Construction Personnel Management Assignment

Hi
In this post I will be taking up another one of the assignment given by NICMAR faculty for
the students pursuing Post Graduate Program in Project Management. I hope this post will
clarify some doubts toward the problem.
Assignment
You are a Project Manager on site where work for 3K.m. long Tunnel has been undertaken.
The site is remote and takes about 2 days travel to nearest town. Supervisors, Technicians
& Skilled Workers are engaged in dangerous / hazardous work. Absenteeism due to
sickness, quarrels, drinking are adding to less output of work and chances of accidents on
site are increasing. Management has urged to do something so that time targets can be
achieved. Discuss how will you tackle the problem and increase the output of the work.
Understanding the problem
It is a typical problem faced at construction site located in remote regions. Both workforce
and management slowly become tired with a life of work and no source of entertainment. It
leads to heightened level of frustration among people working in remote areas. But the
case presented here has worsened, possibly due to lack of basic infrastructure i.e. proper
housing and healthcare facilities and easy availability of liquor.
Also it is evident that a safety officer is not present at the work site and work force is not
kept motivated by the leadership. As a result the project is losing both quality and time.
Summarizing the main Problems
1. Absenteeism Due To Sickness
2. Absenteeism Due To Quarrels & Drinking
3. Accidents at site
4. Technical problems
Possible reasons of various problems
Lack of Manpower Management (or) Planning
Un-Hygienic surroundings & Temporary Accommodation
Lack of Medication
Consumption of Alcohol
Availability of Alcohol
Storage of materials
Roof Spalling
Water seepage
Needs and Their Fulfillment on Site: Lack of Manpower Management (or) Planning

Prepare a proper schedule of the Project and Assign Resources to each Task i.e.
each Activity, Assigning Resources means Identify manpower required for each Task and
what is the availability of manpower and how much work has been done till date and how
much work is to be done. Identify Type of manpower required i.e. Skilled (or) unskilled.
If manpower is in adequate try to get more manpower or Try to use the available
manpower Fully so that maximum amount of work to complete and try to complete the
Urgent woks such that it does not affect our project duration, reschedule the project and
updated schedule to head office and inform them weekly work progress so that they can
help you to overcome the manpower problem (or),
Try to motivate the available manpower by giving extra benefits if they complete the
project in time. (Or)
If manpower is very less than required then immediately inform head office so that
they can send some more manpower so that the project can run smoothly.

Suggestion & Recommendation to Management on Manpower Management (or)

Planning

Understand the project in all respects and get all details of the projects i.e.
o Site condition,
o contract conditions,
o technical specifications,
o construction techniques, and
o time frame.
Working out the labour component in various parameters of the project .by using constants
to workout labour requirement Classifying and categorizing labour requirement and various
jobs by level of skill, responsibility, nature of work etc. Determine the duration of each job or
task at every stage of project.
Estimate the number of manpower required in view of the anticipated of absenteeism and
labour turnover and the stability factor.
Manpower management has some principles to follow that should be known by the project
manager and also the management of the company.
After understanding the factors stated above, following principles should be applied
o Care and skill should be exercised in the selection of employees.
o Introduction to the job should be friendly, skillful and adequate.
o Each employee should be made to feel that his efforts are really appreciated.
o Consideration should be given to the effect that each rule and instruction may have on the
feelings of employees.
o Employees should have apart in planning those things that affect their working
conditions.
o Management should be absolutely fair in every policy and every practice.
o Each employee should have a feeling of pride in the importance of his work and his place
in the company

Administrative setup
Based on the construction programme and various other norms, the administrative set up is
worked out for completion of project.
It is proposed to have two Chief Engineers (Level-1),
o one for head works and
o other for canal & canal structures headed by the Project Manager.
Under the Chief Engineer (Head work) four circle offices will be proposed and under the
Chief Engineer (Canal & Canal Structures) three Circle offices will be proposed.
There will also be
o one Director (Administration),
o one Director (Finance),
o one Director (Quality Control) and
o one Director (Technical) under the Project Manager.
There will also be attached Superintending Engineer (Mechanical) under the each Chief
Engineer. All these offices will be suitably located for effective monitoring and control over
the execution of project.
Un-Hygienic surroundings & Temporary Accommodation
Before Starting of the project Management has to well plan because this project is long
duration so manpower involved will be more it is the one of the preliminary need for the
employees & workers.
Suggestion Methods for Hygiene Factors
Management has to well plan for the temporary shelters in such a way that number of
workers will be involved in the project and how many shelters are required and for different
category of employees will be working at site and different types of shelters should be

constructed with different facility what all materials required for construction any how much
time required to construct it so that all those thing should be completed before starting of
project, Management should built temporary shelters for the workers who will be working at
site because the site is at remote area workers cannot be able to say at their home and
come for work it is the preliminary requirement for the workers so management has to take
extra precautions, A site office also be built with all necessary requirements, drinking water
should be good because most of diseases are spread by water so it is important step to
taken care by management.
Lack of Medication
Management should send a medical team to site and they should stay there till completion
of project. They should be supplied necessary equipments and medical kits so that they can
manage any hazardous situation i.e. any sudden accidents they can handle the situation,
any epidemic occurred they can over come that situation. By this work will be smoothly
progressed and number of workers absenteeism will be reduced. Worker who is sick will be
taken care by medical team he will be recovered quickly and he can start doing the work so
that manpower problem is solved.
Consumption and Availability of Alcohol
This is the major problem with labour because they drink daily after work so that they get
some relief from whole day work and body pains, but management should try to avoid
drinking alcohol or try to get them in limited dose so that they have it n just go for sleep if
they get it in excess quantities they will be drinking whole night and next day they will be
absenteeism and also after excess drinking they start quarreling between themselves its a
big problem for the project manager while quarreling they may be any accidents that leads
to more absenteeism that will also indirectly effects the progress of project. If this quarreling
happens regularly then management has to take some precaution steps to handle that
problem. Such as try to avoid the availability of alcohol near the site so that the labour
cannot consume much alcohol and this problem is solved and the project may continue
smoothly
Storage of Materials
This is also a major problem for such a big project and at remote place materials will be at
site well before start of project so store rooms should be properly built well in advance so
that it will not create a problem while execution of work for that what all employees required
and how many number required should be planned before so that materials are properly
handled by this only the cost of project depends.
Roof Spalling
The management should have complete knowledge of what all technical problem may
occurs while execution of project and it has to take proper precautions and it should be well
planned before so that it would not affect the project duration, what are causes of the
problems and how to overcome the problems.
The cause of roof spalling is type of formation of rock, rock with excess of foliations, joint &
poor rock mass leads to the rock spalling.
Suggestion & Methods to overcome Roof Spalling Problem
Tunnel should be properly scaling to remove loose rock mass & cement grouting should be
done so that the rock will get some extra strength so that it can hold properly it cannot be

fallen down easily. Tunnel should be properly provision of steel ribs immediately so that it
will be support on the steel rids and work can be progress smoothly and project manager
should have all this materials well in advance because these materials are required
suddenly.
Water Seepage
The management should have complete knowledge of what all technical problem may
occurs while execution of project and it has to take proper precautions and it should be well
planned before so that it would not affect the project duration, what are causes of the
problems and how to overcome the problems. The cause of water seepage is mainly due to
the discontinuous rock formation, Ground water table height etc.
Suggestion & Methods to overcome Water Seepage Problem
While designing the tunnel they should provide proper drainage system so that if the water
is accumulating in the tunnel it will affect the progress of work, so drainage system should
be such that water accumulated should be quickly drained any from working space so that it
does not affect the work progress. Or proper grouting should be done so that the rock will
get more strength so that it can stop the water seepage into the tunnel. This is the easy
method to overcome the seepage problem, the other method to overcome the seepage
problem covering the tunnel section with water proofing membranes it will also not allow the
water to seepage into the tunnel so that work can be progress smoothly.
Recommendation to Management
Top Management should be more responsible and it should have to properly monitor the
progress of work and if any urgent needs at site should be fulfilled as quickly as possible
and it should see that the lower and middle management is working properly are not. If any
accidents are hazardous situation then top management has to urge to do some help to
lower and middle management so that they can overcome the situation they must send
some team so that will help them and work will be progress smoothly. Tunnel project is a
very large project it will take lot of time to complete the whole project so management has to
be well prepared of all the fore coming situations i.e. labors problems, absenteeism etc.
Management has to determine the functions of each level of management it should be clear
for all the employees and management has to monitor such that each employee is doing his
duty properly are not.
FUNCTIONS OF TOP MANAGEMENT:
1. Determining the objectives
2. Framing policies & making plans to carryout the objectives & policies.
3. Setting up the organizational framework to conduct the operation as per plans.
4. Gathering the resources needed to put the plans into effect.
5. Controlling the operations through the organization.
Middle management is concerned with the task of implementing the policies & plans
chalked out by the top management. Middle management consists of departmental heads
exercise the usual functions of management in respect of their own departments. They have
top plan the operations, issue instructions to their assistants; collect the resources required
& control the work of the men under them.

FUNCTIONS OF MIDDLE MANAGEMENT:

1. Understanding the policies framed by top management.
2. Preparing the organizational set-up in their department.
3. Finding out the suitable operative & supervisory personnel & fixing duties &
responsibilities to them.
4. Arranging & issuing instructions to the assistants & operatives.
5. Motivating the personnel for higher productivity.
6. Co-operating with other departments for smooth functioning of organizations.
7. Collecting reports, statistical information & other records about the work turned out in the
respective departments & forwarding the same to the top management.
8. Recommending to the top management new or revised policies for their departments to
obtain better performance.
LOWER LEVEL MANAGEMENT It is the lowest level in the administrative framework &
actual operations are performed here. Foremen supervisors assisted by a no of workers &
clerks carryout the actual operations as per schedule. Their authority & responsibility is
limited & they have to follow the lines drawn by the higher levels of management. The
foremen or supervisors are responsible for carrying out work orders allotted to their
respective departments. They pass on the instructions of middle management to the
workers. The quality of the workmanship & quality of output will depend upon the hard labor,
discipline & loyalty of the operating personnel.
Motivation of Employees in Construction Project
Motivation is the driving force within individuals that drive them physiologically and
psychologically to pursue one or more goals to fulfill their needs or expectations. Motivators
may be intrinsic or extrinsic. An example of an intrinsic motivator is the self-fulfillment of a
worker as a result of performing a task well.
Motivation of labor in Construction Project
Construction labor can be motivated. This is important because dwindling productivity is a
major problem confronting construction today. Productivity has decreased every year for the
past decade, in part because of increasing design complexity, more rigorous federal and
state regulations and socio-economic changes affecting the work force. Our findings
indicate that a highly motivated workforce enhances productivity and project effectiveness.
In construction, the work itself that is, the building of a structure for all to behold is a key
motivator for all levels of management and the work force. Therefore, a well-planned project
seems to be the first and most important step to achieve good productivity.
Unfortunately, on large industrial projects, craftsmen often receive only minimal amounts of
information about their work. Duplication of effort, numerous modifications to plans, and
schedules that consistently slip makes it difficult to maintain a motivated workforce. On
large power plant projects, changes in design and problems with material availability are
considered the major demotivating factors. With effective pre-planning, the availability of
materials will be checked before workers are assigned to an area so workers do not start in
one location only to have to be shifted to another location. Care in this respect should
improve worker motivation and productivity and help promote a high level of
accomplishment. Most foremen and craftsmen take considerable pride in the work they do.
Having to rip out their work and redo it can be extremely discomforting. In fact, if it is
extensive, redoing parts of a project may be the worst demotivator of all. Craftsmen view

overcrowded conditions and crew interference due to extensive rework as demotivating.

Worse, such problems can create hostile feelings as a result of the frustration. Design
standardization can help to minimize rework and improve morale.
Motivational programs
Although some unique motivational programs were found, the vast majority can be
grouped into five primary categories: goal setting, incentives, positive reinforcement (i.e.,
recognition for a job well done), worker participation, and work facilitation. The following
presents a dissertation on each of the five categories discussing first their use in other
industries and then their application to construction.
Absenteeism and Turnover
The Department of Energy study indicated that the absenteeism and turnover are a
relatively minor concern to workmen. Still, they can have a major impact on total project
productivity. High rates of absenteeism are a concern, however, to individuals who had to
carry extra workloads to compensate for missing crewmembers. The low job satisfaction
resulted in high absence from work and high turnover. Thus absenteeism and turnover can
be viewed as effects of motivational Activities or demotivational concerns. The cost of
motivational programs is often justified by the reduced absenteeism and turnover.
For example, the cost of M2 group Engineering Pvt Ltd. Big Designing & Construction
Company On eight projects has been more than paid for by the reduction in absenteeism
and the reduced costs associated with hiring fewer workmen. Director indicated that it
required some amount per employee to process paper work plus two to three weeks of
each new employee's time to learn the job. Again, the figures on attendance and turnover
measure the motivational effort that is financially justified. Moreover, awards for good
records are perhaps the most effective method to decrease absenteeism.