Motivation of Workers in the Construction Industry

INSTITUTION: KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI DEPARTMENT: BUILDINGTECHNOLOGY NAME: PHILIP QUAQUE AHIABOR PROGRAMME: QSCE 4 RESEARCH TOPIC: MOTIVATION OF WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN GHANA (CASE STUDY: SELECTED CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN GREATER ACCRA REGION) CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION Motivation is the set of reasons that encourages one to engage in a particular behaviour. The term is generally used for human motivation but, it can be used to describe the causes for animal behaviour as well. According to various theories, motivation may be rooted in the basic need to minimize physical pain and pleasure, or it may include specific needs such as eating and resting, or a desire object, hobby, goal, state of†¦show more content†¦Whether it to excel on the workshop floor or in the ‘ivory tower ‘ they must be motivated or driven to it, either by themselves or through external stimulus (Military Leadership, 1993). According to Shun (2004), management is often frustrated by lack of motivation generated by the end of the year bonuses. Foremen, who form part of worker strength, are often unable to motivate the average craftsman today (Business Roundtable, 1989). There is therefore the need for craftsmen and other subordinates to be motivated by providing them with the right conditions and opportunity. A correlation exists between worker motivation and performance; therefore there is the need for workers to always feel motivated in order to increase performance. It is believed that if organizations stop paying lip services to the issue of motivation, workers will work diligently in attaining set targets and objectives and cases such as lateness, absenteeism, laziness, negligence and pilfering on the part of workers will be eradicated (Huitt, 2004). 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this research is to look into the problem relating to motivation in the construction companies in Ghana. The objectives of the above study include: * To investigate into how workers are motivated. * To identify the impact of motivation in the construction industry. * To identify the impact motivation has on individual workers. * To suggest possible solutions toShow MoreRelatedHow Happiness Can Improve Productivity788 Words   |  3 Pagesrather expect that happiness will reduce the motivation to seek improvement and make them passive and dull. Comparing with other organization, construction industry has the highest need of human resources for all hierarchical levels. It is one of the largest global employment sectors, providing work for a significant proportion of the labour market and accounting for a significant share of the world domestic product (GDP) (Martin et al., 2003). 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Racism is defined by merriam-webster.com as ‘1. A belief...

Racism is defined by merriam-webster.com as ‘1. A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. 2. Racial prejudice or discrimination.’ Racism exists among all races and ethnicities, but most prominently between whites and blacks. The most basic cause of racism begins with the idea that there is something different between different ethnicities. Though that thought is illogical, it is one that seems inevitable. The amount of hatred one can hold against another because of the difference in their skin pigmentation is uncanny. There are an uncountable amount of sources on racism to be found just by merely looking on the internet. In†¦show more content†¦There were numerous racist comments made when President Obama decided to run, even attempts to try and falsely accuse him of not being of American dissent. Blacks were once slaves and treated no better tha n dos, and the thought of having a black man as the leader of the free world was one that metaphorically knocked some whites out of their seats. Unfortunately racism does not only exist amongst whites and blacks but amongst the black community itself. Because the main reason for racism and segregation is to separate oneself from â€Å"lower† class or those who are â€Å"less† the black community has done the same within itself. â€Å"She had explained to him the difference between colored people and niggers. They were easily identifiable. Colored people were neat and quiet; niggers were dirty and loud.† (Morrison 87). Black people separated themselves from each other. After being told they weren’t as good as white people they took their anger out on other black people, rather than banding together and uniting to support each other. Those people find that to make themselves better, superior to others they must make those others feel inferior, and to do this they separate themselves. â€Å"Black e mo. Black e mo. Yedaddsleepsnekked. Black e mo black e mo ya dadd sleeps nekked black e mo †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Morrison 65). Name calling and inhuman treatment towards blacks are the most obvious signs of racism. â€Å"The nearlyShow MoreRelatedMass Media in Malaysia5539 Words   |  23 PagesIntroduction Mass media is defined as print and electronic means of communication that transmit information to widespread audiences (Schaefer, 2012). Examples of print mass media included newspapers, magazines, booklets and brochures, house magazines, periodicals or newsletters, direct mailers, handbills or flyers, billboards, press releases, and books. While examples of electronic mass media are television, radio, computers, and smartphones. The past of mass media is extensive and complex. It stretches

Union Movement in Late 19th Century Free Essays

During 1870 through 1900 workers joined together; responding to the power of their employers caused by the growth of industrialization. The worker did not always have the luxury of leaving after eight hours of work, the right to representation, or the even the right to work in a safe environment. The working people of nineteenth century America had to unite in struggle to achieve the gains that are often taken selfishly and taken for granted today. We will write a custom essay sample on Union Movement in Late 19th Century or any similar topic only for you Order Now There were many successes and failures in organized labor; the successes were often obtained through the loss of the worker, often through lost wages, jobs, or even death. The organization structure of the union during 1870 through 1900 went through different cycles and strategies to achieve what they wanted. One of the first effective regional organized unions was the Knights of Labor formed in 1869. The knights took in not only skilled workers but also any worker that could be truly classified as a producer. The knights took their peek in 1885 when strikes against Union Pacific, Southwest System, and Wabash railroads attracted public sympathy and succeeded in preventing a reduction in wages, at this time they boasted a membership of 700,000. 1886 was a troubled year for labor relations. There were nearly 1,600 strikes involving 600,000 workers, with the eight-hour day being the important item for all of the strikes. Failure of some of the strikes and internal conflicts between the skilled workers and the unskilled led to a decline in the Knights popularity and influence. Another organization called the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions created a constitution that other unions could adhere to. This constitution met in Pittsburgh on Nov. 15 1881 and was created by representatives of the cigar makers, the printers, the merchant seamen, steel workers, carpenters and local units of the Knights of Labor. One of the most important items in the constitution created by the FOTLU recommended that the legal eight-hour work day be an objective for every union to achieve. The FOTLU thus accelerated a strong national push for a shorter work week. The AFL grew from 140,000 in 1886 to nearly on million by 1900. With these strengths in numbers they often preferred striking over political action. The struggle for workers rights, wage increases and protests against wage cuts were often unsuccessful resulting in violence and death. Chicago workers were agitating for the eight-hour work day for months. On May 1st and 2nd 1886 were eighty thousand workers went on strike, bringing most of Chicago†s manufacturing to a standstill. On May 3rd a fight between hundreds of strikers and non-union replacements broke out. Chicago police quickly moved in to restore order, leaving four unionists dead and many wounded. Angered by the deadly force of the police a group of anarchists called on workers to arm themselves and participate in the massive protest demonstration in Haymarket Square on May 4. Only 3,000 members assembled and started out peacefully until late evening when someone still not known to this day threw a bomb that killed seven policemen and injured 67 others. Even though no evidence was ever found about who threw the bomb four anarchists were found guilty and sentenced to death. Ever since the Haymarket square symbolized for radicals and trade unionists everywhere the injustice of a capitalistic society but also associated negatively unions as un-American, criminalistic, and violent. Many other activists died or received injuries for their cause all around the country. In July of 1877 strike riots halted the movement of U. S. railroads. After a few weeks of shutting down most of countries railroad system federal troops were sent in to try to end the nationwide strike. This resulted in more violence and death; in Chicago for example federal troops killed 30 workers and wounded over 100. On June 14, 1877 in Pennsylvania ten coal-mining activists were hanged. October 1887 the Louisiana militia shot 35 unarmed black sugar workers striking to gain a dollar-per-day wage and lynched two strike leaders. 1894 federal troops killed 34 American Railway Union members in Chicago attempting to break a strike. July 1892 three hundred Pinkerton guards helped introduce scabs into the workplace by opening fire on striking Carnegie mill steel workers, this resulted in the death of seven guards and eleven strikers. The idea of demonstrations was often to get the attention of management to show that they mean business and can†t be pushed around so easily. New York garment workers won the right to unionize after a seven-month strike. They secured agreements for a closed shop, and firing of all scabs. Striking miners in Idaho dynamited the Frisco Mill. Leaving it to ruins, getting the attention they wanted. The popularity and growth of unions everywhere showed companies that they are not going to walk over their workers as easily as they did in the past. Although union demonstrations resulted in workers being injured, dead or fired they set the way for unions in the future to be successful in their endeavors. These demonstrations were successful in the fact that they showed management and companies that the American worker can unite and be heard as one voice rather than a mass of passive workers that would take any injustice given to them. It is to these unions that we owe many of the benefits and rights we see and use today, such as fighting injustices such as biases and discrimination, winning the right to representation and collective bargaining, and the right for education for every child. How to cite Union Movement in Late 19th Century, Essay examples

Keystone XL Pipeline Essay Sample free essay sample

The Keystone XL Pipeline system is used for transporting oil from the Athabasca oil littorals in Alberta Canada to the United States. There are four different stages of this grapevine. Phases one and two are already complete. The first stage of the grapevine starts at the Keystone Hardisty Terminal in Canada and Michigans at Wood River and Patoka. Illinois. and so phase two starts in Steele City. Nebraska and stretches down to Cushing. Oklahoma. The completed grapevine is over 2000 stat mis long. Then you have phase three that would transport the oil to Nederland. Texas and Houston. Texas. Phase four is would get down in Alberta. Canada and run through Montana and South Dakota and articulation with the bing grapevine in Steele City. Nebraska ( Keystone XL Pipeline Project ) . The oil will be transported to oil refineries located in Illinois. Oklahoma and The Gulf Coast of Texas. There are two current grapevines coming from Alberta. We will write a custom essay sample on Keystone XL Pipeline Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Canada to the United States. Keystone stage one was wholly built in 2010 and set in approximately 1900 mile grapevine from Hardisty. Alberta. Canada to America’s Midwest and is linking about 35 100 barrels of oil per twenty-four hours to Illinois. Keystone phase two was built in 2011 added 300 stat mis to Oklahoma increasing to 590. 000 barrels of oil per twenty-four hours. TransCanada is already looking into the hereafter with Keystone stage three trusting to be built off the Gulf Coast increasing to 1. 1 million barrels of oil per twenty-four hours. Like all other grapevines. the undertaking must procure licenses. land rights and other commercial contracts in the United States and Canada to continue. The oil brought into the United States from the Athabasca oil littorals is bitumen and demands to be exhaustively cleaned. which means firing it at a high temperature. and this will take to air pollution and higher nursery emanations. Environmental organisations have been buttonholing against the grapevine due to the possible negative impact it can hold on air. H2O and wildlife. President Obama postponed any determination until 2013 ( Confronting Keystone Again ) . The 4th stage of the grapevine has many different proposed waies as one way has the grapevine traveling through the Ogallala aquifer ( Environmental Impact Of The Keystone XL Project ) . An oil spill in that country could pollute the full H2O reservoir. It is said that Canadian and American people can non hold on the same thing. but the Keystone XL Pipeline Project has made that statement incorrect. As of today some Americans and Canadians have to the full committed to the building of the Pipeline from Hardisty. Alberta to Steele City. Nebraska. Although both sides of the lodger agree to the fullest on the grapevine ; the president of the United States of America does non hold. TransCanada who is the lead manufacturer of the grapevine has applied for a Presidential Permit. which is required as the grapevine will traverse the Canada/U. S. boundary line. in the yesteryear which in 2010 was passed as the same in 2011. but now in 2012 it has been declined. TransCanada has re-applied on M ay 4th 2012 and is expecting blessing within the first one-fourth of 2013 ( Keystone XL Pipeline Project ) . Those who are in support of this grapevine have many grounds they have come up with to demo why everyone else should besides back up this grapevine. Today. about half of the oil used in The United States is imported for foreign states and will increase as we use up domestic resources. Reducing our dependence foreign oil would assist excite the economic system. cut down of all time increasing oil monetary values and our duty in the Middle East would be lessened. Although lessen America’s dependance on foreign oil is impossible unless everyone uses less and seeks other signifiers of renewable resources. The undertaking will make 20. 000 high pay occupations and 118. 000 spin off occupations from the building. I do hold that we need more occupations and building is one manner to make more occupations. but there are other things that could be built that will non merely make building occupations. but besides occupations inside the construction once it is built. Independent surveies find during the life span of the grapevine it will lend $ 5. 2 billion in belongings revenue enhancements to communities along the path. Grapevines are the safest methods for the transit of crude oil merchandises compared to other methods. Harmonizing to The International Tanker Owners Pollution the figure of spills during the 2000‘s have decreased dramatically to 3. 7 % . TransCanada would be responsible to protect human wellness and the environment ( Keystone XL Pipeline Project ) . Oil spills are more common than TransCanada wants to demo. That oil spill has cost BP tonss and tonss of money and so the consequence to the ecosystem is atrocious ( Environmental Impact Of The Keystone XL Project ) . In Michigan in 2010 about one million gallons of oil was spilled into the Kalamazoo River by Enbridge. and will be around 800 million dollars to clean up. The company besides knew prior to the Kalamazoo River catastrophe that the subdivision of grapevine was dama ged. Enbridge was besides connected to an oil spill in Wisconsin of 1000 barrels ( Hall. Jim ) . The grapevines will hold to inspected and maintained to guarantee there is no oil spill in the Midwest. I can merely conceive of the sum of harm done if an oil spill hit in Nebraska or Kansas merely earlier harvest clip. TransCanada has already run this grapevine through the Dakotas. Nebraska. Missouri. Illinois. and Oklahoma. TransCanada proctors and controls our grapevine systems from a computerized control centre that is staffed 24 hours a twenty-four hours. If an oil spill were to happen. TransCanada is able to close down the grapevine and insulate the affected pipe subdivision from service within proceedingss ( Keystone XL Pipeline Project ) . Oil spills make one of the biggest musss and can kill an full ecosystem ( EPA Objects To Keystone Pipeline Expansion ) . We saw what happened in the H2O with the oil spill in the gulf seashore. and now we are speaking about it on land. What will go on if the oil lines interruption and destroy harvests and citizens dreams? It is clip to hal t the Keystone Pipeline XL Project before oil covers the heartland.