CISCO Systems Telecommunication System at International Mining and Construction
Overview and Present Status

This report examines International Mining and Construction Company and their stated challenge in Telecommunications. It is reported "…Thiess, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holding Limited, is one of Australia's largest construction, mining and services contractors with operations throughout Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and India." (Cisco Systems, 2008)

Characteristics of the Company

Theiss in collaboration with Dimension Data worked to upgrade to Unified Communications Manger and Unified Presence 7.0 enabling business-to business exchange of presence and instant messaging with partners." Cisco Systems, 2008 Stated for example are proposal teams who "spend as long as a years developing proposals…" and as the deadline nears, being able to reach someone for one extra piece of information can make the difference in winning a multibillion dollar deal, which can be lost by as little at U.S.$100,000." (Cisco Systems, 2008)

III. Goal and Objectives of…...

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References

Unified Communications Applications: Uses and Benefits (2004) Chadwick, Martin, Bailey June 2004. Boston. Retrieved from:  http://www.cisco.com/web/go/unifiedcommunications/index.html 

International Mining and Construction Gains a Competitive Advantage (2008) Cisco Systems. Retrieved from:  http://www.cisco.com/en/U.S./prod/collateral/voicesw/ps6788/vcallcon/ps556/case_study_c36-497040.pdf

Sharon Construction company has won the bid to build a new 20,000 seat stadium, but several issues have arisen which are of concern to management of the project. Since the dual goals of any business endeavor are to both make money and increase the reputation of the firm, complications incurred during a project are to be avoided if possible. Since a best case scenario is not often achieved due to unforeseen difficulties, it is the purpose of management to evaluate all possible negative consequences that exist for any project, and to mitigate such occurrences to the largest possible extent.
The Sharon Construction firm has determined several occurrences which could possibly hinder the contracted completion timeline of the project. Since it is necessary to hire unionized labor, a strike is a real threat. Also, since concrete pours need to be completed at a certain temperature, it is necessary to complete these prior…...

Armed with more than 4600 salaried and hourly workforce, and having more than 10,000 craft staff, the company values candidates possessing wide spectrum of skills and experience apart from the desire and capability to excel. Kiewit intakes people in the disciplines like Engineering, Estimating, Project Management, Quality Control, Safety, and Equipment & Business. (Career Paths)
Environment:

Kiewit was awarded the LEED -- Leadership in Energy in Environmental Design for its $12.5 million three storied Midwest egional Headquarters National Park Service - Omaha, N.E. For its concern about environment safety. (Quality, client Service and Team Work)

ewards & Benefits:

Kiewit extends its regular non-manual staff with a wide range of competitive benefits structured with the personnel and his or her family into consideration. The flexibility permits every employee to choose the right amount of coverage. Besides, the employees are offered a Preferred Provider Option -- PPO scheme which gives all-inclusive care from a chosen…...

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References

Benefits" Retrieved at   Accessed on 6 August, 2005http://www.kiewit.com/careers/benefit.html .

Building challenging Projects" Retrieved at   Accessed on 6 August, 2005http://www.kiewit.com/project/ .

Buildings" Retrieved at

Human Resources at a Small Construction Company
Labor Relations

It is reported that there is a great fluctuation in the market demand in construction and that this includes the fluctuations "within short period and with uneven distribution among geographical regions." (Hendrickson and Au, nd) Employers in the construction industry value flexibility in their hiring of and laying off workers with the ebb and flow of the industry. There are a great variety of crafts in the construction labor force however most employers hire only a few of the representative crafts depending upon the specialized needs of each project. Labor and management in the construction industry is characterized by "both unionized and non-unionized operations which compete for future dominance." (Hendrickson and Au, nd) Craft unions work with construction contractors through use of "unionized labor through various market institutions, such as jurisdiction rules, apprenticeship program, and the referral system." (Hendrickson and Au, nd)…...

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Bibliography

Staneart, Doug (2004) Is Your Performance Review System Outdated? All Experts. 4 Apr 2004. Retrieved from: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dealing-Employees-1641/Performance-Evaluation-System-1.htm

Project Management for Construction (nd) Fundamental Concepts for Owners, Engineers, Architects, and Builders. Retrieved from:  http://pmbook.ce.cmu.edu/

Decision
As the general contractor of a medium size, one of the most important decision points in construction is a go no-go decision. Go no-go decisions have become common in the modern construction industry because of the changing marketplace that has in turn generated complex procurement choices. In light of the changing marketplace in the construction industry, construction companies face new challenges in identifying the most suitable project proposals to adopt and develop vetting measures that help in making the appropriate go no-go decision (Illia & ubin, 2014). Despite the complexities of such decisions, go no-go decisions remain very crucial choices in this sector because of their significance in weighing costs for the most appropriate project fit.

Contractors need to conduct a go no-go analysis in order to determine the best project fit depending on project specifications and needs. The analysis helps in several aspects including serving as a process of…...

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References

Bagies, A and Fortune, C (2006) Bid/ no-bid decision modelling for construction projects. In: Boyd, D (Ed) Procs 22nd Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2006, Birmingham, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 511-521.

Bryan Construction Inc. (n.d.). Design-Bid-Build Construction Projects. Retrieved February 14, 2017, from  http://bryanconstruction.com/company/articles-info/design-bid-build-construction-projects/ 

Illia, T. & Rubin, D.K. (2014, October 6). Firms Refine Steps to Bid the Right Job. Retrieved February 14, 2017, from  http://www.enr.com 

Rudy, L.J. (2014, June 11). Getting Started with Go/No-Go Decision Making. Retrieved February 14, 2017, from -- cms-21362https://business.tutsplus.com/articles/getting-started-with-gono-go-decision-making

Safety Meeting
Conducting an informative safety meeting can seem like a large task. The purpose of a safety meeting is to effectively convey safety information to employees. Effective communication of safety guidelines and rules can help to reduce the chance of injury on the jobsite. Safety meetings are most often conducted by supervisors, the foreman, or even the company owner. Like everything else, if you follow a plan it can be done with minimal stress. Here is a detailed, step-by-step plan for conducting an informative safety meeting, using a construction company as an example.

The first step in the process is choosing a place to hold the safety meeting. You will want to choose a comfortable area, so the employees can focus their full attention on you and the information you are conveying. It can be hard to focus if an area is too hot or cold, or if there is…...

Construction Cases
Thousand Oaks vs. Amelco Electric

Broward County Vs. Great American Insurance

Great Monument Vs. Pinellas County

Pasco County School Board vs. Norwood Co

Cho Dae Presbyterian Church vs. Norwood County Zoning Board

Lafayette ealty vs. City of Hawthorne

City of Hackesack vs. Bergen County

Construction Cases

City of Thousand Oaks vs. Amelco Electric

Amelco Electric was awarded a contract by the city of Thousand Oaks' to construct the electric portion of the Civic Arts Plaza project. The contract was worth over 6.1 Million Dollars. City representatives paid Amelco $1,009,728 extra to make changes. Amelco committed a faux paus when it failed to utilize the additional funds towards making the new changes as stated. They also claimed that it was difficult to verify the problems as it was impossible. Amelco claimed damages as they believed that the changes were a betrayal of their contract. The management pressed for lost claims for the difference between the actual amount of the…...

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References

Public Construction Law, Cheri De Love, 2003 ( http://www.publiconstructionlaw.com/Cases.htm#PERFORMANCE%20SURETY%20OFFER )

Great Monument Construction vs. Pinellas County (Carlos Moncada, The Tampa Tribune, 2003)

Cho Dae Presbyterian Church vs. Zoning Board, Norwood County, (Adam Geller, 2000; Publication: The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

City of Hawthorne vs. Bergen County (Hugh R. Morley, The Record,1995)

This is when the available supply will address demand.
eferences

Construction Logistics Management, 2010, CMS. Available from: [21 February 2012].

Construction Materials, 2009, Encyclopedia Iranica. Available from: [18 February 2012].

Iran, 2012, CIA. Available from: [17 February 2012].

Iran's Budget Shortfalls, 2009, P Log. Available from: [21 Feb 2010]

Iran Building Construction and Investment Opportunity, 2011, Business Wire. Available from: [20 February 2012].

Iran's eal Estate and Construction Industry, 2011, Dazzel Pod. Available from: [17 February 2012].

Sector in Iran, 2012, Iran Exhibitions. Available from: [21 February 2012].

Speed of Construction Industry, 2011, Zawya. Available from: [19 February 2012].

Top Ten Most Corrupt Nations, 2010, Expitfy. Available from: [17 February 2012].

Ahmandinejad, M, 2006, the Survey of Implementing Quality Management, International Civil Engineering. Available from: [20 February 2012].

Bagher, M, 2011, ICT Adoption, IAAC. Available from: [19 February 2012].

Bakar, a, 2010, 'Causes of Delays in Iranian Construction,' International Journal of…...

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References

Construction Logistics Management, 2010, CMS. Available from: [21 February 2012].

Construction Materials, 2009, Encyclopedia Iranica. Available from: [18 February 2012].

Iran, 2012, CIA. Available from: [17 February 2012].

Iran's Budget Shortfalls, 2009, PR Log. Available from: [21 Feb 2010]

Conclusion

In undestanding the facets of a PFI/PPT constuction endeavo, one must fist undestand the afoementioned facets of the patneship that will come into play fom the constuction poject's inception to its completion. The decision to engage in such an endeavo is clealy one that is subjective, but should be undetaken caefully in gauging the isks involved.

Refeences

Akintoye, A., Bing, L., Edwads, P. And Hadcastle, C. (2004). Risk allocation pefeences in PPP/PFI Constuction Pojects. Web. Retieved fom: http://www.ics.og/site/download_feed.aspx?fileID=2640&fileExtension=PDF on 17 Novembe 2011.

Dillon, M. (2009). PFI constuction contacts -- what they don't want you do know. Silve Shemmings LLP. Web. Retieved fom: http://www.silve-shemmings.co.uk / aticles/pfi-constuction-contacts-sept-2009.pdf on 14 Novembe 2011.

Feachem, R., Ni, A., and Sekhi, N. (2011). Public-pivate integated patneships. Health Affais, 30.8: pp. 1498-1508. Web. Retieved fom: LexisNexis Database.

Haiston, R. (2005). Pesentation: integating pocuement and poject management. 10th

Annual Intenational Supply Management Confeence. Web. Retieved fom: http://www.ism.ws/files/Pubs/Poceedings/BEHaiston.pdf on 14 Novembe 2011.

Hendickson, C. (1998). Poject…...

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references in PPP/PFI Construction Projects. Web. Retrieved from:   on 17 November 2011.http://www.rics.org/site/download_feed.aspx?fileID=2640&fileExtension=PDF 

Dillon, M. (2009). PFI construction contracts -- what they don't want you do know. Silver Shemmings LLP. Web. Retrieved from: / articles/pfi-construction-contracts-sept-2009.pdf on 14 November 2011.http://www.silver-shemmings.co.uk

Feachem, R., Ni, A., and Sekhri, N. (2011). Public-private integrated partnerships. Health Affairs, 30.8: pp. 1498-1508. Web. Retrieved from: LexisNexis Database.

Hairston, R. (2005). Presentation: integrating procurement and project management. 10th

Annual International Supply Management Conference. Web. Retrieved from:   on 14 November 2011.http://www.ism.ws/files/Pubs/Proceedings/BEHairston.pdf 

Investors, however, are likely to see through these changes. he company's turnaround is striking, but many of the changes are listed in the annual report, the depreciation change in particular. he listing of that change on the statements was undoubtedly mandated by law, but the other changes were buried a little bit more. However, the investment community can reasonably determine that increasing payables is a sign of the company remaining in a precarious position, as is the deferral of pension obligations.

3. he company's future prospects are reasonable. hey have a strong customer base and for the most part the restructuring effort was successful. he acquisition of new capital may have served a useful short-term purpose on the balance sheet, but it also allows Harnischfeger greater financial flexibility. he company's immediate future is no longer in doubt.

However, the picture the company paints of its future is not entirely accurate. here are…...

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The deterioration of operating cash flow is the other major red flag. The firm's dramatic profit turnaround and claims of operating improvements are not supported by improvements in operating cash flow. 1984 was much worse than 1983 and was even worse than 1982 in terms of cash flow from operations. This indicates that the firm's businesses are still facing tough times. Cash flow from operations would have been negative had the company not begun to stretch its payables in 1984. The company has indicated a long-term trend towards the margins being squeezed, in particular in the construction business. The good news with respect to construction is that the company has the deal with Kobe Steel, which may allow it to exit the construction business altogether by selling its operations to Kobe at a later date.

The company is also highly dependent on foreign sales. There is value in the diversification, but at this point their supposed operating turnaround is dependant on the highly volatile Turkish economy and the newly-opening Chinese economy. Neither of which provide the long-term stability the company needs and the operating results may fluctuated dramatically as a result of changes in the economies of those two nations. Moreover, the firm's ability to compete in these and other foreign markets is dependent on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar. The firm does not appear to have an answer for this, in terms of either an operating hedge or a financial hedge.

As a result, there is still considerable concern for the future of the company. Its financial position may have improved as a result of the debenture and equity issues but overall there remains considerable cause for concern, in particular with respect to operating performance. The specter that the firm's managers have made accounting policy changes to place the firm in a better light and to ensure that they meet their bonus targets cannot be ignored. It demonstrates that instead of being honest with respect to the pace of the turnaround, management is content to mislead the shareholders, possible to their own benefit. This raises concern with respect to governance at Harnischfeger. Thus, I would not recommend the purchase of the company's stock at present. Minor signs of encouragement are trumped by larger negative issues.

According to Finkel (1999), "The American construction industry is a vibrant and dynamic segment of the overall economy. It is annually responsible for nearly 4% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP)" (p. 3). The historic performance of the construction industry has remained positive, even during downturns in the national economy. In fact, the last decade has been a period of healthy growth from the construction industry worldwide; however, a continued economic slowdown may result in somewhat slower growth in the future (Law, 2008).
The historic growth patterns of the construction industry are shown in Table 2 below and illustrated in Figure 1.

Table 2.

Construction industry market analysis: 2001-2004.

Compound Annual Growth ate (CAG)

Commercial Construction

Source: U.S. Census Bureau cited in BPlans, 2008 at http://www.bplans.com/sample_business_plans/Construction_and_Engineering_Business_Plans/Formwork_Construction_Business_Plan/Market_Description_fc.cfm.

Figure 1. Construction industry market analysis: 2001-2004.

Source: Based on tabular data from.S. Census Bureau cited in BPlans, 2008.

Strategy.

The company's strategy for growth is based on an ongoing improvement process…...

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References

BPlans. (2008). [Online]. Available:   / Construction_and_Engineering_Business_Plans/Formwork_Construction_Business_Plan / Market_Description_fc.cfm.http://www.bplans.com/sample_business_plans 

Classification of building related sitework. (2008). UNIFORMAT II. [Online]. Available: http://www.uniformat.com/classification-of-building-related-sitework.html.

Finkel, G. (1999). The economics of the construction industry. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

Law, P. (2008, April 26). With lean times ahead, a positive image is needed. The Birmingham Post (England), 8.

Health and Safety in Construction Industry
The construction industry is by far the most dangerous one as it takes more lives every year and results in many short- and long-term minor or severe injuries. The UK government regulatory bodies have been playing a significant role in ensuring that proper health and safety procedures are followed. Throughout the last four decades, its role has been impeccable in decreasing fatalities in the construction industry, although the excessive rules and regulations, frequent changes, bureaucratic structure and lack of project management and risk management techniques have dented its efficiency in protecting small construction companies and contractors, resulting in a compensation and claim culture engulfed with individual profiteers such as insurance companies, lawyers and health and safety consultants. These excessive regulations have pushed constructors to adopt some illegal practices in order to decrease cost and probability of claims from injured workers. The risk management and assessment…...

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References:

Five steps to risk assessment. Viewed 27 October, 2012,

Hubbard, D. 2009. The failure of risk management: why it's broken and how to fix it. John Wiley & Sons. p. 46.

Health and safety executive. 2007. Managing health and safety in construction (Construction Design and Management) Regulations 2007 Approved Code of Practice.

Health and safety executive. 2011. Five steps to risk assessment, Viewed 28 October 2012

Summary and Conclusion

There is no way to protect construction workers from every accident that could possibly befall them. The nature of the work is such that complete safety is not guaranteed or even realistically possible. However, that does not mean that the number of fall accidents that occur cannot be reduced. Quite often, it is not a true accident but actual carelessness that is the cause of injuries and deaths on construction sites. Many construction workers forego safety harnesses, for example, because they can be cumbersome and inconvenient. They can make the work take longer, and make it more difficult for the worker to move around. That is especially true in cases where required work means the construction worker will have to unhook and re-hook his harness frequently. This aggravation is a small price to pay for saving lives, but the value of a harness is only seen if the…...

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References

Burke, K. & Tracy, T. (2014). Queens construction worker is dead in horrifying accident. New York Daily News. Retrieved from  http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/fatal-accident-queens-article-1.1247254

A second major facto in the growing trend for a new greener industry is that these measures also represent a more efficient operation from a financial perspective as well. For instance, recycling aluminum cans on the job is an example of a sustainable practice that contributes in a positive way to the bottom line (Shepherd, 2009). ecycling aluminum cans on the jobsite help to feed the local economy as well. These new cost-cutting measures are necessary, as green construction typically drives up the price of a new home by 10% (Shepherd, 2009). Companies must take measures to reduce costs in as many areas as possible.

How Can These New Innovations Affect a Career in the Construction Industry?

Changes within the construction industry will have an impact on those involved in the industry of the future. These new innovations represent changes in attitude toward the job site, project flow and project planning. Those…...

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References

AGC (2009). National Construction Group calls for New Federal Incentives to Encourage

Recycling of construction Materials, Purchase of More Efficient Construction

Equipment.Concrete Producer Online. March 23, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2009 from http://www.theconcreteproducer.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1419&articleID=916304

Baccinelli, M. (2008). New Features and Technologies Boost Refrigerator Efficiency. Building Products. March/April 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2009 from  http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/green-products/new-features-and-technologies-boost-refrigerator-efficiency.aspx

Newco Construction and investing with due diligence
According to the Internet dictionary Investopedia, the legal contractual concept of 'due diligence' from an investor's point-of-view is simply the "care" in which "a reasonable person should take before entering in an agreement or transaction with another party," such as when considering an investment on the part of a venture capitalist. ("Due Diligence," Investopedia, 2005) A due diligence audit is performed of a corporation, to confirm all material facts in regards to an investiture of capital, such as one that is currently being performed of the Newco Construction Company, to mitigate the risks of investing capital and to ensure that full disclosure of all company assets and potential problems are made aware to both parties involved, both the investors and the company's board of directors. Such an audit was performed of Newco Construction, and the company seems to pass all tests of the…...

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Works Cited

"Due Diligence." (2005) Investopedia. Retrieved from Internet Investment Law Dictionary on 25 Aug 2005

  'Due Diligence." (2005). Black's Law Dictionary. Retrieved from GLR, the Global Law Review on 25 Aug 2005http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/duediligence.asp 

 http://www.globallawreview.com/legaldd.html 

Newco Construction. (2005) Official Company Website. Retrieved on 25 Aug 2005

Key Factors for Small Businesses Choosing Insurance Coverage

Protecting assets and mitigating risks is paramount for small businesses. Understanding the key factors involved in choosing the right insurance coverage can empower business owners to make informed decisions and safeguard their ventures.

1. Business Size and Industry:

The nature and scale of a business influence its insurance needs. Smaller businesses with fewer employees and lower revenue may opt for more basic coverage, while larger businesses with complex operations require more comprehensive policies. Industry-specific risks also impact insurance requirements. For instance, a construction company needs specialized insurance for managing construction hazards.

2. Assets and Liabilities:

Thoroughly inventory....