Blue Bell Construction Sdn Bhd

CASE SUMMARY

Blue Bell Construction Sdn Bhd, is a subsidiary of Blue Bell Pte Ltd f Singapore, a firm that invested in Malaysia to undertake activities like construction of townships, factories, bridges, dams and roads. Recently, Blue Bell Construction Sdn Bhd is now on construction to build a steel factory in Banting, Klang. This company has several projects in hand and it is running short of staff. Mr Chew Eng Kee, the regional manager of Blue Bell Construction Sdn Bhd requested the Head Quarters in Singapore to send some expatriates with experience to oversee development as Project Directors. Mr Bobson, South East Asia Regional Director of that company had called Mr Richard White who has specialised in engineering with eight years’ working experience to take up the project of construct a steel industry. Mr Richard willing to take up the challenge plus he really like to experience the lifestyle of Malaysia. One day, on the process of clearing work at site, Rosli came to Mr Richard said that the workers are now stopping their work. It is because of a huge tree at the site and the workers believe that there is some ‘superpower’ living inside the tree. The workers now does not want to continue their work until the company does something to send away the ‘superpower’ from the tree. Mr Richard does not believe in superstition and now he is in dilemma where he would like to complete the land clearing work and on the other, the workers are not willing to do so until there is a ‘bomoh’ come to send away the ‘superpower’ in the tree.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The main problem for this case is workers did not want to continue the job because have ‘superpower’ on the tree at the site. Mr Richard dilemma after know about the problem at the site after Rosli told about ‘superpower’ on the tree and history before this. Mr Richard has an ego to accept about ‘super power’ in front his worker to admit and take the suggestion by Rosli to call the shaman. Now, Mr Richard facing two important matter either to complete his work according schedule or late accomplish his work. He must give the decision to solve this problem to make sure all work going smoothly and everybody safe.

Did not have experience or knowledge about culture and believe at Malaysia

This is because Mr Richard come from different culture and believe. He still did not know about the culture and believe at Malaysia because he newly arrived and did not have experiences working at the east country. He come from western country and the gap about superpower are very big. Usually western country did not trust about ‘superpower’ because they are more educated and theoretical person.

How Mr Richard increase confident and brave on his workers

Some of the worker did not confident and brave to cut the tree because mind set of them about the ‘superpower’. Mr Richard must increase knowledge about local culture/believe and also change his mind to adapt new environment. For this case, if Mr Richard can take some advice from local worker about new environment at there and the result can make Mr Richard more fit to understand surrounding him. Mr Richard appoint his assistant to handle every problem arise regarding about culture or believe.

ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY

1. Giving reward to the worker

The first strategy is giving reward to the worker that could be used to settle up the case. This is because reward would influence their motivation to do something or work until finish it in goods, when they do work until done there are benefit or reward for them. There are many example of reward that been used to solve problems such as Richard give reward RM1000 for those who could cut down the tree until finish as good as they can do and make some offer of advancement in the company. In fact, giving reward is one of the factors can increase motivation of worker to work, increase their skill and attract the worker to be better than others and mostly company are use reward to motivate theirs worker. If someone getting offer the high pay of the work they would getting interested in that job, and they would do the best for getting the job within fulfil the qualification to get the offer. In addition, nowadays everything we are using money to buy something that necessary or demand thing. This strategy can attract them to finish up their work because there are benefit for them.

1. Study the ritual culture.

Study the ritual culture is second strategy that could be used in this case. This is because every place, every culture had their own ritual culture it believed from their great-grandparent’s trust. This ritual culture keep sharing until now with the story from their parent about their culture, to keep their children know about their culture and believer. Every ritual culture had positive attribute that could apply nowadays. For the example, when someone are get in the jungle, they cannot plucking something from the plants. It because there are guard of the jungle and it could make the guard of jungle getting angry. But the positive from this ritual is keeps the jungle in safe and keep the nature of the jungle. So when Richard studied about the ritual culture can understand the situation that happen at their company. In addition, Richard is foreigner in the company and he do not know about the culture and ritual culture of Malaysia. It effect on Richard when he heard about the situation happen become confuse and do not know what to do. This is first experienced of him working in Malaysia after working in Singapore. Once the Richard understand about the culture and ritual culture of Malaysia, he would be more skilful to manage his employee in  good condition and achieved the company goals easily.

1. Workplace safety training to employee

The last strategy is workplace safety training to employee. Every company make safety training to their worker. This is because safety is number one in company because every task that the worker do have bad effect if make a mistakes. In addition if the worker do work using machine or danger machine would provide the safety attire and safety guide to them before they start work. In this case the worker do not want to do the job because there are bad history happen before and influence their motivation to do work. Richard had given addition safety training to the worker to do work in more safety and increase their level of safety. For the example, before the worker cut down the tree the supervisor give advised and explain how to use the machine in correct ways. So when the worker gets knowledge more about the safety, the worker do not afraid to work. Bad history that had been happen before, maybe there are some mistakes happen when they did the work and it causing the accident occurred.