FYS001-0 Assignment 3: Transmanche Link Channel Tunnel Analysis Report

This report examines the Channel Tunnel project, focusing on the collaboration between England and France in its construction. It applies Hofstede's and Handy's cultural theories to analyze the cultural differences and management styles of the two nations involved. The report details the challenge...Read More

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
Two nations involved in building Channel by using appropriate theories of culture..................1
Challenges faced by the nations for describing the ways they prepared for them.......................2
Benefits of Channel for international businesses.........................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Channel Tunnel is among biggest engineering project that took more than 5 years for
completion as well as more than 13000 workers from different nations. It was built under
enormous pressure as well as conflict among partners (Preene and Davey, 2018). The assessment
includes research about two nations involved in construction of Channel by applying cultural
theories. It further covers challenged faced by the nations for describing they ways they
prepared. At last, it explains benefits of the Channel for international businesses.
MAIN BODY
Two nations involved in building Channel by using appropriate theories of culture
In the project of Channel Tunnel, Two nations that are England and France were involved
to construct and build the undersea tunnel. Hofstede's cultural theory is propounded by Geert
Hofstede. The theory shows effect of culture of society on values of its citizens and the ways the
values relate to behaviour. England and France are the nations that took complete responsibility
for successful construction of the Channel (Khlif, 2016). The project was subject of global
comparative along with cultural research for exploring the behaviour of French addition to
European professionals within common structure. In the project, French managers encourages
organisational structures by power differences as well as inequity through having more control
on working through having more information about things in advance. At same time, it is
investigated that managers of England have high power distance index in which they believes in
the culture that accepts power differences and respect for authority.
In context to individual and collectivism dimension, people of England places greater
importance of individualism and created huge boundaries among work life to that of home life
that results in lower stress (Minko and Et. Al., 2017.). In contrary, professionals from French
country puts more emphasis of collectivism and shoulders responsibilities on entire group to
achieve objectives together with well being. In relevance with uncertainty avoidance index,
citizens of England have low tolerance for risk taking, uncertainty and ambiguity. They minimise
unknown through regulations and strict rules. However, people of France have high tolerance for
uncertain and taking risks. These population of France openly accepts unknown through lax rules
and regulations. Both these nations considers preferences of society related to achievements,
behaviour etc. Managers of France gives more preferences to femininity as they believes in fluid
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gender roles, quality of life and nurturing. In contrast, major preference are given to masculinity
by professionals of England to attain material achievements as well as wealth building.
The another cultural theory is Handy' cultural theory which was developed by Charles
Handy. The theory states about classification of organisations as well as business structures on
the basis of functions and roles of an individual. The classes of handy's culture include task, role,
person and power (Gussow, 2018). In England, managers focus on implementation of power
culture wherein power for the Channel Tunnel is held with just few individuals whose influences
spread on others. The culture involves few regulations and power makes decision about workings
of others. In contrary, it is researched that French managers involved in project emphasis on
adoption of task culture in which team were formed to address issues and progress project. With
right mixture of abilities, personalities and skills, working in team resulted in incredible
creativity as well as productivity among French population involved in completion of project.
Challenges faced by the nations for describing the ways they prepared for them
The nations such as France and England have faced certain challenges while building
Channel Tunnel. In context to France, the nation faced challenge of financial meltdown as the
tunnel was privately funded by British authorities. The project cost huge to these authorities for
completion. To deal with the complexity, huge loan from financial institution was taken by
managers of the project that resulted in availability of funds to carry out day to day operations
(Kerzner, 2017). Other challenge faced by France was working with England together as these
both nations have different cultures and ways to complete working. To overcome it,
professionals have decided to use own design codes to develop the channel. For example,
engineering team of both nation was leaded by Gordon Crighton, a Scot so that the nations do
not have any disagreements and have good relations.
In side of England, prior any tunnelling can be done, intense research is carried out to
find about soil and rock types to be encountered underneath English Channel. While building the
tunnel, massive spoils from drilling was faced by the nation. In order to deal with the challenge,
Engineers of England have planned to simplify dump material back into channel around mouth
of tunnel and adding 73 acres land to island after completing tunnel. On French side,
professionals faced issue of wetness of spoils and it was overcome through mixing or filling
more water as well as pumping excessive quantity away for filling landfill nearby.
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Benefits of Channel for international businesses
Channel Tunnel facilitates export-import growth of international businesses through
providing reliable, efficient and fast access among France and England. The tunnel have ability
to link directly with roads addition to rail networks among UK and France that benefits
international companies in reducing physical barriers related to trade which reduces expenses of
companies to pay taxes resulting in increasing profits. Channel Tunnel have changed the ways
international businesses perform practices, enabling integrated production across continents
together with opening in new markets (Nash, 2017). The companies that depend on speed of
Tunnel enjoys benefits of providing reliable services such as express delivery and rapid
transportation of products to most demanded places.
CONCLUSION
From the discussion, it is concluded that Channel Tunnel is boldest engineering project in
which nations such as England and France were involved in completing the working and making
it successful one. These cultures of the nations are analysed through Handy's culture dimension
and Hofstede's cultural dimension. The two nations have faced challenges including financial
meltdown, working together, technical and innovation issues, redesigning locos and many more.
The benefits of channel tunnel to international businesses are delivering products speedily,
reducing physical barriers and expansion in new markets.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Gussow, A., 2018. WC Handy and the “Birth” of the Blues. Southern Cultures. 24(4). pp.42-68.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project management metrics, KPIs, and dashboards: a guide to measuring
and monitoring project performance. John Wiley & Sons.
Khlif, H., 2016. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions in accounting research: a review. Meditari
Accountancy Research.
Minkov, M. and Et. Al., 2017. A revision of Hofstede’s individualism-collectivism
dimension. Cross Cultural & Strategic Management.
Nash, C., 2017. 11 Enhancing the cost-benefit analysis of high-speed rail. High-Speed Rail and
Sustainability: Decision-making and the political economy of investment, p.163.
Preene, M. and Davey, A., 2018. The Channel Tunnel Study Group–an Anglo French adventure
in the Chalk. In Engineering in Chalk: Proceedings of the Chalk 2018 Conference (pp.
579-585). ICE Publishing.
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