Name: Vikram Kumar

Reg. No.:212-04-11-10546-2143

ASSIGNMENT NO.1

Course no. NCP 22

Course Title: Construction Personnel Management

Assignment Description:

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

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 Name: Vikram Kumar
Reg. No.:212-04-11-10546-2143

 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

Understand the project in all respects and get all details of the projects i.e.
Site condition,
contract conditions,
technical specifications,
construction techniques, and
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
Care and skill should be exercised in the selection of employees.
Introduction to the job should be friendly, skillful and adequate.
Each employee should be made to feel that his efforts are really appreciated.
Consideration should be given to the effect that each rule and instruction may have on the feelings of
employees.
Employees should have apart in planning those things that affect their working conditions.
Management should be absolutely fair in every policy and every practice.
Each employee should have a feeling of pride in the importance of his work and his place in the
company

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 Name: Vikram Kumar
Reg. No.:212-04-11-10546-2143

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
one Director (Administration),
one Director (Finance),
one Director (Quality Control) and
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

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 Name: Vikram Kumar
Reg. No.:212-04-11-10546-2143

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
overcome 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 it’s 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.

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.

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 Name: Vikram Kumar
Reg. No.:212-04-11-10546-2143

FUNCTIONS OF TOP MANAGEMENT:

1. Determining the objectives

2. Framing policies & making plans to carry out 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

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 Name: Vikram Kumar
Reg. No.:212-04-11-10546-2143

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.

Bibliography / Readings :

NICMAR Lesson Book – Construction Equipment and material management

 Other misc books and study material on the subject