HLCA Building LTD: Problem Solving and Decision Making Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of problem-solving and decision-making within HLCA Building LTD, a construction company. It identifies key workplace issues, including unprofessional staff, lack of marketing knowledge, and market competition. The report delves into the causes and impacts of these problems, offering solutions such as improved communication, employee training, and the implementation of a code of conduct. Decision-making tools like SWOT, Porter's Five Forces, and PESTLE analyses are applied to evaluate the situation. An implementation plan is presented, focusing on offering discounts to consumers and enhanced marketing strategies to address the competition. The report also details monitoring and review techniques to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed solutions, aiming to improve the company's operational efficiency and market competitiveness.

PROBLEM SOLVING AND
DECISION MAKING-BMSK4004

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................1
1. The problems in the workplace its cause and impacts. ..........................................................1
2. Analysing information on identified problems that impacts decision making process..........3
3. Solutions of work based problems..........................................................................................4
4. Decision making tools.............................................................................................................6
5. Implementation Plan in HLCA Building LTD. - ...................................................................7
6. Communicate plans to other stakeholders -..........................................................................11
7. Assess appropriate monitoring plan and review techniques ensuring successful
implementation of the solution - ..............................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Problem solving is the act of defining a problem, analysing the cause of it, identifying
and prioritizing the situations and selecting the alternatives solutions for the situation. The
HLCA Building LTD is located in Thatcham a town in West Berkshire located near main towns
of UK such as London, operating construction business. The report will include problems of
HLCA Building LTD for work experience in the field, the owner having less knowledge of
marketing strategies and the company's problem dealing with unprofessional employees.
Furthermore, it will provide solution of work base problem.
TASK
1. The problems in the workplace its cause and impacts.
The problem that the HLCA building LTD company is facing is that the company is
small and started since two years only. The company has one director and five employees only.
The HLCA building LTD company is facing three main problems thus, these are the lack of
knowledge of the owner about the marketing strategies, the company is not in condition to face
the competition in the market and the employees working in the firm are unprofessional and are
available on short term contracts only.
Unprofessional staff

The company is facing the problem of poor skills employees, as it is because the
employees who are working in the firm are not trained and they don't know how to do quality
work. As some workers are not serious about their work, they are not ready to take responsibility
of the task given to them (Garg, 2016). Workers don't come on time or maybe they are lazy and
not interested in doing the work.
Causes and impact of this problem:
 Lack of fund: The company is small size firm and has poor financial resources. As if firm
appoints the good and professional employees, they will demand for high salary and other
benefits. So the HLCA company LTD is not in condition to spend large amount of funds
on employees (Caprì and et.al., 2019). This will impact the growth of the firm as
unprofessional workers will not give fruitful results to the business and will results in
losses.
 No past experience of people: As the workers of HLCA company are fresher’s. So they
don't have any experience that how to develop marketing strategies and work in business.
Because of no experience they are not able to work professionally and thus will impact
the growth of the business (Fahmi and et.al., 2018).
 No training policies: As HLCA is the small size firm it has limited fund to run business
hence it does not spend much amount in training that is the reason that staff members are
unaware with the fact that how to behave professionally. This impact on growth of the
firm as people fail to perform well which affect productivity of business unit badly.
2. Analysing information on identified problems that impacts decision making process
When the employees of the company are not trained they will not be able to give good
results as this will result into loses. So proper training should be given to employees so that they
will work hard and give quality results. It assist the management in taking decisions about
whether the workers should be given the training or not(Martin, Donohoe and Holdford, 2016).
This enables the management to take actions against the workers are who are not taking there
work seriously. The workers should be responsible and ready to take the responsibility. If any
employee not perform well or refuse to take responsibility. This assist management that whether
to hold the employee or terminate them. Thus, It helps the organisation in making recruitment
policy.

The HLCA buildings can apply fishbone analysis to identify the root cause of the
problem-
3. Solutions of work based problems
Raising communication between staff
Company has to develop interaction between staff members so that they discuss their
working problems with each other. High interaction supports in exchanging their ideas and
developing their attitude and professionalism by getting new ideas of performing well. Firm can
use social media to develop interaction with staff members. By this way they will get update for
each aspect which will make them aware with company’s aim and mission and they will start
working professionally to meet that target (ajd, Asgharpour and Ghiasvand, 2017.). It is an
easier way to develop the skill.
Reading Business Case study to improve knowledge about professionalism:-
The case study teaching method is an commonly used method now days to improve the
knowledge. It helps owner to think in different ways and to get new knowledge every time, as
start reading new business case study and try to solve new case study. And also case study make
you more versatile than others as owner learn and think in different perspective simultaneously.
And it also provides practical implementation on theoretical concepts, as it is based on actual
events that happened in past or still exist by this you get various sources or way, which can help
owner to solve out its problems(Moon, 2017). It also improved employees analytical skill and
can make them professional in the firm..
Create a code of conduct:-
HLCA Building Ltd. company provides the written code of conduct to their employees
and manager, by overview the type of conduct and behaviour the company expect from their
employees. And also mention the outline what type of behaviour are not accepted by the
company and any employee found misbehaving and not following the code of conduct then
what measure or action are taken by the company against that misbehaviour employee (Minda,
2015).
Show employees appreciations:-
In the HLCA Building Ltd. company loyal employees feel that company give value to the
hard worker and they give task on daily basis to complete it . The loyal employees less likely to
act as unethical way. Company appreciate the loyal employees by encouraging them and try to

offer extra day off per quarter or year and also give bonus or reward if the employees
performance is good and regard his hard work which encourage confident level of the employees
and it more attention about work(Soergel, 2018).
Training to staff:-
Training is the program which helps the employee to develop or raise it skill or specific
knowledge which improve their performance of the employee (Shih, 2015). Training an staff is
one type of future investment in your business, as staff is companies one of the most valuable
asset and make sure that they are trained well(Battisti and Amori, 2016).
Feedback from employees
HLCA Building Company start asking the open ended question to the employees that can
help in analysing their actul potential and areas of lacking. By this way employer can make them
aware with actual professionalism in the business so that they can start behaving accordingly .
(Johnson and et.al., 2017)
4. Decision making tools
SWOT analyses
Strength:-
Training program make the employees to strengthen the skill, that employee need to
improve, and also help to expand horizon of employee intellect and increase the overall
personality of the employees. Which help the employee to work more easier and understandable
and it increase the interest rate of the employee, which is beneficial for the company(Cagan and
Kotovsky, 2015).
Weakness:-
One of the biggest weakness of training program is the cost of the process, and wastage
of time and valuable resources. Increase of stress by providing the training, it increase the burden
on the employees and the employees loss its interest (Majd, Asgharpour and Ghiasvand, 2017).
Opportunity:-
By providing the training to the employees it help the organisation to improve the growth
rate and productivity in the market, as training raise the skill of the employee, employee work
more efficiently for the company and increase the sells rate of the company(Saracco, 2016).
Threats:-

Threats shows the changes in the external environment, any environmental change,
government changes the policy in that case the company has to provide again training to their
emploees by keeping new policies in the mind. So It increase the cost of company and wastage
of time(Moon, 2017).
5 forces of porter
Porters five forces takes into account five competitive forces in order to search for
profitability and effectiveness.
Competition in the industry
The company is facing challenges as the price charged are higher then the competitiors.
The supply of the products by the company is also very slow. The problem can solved by proper
market research and charging reasonable price of the product(Shih, 2015).
Capability of new entrance
There is high chances of new entrance of new companies as the government are
providing subsidies to the new entering companies. This problem can be solved by taking first
mover advantage to avoid competition (Saracco, 2016).
Power of Supplies
There are low number of suppliers in the industry which means the company is more
dependent upon supplier and this problem can be solved by entering into the industry in which
there are more suppliers(Battisti and Amori, 2016).
Power of customers
The company is having a small customer base in which there is chances of high
negotiating power of the customers and this problem can be solved by increasing more and more
customers by sales and marketing.
Threat of substitute
There are many substitute products available in the industry so the company must solve
this problem by taking utmost care of the employees and providing them best possible service.
Pestle analyses
It is the tool that can help the firm in analyzing actual problem and taking right decision
accordingly.

 Political factor: Firm can analyses political situation in nation and can look upon the
impact on business that operates in the same industry. By this way entity can make
changes in its decision to make its staff more productive.
 Economic factor: By reviewing economic condition of country enterprise can make its
own policies to sustain in such situation effectively.
 Social factor: It has to understand need of society members and their believes, by looking
upon these things entity can be able to create workplace atmosphere accordingly so that
staff members work comfortably.
 Technological factor: Use of advantage technology can help in implementing solution
effectively hence entity has to use correct technology to make the right decision.
 Legal: before making any judgement it has to ensure legal acts so that decision can give
positive results rather than creating complex situations.
 Environmental factor: Firm has to ensure that their decision do not affect atmosphere
hence it has to make correct judgement by evaluating environmental conditions.
5. Implementation Plan in HLCA Building LTD.
Implementation of providing discount to consumers (to resolve competition issue)
The HLCA Building LTD must focus on the following plan in order to sustain
competition in the market - Offering attractive discounts - In order to survive competition in the
market the HLCA must offer great discount to the buyers as it is the ultimate factor that will
attract the customers to focus on the building developed by HLCA. The differences in price
available in the sector as compared to other builders in the area will provide competitive
advantage to the builder to promote the building. Focus on marketing the most - As the HLCA
has only two years of activity the company has to promote the business through various channels
incurring minimum cost as the business is not well know in the market. They must deploy digital
marketing channels to reduce the cost of marketing a reach numerous audience or the individuals
interested in buying the project (Battisti and Amori, 2016).
Implementation of training (to resolve unprofessional employee problem)
Implementation of
training
Activities Activity
description
Responsible
person
Start Date End date

Review existing
performance of
employees
The HLCA must
focus on
reviewing the
current skills and
performances of
the employees to
find out the lose
links and pitfalls
in their
efficiency.
managers 10/10/1019 20/10/2019
Organise
training schedule
The training of
the employees is
scheduled to
polish their
specific set of
skills for the
achievement of
the task.
Manager 25/10/2019 30/10/2019
Set material for
training
The material or
resources for
training like
place is managed
before the final
implementation
of the
plan(Battisti and
Amori, 2016).
managers 30/10/2019 5/11/2019
Final training
session
Final training
session include
the enforcement
of the new
developed
techniques in the
employees so
that they can
gain competitive
advantage
amongst their
own.
managers 5/10/2019 20/10/2019
Evaluate success
of training
program
The training
programme of
HLCA is
evaluated by
reviewing the
performances of
the employees
Manager 21/10/2019 30/10/2019

and comparing
their outputs
before their
session or
predefined
standards.
6. Communicate plans to other stakeholders -
As the HLCA is newly established couple of years ago not having too much reputation
and recognition in the market need to perform several task in order to raise funding for it's
operation to manage marketing and to sustain tough competition in the market. They thus need to
communicate their plans to the stake holders and other interested people in order to share their
business ideas and raise funds from the market for managing business activities.
Communication is the process of making interaction with two or more people.
Companies have to develop interaction with its all stakeholders so that it can make them positive
towards the brand. Stakeholders are the individuals who has high interest in business unit and get
affected by organizational activities. HLCA building is recently facing huge problems. One of
the major is faced by company is that owner has poor knowledge about marketing strategies
hence entity is unable to make effective marketing plan to raise sales of entity. Furthermore,
another problem is that it has unprofessional staff members that means entity has poor skill
people hence overall productivity get affected due to this. High competition is another major
issues faced by HLCA building firm (Majd, Asgharpour and Ghiasvand, 2017).
Owner is required to develop communication with all stakeholders such as managers,
investors, employees, suppliers effectively so that their interest can be raised and they support in
implementing solutions in workplace significantly.
Stakeholder communication can be defined as process of managing stakeholders and
developing their trust on business. It is essential for HACL that to give them right information
through right platform so that they support the firm.
Employees are internal stakeholders those who support the firm in achieving its target
successfully. HLCA will ensure that all employees have knowledge about new polices so that
they support the firm in implementing changes effectively and gaining desired results. Customers
are another essential stakeholders those who can influence overall profitability of business unit to

great extent. Company will ensure that consumers get to know about quality of products offer by
firm and its amazing pricing policies. This can gain their attain towards the brand and they will
take interest in buying products of business which will support HLCA building company in
gaining competitive advantage (Battisti and Amori, 2016).
Managers will get to know about importance of marketing activities hence owner will
communicate several marketing plans with them, that can help in gaining new ideas which will
develop understanding of owner about marketing and effective marketing strategies will be
implemented by the organisation
Stakeholder Key message Communicate
method
Responsible
person
Delivery
frequenc
y
Deadline
Employees To start using
marketing
tactics and
promote brand
through social
networking
sites
Personal
meeting and e-
mail both
Owner and
manager
Weekly 10/10/2019
Managers To use digital
tools for
marketing and
make effective
pricing
strategies of
products to
attract more
consumers and
to gain
competitive
advantage
(Battisti and
Amori, 2016).
Fax, email,
personal
meeting
Owner Weekly 15/10/2019
Customers Effectiveness
of products
and unique
features
Social media
tool,
company’s
website
Employees Monthly 20/10/2019
Investors Profit
generated by
business,
dividend
policy of
company,
Fax Owner Monthly 25/10/2019

growth plan
Suppliers Creditability
report, growth
rate
Mail Managers Monthly 25/10/2019
Government Tax report,
annual report
Government
sites and
website of
company
owner Yearly March ends of
every year
7. Assess appropriate monitoring plan and review techniques ensuring successful implementation
of the solution
The successful implementation of plans and practices can be monitored and evaluated
from the following techniques -
Monitoring techniques refers to following of instructions, training, coaching and discipline. The
particular technique helps in evaluating the process at the time of implementation of plan or after
it, the process in HLCA is followed to control the activities of the business type. The following
techniques are user to access -
Observation - It is a co-relational research which observes ongoing behaviour. The
technique focuses on direct observation of phenomena like the trend that the company can follow
to eliminate the competition in market such as standing unique, the work method of the current
employees and to train and develop them for further development. The employees in HLCA will
be reviewed based on the current performances and training in the pitfalls will be provided in the
field where the individual lack experience, to improve quality of the employees.
Audit - After the employees in HLCA are trained on the basis of basic skills and
techniques the owner must audit their performances differentiating the quality before and after
training. The loophole is examined and the managers in the organization work on them to ensure
the quality of work by eliminating unnecessary efforts, ensure the employee have abundance of
knowledge and skills to perform activities of business nature.
Benchmarking with other units - The training programme in HLCA will be
benchmarked with other competitive units to evaluate the competitive advantage they have over
their rivals. The standard of the best units under the same business is considered and HLCA will
establish its procedures and policies accordingly. As the company lack in policy formation due to
lack of experience the owner of HLCA must take examples and benchmark from other
competitive firms.