pool of morals that drive a given society.

Thirdly, the support structure incorporates the services and values within society. The shared public realm has to do with the systems, which are in place for the society to draw its morals and social practices. They are like societal benchmarks. Lastly, there exist aspects of shared destiny, which all the members of society work to achieve. Each society has defined destiny and expects all its persons to work towards them.

Conclusion

All governments should address the crucial wants of the less fortunate persons. There are discrepancies in social groups due to varying level of endowment with resources, occupations, and location. Human behavior is a resultant feature of standards and practices. Consequently, different persons behave differently. Habit and behavior depict the type of family an individual resides.

Works Cited

Delanty, Gerald. Community. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis, 2010. Print.

Homan, Mark. Promoting Community Change: Making It Happen in the Real World. California, CA: Cengage Learning, 2007. Print.

Sorrentino, Richard. Culture and social behavior. London: Routledge, 2005. Print.

Taylor, Howard. & Andersen, Margaret. Sociology: understanding a diverse society. California, CA: Cengage Learning, 2007. Print.