Mott MacDonald - Essay Example

Mott MacDonald Name of Student: Name of Course: Name of Instructor: Date of Submission: Mott MacDonald 1. Back Ground and History Mott MacDonald is one of the largest engineering consultancy firms in the globe. The firm has an annual turnover of about 1 billion sterling pounds. The company offers various types of management, engineering and consultancy services to both public and private clientele around the globe (Mott MacDonald 2013, p.1). Over the years, Mott MacDonald has emerged to be one of the largest companies owned by employees. The company has over 14,000 employees and has principal operations in about 50 countries. The company also has around 140 projects around the globe (Mott MacDonald 2013, p.1). The company boasts of a competent workforce who has the skills to undertake any engineering and management task on any part around the globe. The large numbers of projects that have been undertaken by the company are a proof of its experience and abilities. The experience, skills and great abilities of Mott MacDonald are as a result of the many specialist companies which have merged or which have joined up together to form the engineering group. The following section will give the history of the company with respect to the various companies which form the Mott MacDonald group. Mott MacDonald was established in 1989 after the merging of Mott Hay & Anderson which was a transport engineering consultancy firm and Sir MacDonald’s & Partners which was a hydro engineering consulting firm. Since then, some other companies have become parents in the engineering group to form the large organization renowned today because of its great services. According to the company’s website, some of the companies which have joined the group over time includes BMB Mott MacDonald, Cambridge Education, Hatch Mott MacDonald, Euroconsult Mott MacDonald, Franlin + Andrews, HAD, HLSP Institute and HAD. The following section will discuss some of the key partners of the group, their short history, the time they joined the Mott MacDonald group and what they have to offer to the group. Mott, Hay & Anderson The partnership was established on the 30th day of July 1902 when David Hay and Blasil Mott joined to form an engineering firm by the name Mott & Hay (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.1). The partnership formalized the relationship which the two had had since they had worked on various projects. In 1920, Sir David Anderson joined them and together formed Mott, Hay & Anderson. The group was one of the major partners involved in the formation of Mott MacDonald. Sir MacDonald and Partners The engineering firm was established by Sir Murdoch MacDonald. MacDonald boasted of vast engineering experience and skills which enabled him to undertake high scaled engineering projects. As an engineer, MacDonald is recognized for his ability to undertake water related projects for instance the Aswan dams which were erected around the world. He also served as an advisor to the Egyptian government Mott MacDonald 2012 p.1). As seen earlier, Sir MacDonald’s & Partners was a major partner in the formation of Mott MacDonald. Hatch Mott MacDonald Hatch Mott MacDonald was established in 1996. The company was very successful in North America where it was recognized for undertaking great projects in the transport industry. In a bid to target to North American market, Mott MacDonald allowed Hatch Mott MacDonald to join the group. Hatch Mott MacDonald brought with it great expertise in the transportation industry which was and is crucial to the group success. Hatch Mott Macdonald joined Mott MacDonald in 2001(Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). Dalal Dalal was an engineering consultancy firm located in India. It was established in 1970. The consultancy firm brings with it experience, skills and specialists in industry, infrastructure in addition to social sector development (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). The company joined Mott MacDonald in 2001. Cambridge Education In a bid to ensure that engineering consultancy had the ability to tackle global education, Sir MacDonald and Partners had entered into a partnership with Cambridge University. The partnership ensured that the education world was able to service the needs in the industry; hence being able to give courses which were relevant to the market. The partnership also gave Sir MacDonald and Partners and edge in Britain. The partnership was established in 1985(Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). Franklin + Andrews Franklin + Andrews joined Mott MacDonalds in 2002. The new addition brought with it great skills and experience in management consulting, commercial and project management. Having been founded in 1860, Franklin + Andrews had a long history which was a bid plus to the Mott MacDonald Group (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). HLSP HLSP joined Mott MacDonald’s group in 2003. The group offers professional services in project management in addition to technical and consultancy services in the healthcare sector. Mott MacDonald allowed the company into the group so as to tap into the core health sector (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). EuroConsult BMB EuroConsult BMB joined Mott MacDonald in 2007. The company was renowned for its consultancy in environment related issues. Mott MacDonald allowed the company in a bid to boost its move towards sustainability (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). There are other smaller companies and partners which have joined Mott MacDonald. This has boosted the company’s range of expertise hence boosting its ability to handle projects of any type around the globe. 2. Organizational Sustainability Sustainability is an aspect of an organization which focuses on enabling an organization to have in place a system which enables it to enjoy the benefits associated with current business activities and not compromise on its chances of doing so in the future (Ryan, Mitchell & Daskou, 2012, p. 579). In the wake of intensified competition in various sectors of the global economy, sustainability has become a very important business aspect. On this point, it is important to note that the modern consumer is far much more informed than that of the previous years. As a result of this, businesses have focused on operational areas which they have given such importance in the past for instance with respect to green energy. Linking this with Mott MacDonald, it can be acknowledged that sustainability is an important aspect of the business. Ideally, it can be noted that its business practice of getting into mergers and partnerships is as risky as it is beneficial. Managing a labor force of over 14, 000 people in addition to maintaining a strong global presence is undoubted a hard task. Moreover, ensuring that the company is able to stay true to its organizational objectives in addition to guaranteeing its customers on continued quality services necessitates that the company integrates sustainable business practices into its operations. The following sections will discuss several crucial aspects with regard to Mott MacDonald’s organizational sustainability. Economic Sustainability Economic sustainability is an important is a crucial aspect of any business organization. On this point, it is important to acknowledge the fact that profit making is one of the major objectives of any business organization. For this reason, it is the aim of every organization to put in place any appropriate systems which enable it to remain profitable. Looking at Mott MacDonald’s, it can be acknowledged that the organization is one of the most financially sustainable engineering organizations in the globe. The company received the 8th position award in the Sunday Times Best Big Companies to Work For (Mott MacDonald 2013c, p.1). This is an indication of the company’s financial prowess. The company has been able to attract a competent workforce owing to its stability. In addition to this, it can be noted that the company is very selective in its selection of business partners. In the analysis of the various partners forming the Mott MacDonald group, it has been identified that every partner has an important contribution to make to the company. This is a move to capture more market share on the globe and also provide quality services to its customers. The company also focuses on providing its customers with products which are able to give them a competitive edge over their competitors. In a bid to providing their clients with sustainable projects; they also become economically sustainable (Mott MacDonald 2013c, p.1). One of the projects which the company has been involved is in Hong Kong International Airport. Mott MacDonald has been involved with the developments at Hong Kong International Airport for the last 2 decades. The company designed the terminals of the airport among several other crucial sections of the international airport. Currently, Mott MacDonald is undertaking a design consultancy service in the construction of the airports third runway development. The runway s being built by the company in line with the inherent need to meet the ever increasing market demand of air transport. It is forecasted that the airport will be able to handle 97 million passengers, 602,000 flights and 8,900,000 tonnes of cargo by 2030 (Mott MacDonald 2013b, p.1). From this, it can be acknowledged that Mott MacDonald will have enabled Hong Kong International airport to be economically sustainable by delivering a product which meets the forecasted operational demands. Environmental Sustainability Environmental sustainability is by far one of the types of sustainability which has received much focus on the global scene. With the world already experience the adverse effected of climate change and diminishing natural resources, there has been a need to readdress environmental sustainability. Mott MacDonald acknowledges the need for environmental sustainability hence its commitment to several environmental programs around the world (Mott MacDonald 2013c, p.1).. The company also emphasizes on the need of integrating environmental sustainability in its various projects. It can also be noted that environmental sustainability has a substantial focus on the organization’s strategic plan. In line with enabling the company to be more environmental sustainable both in its operations and in its service delivery, the group allowed EuroConsult BMB to join it in 2007. With EuroConsult BMB on board, Mott Macdonald has a better chance to achieve its environmental sustainability objectives. Social Sustainability The company recognizes the need for corporate social responsibility. As a result of this, the company is engaged in many programs around the world which touch on the society directly. This topic will be discussed in depth later in this paper. 3. Organizational Ethics Ethics is a set of values, beliefs and practices which are generally accepted as right by an specific group of people / society. Organizational ethics is hence asset of values, beliefs and practices which are accepted as right by an organization. Organizational ethics is a very important factor which determines the success of modern business organizations. As identified earlier in the paper, modern consumers are more informed as compared to those of the yester years. As a result of this, the modern consumer is more concerned with what happens behind the scene as opposed to the traditional consumers. For this reason, it is important for an organization to engage in activities which are generally accepted by the society; this is organization ethics. Normally, many organizations have business ethics polices which governs the activities of the organization. Looking at Mott MacDonald, it can be noted that the company has an ethics policy statement. The following section will discuss key aspects of this policy. The first item on the group’s policy statement is commitment (Mott MacDonald 2013d. , p.1). The board to the company outlines that the company is committed to upholding g the highest standards of ethical behaviors in the organization. The board demands that every employee should act according to the ethics principles in the organization. The company asserts it commitment to observing the rule of law which varies from country to country. The second item on the policy statement is customers. On this pint, the company asserts the importance which it has on its customers. The company confirms that it will always handle its customers with the respect they deserve. Aspects such as confidentiality, integrity, diligence and care are emphasized in customer service delivery. Third on the list of the company’s ethics statement is business partners and suppliers (Mott MacDonald 2013d, p.1). The company asters that it seeks to establish healthy relationships with competent suppliers and partners. The crucial aspect of mutual respect and governance of the relationships is emphasized in the policy statement. The company affirms that any unethical business practices by the business partners and suppliers will be met by withdrawal of the company from such agreements. On this point, it can be appreciated that there are many unethical practices which occur during the supplier contracting process. This explains why the company’s ethics policy statement has given it such huge focus. The fourth item on the company’s ethics policy statement is employees (Mott MacDonald 2013d. , p.1). The company asserts its commitment to providing its employees with an appropriate working environment. The company also stresses on the importance of establishing effective human resource management practices which eradicate such things as inequality, harassment. The employment policies also indicate the limits which an employee can be able to use the organization’s resources (Mott MacDonald 2013d. , p.1). It is also a must for employees in the company to adhere to the group’s ethics policy. Fifth on the list is hospitality and gifts where the company stresses that employees should desist from taking or soliciting for gifts in exchange for favorable treatment of various clients (Mott MacDonald 2013d. , p.1). Sixth is the company’s commitment to the observation of safety and health in its operations. Seventh is the company’s emphasis on the need for environmental protection (Mott MacDonald 2013d. , p.1). This is in line with the need to turn back the events of continuous environmental degradation which have led to adverse effects to the world. Eighth on the list is the commitment to the community’s well-being (Mott MacDonald 2013d. , p.1). Ninth is the provision of a communication system for whistle blowers and also enhancement of a free flow of information in the organization. Lastly, the company’s ethics policy addresses the need for training and communication on the need for ethical practices among several stakeholders in the organization (Mott MacDonald 2013d, p.1). From the discussion of Mott MacDonald’s ethics policy above, it has been identified that the company is upholds ethics in its practices; a factor which has translated the organization into an ethical organization. Generally, it can be acknowledged that part of its success can be attributed to its ethical practices. 4. Social Responsibility Corporate social responsibility is a business aspect which involves all activities which are focused on enabling an organization to get involved in the issues which affect their employees and society at large. In the modern business world corporate social responsibility is as important as any other business activity. Ideally, corporate social responsibility is a major determinant of an organization’s corporate image. The better the image is, the higher the chances of success. Looking at Mott Macdonald, it can be noted that the company has a soft spot for corporate social responsibility. The company has received many awards for its outstanding corporate social responsibility. In its corporate social responsibility policy statement, the company emphasizes its commitment to making positive contributions to the general well-being of the society. The company focuses on addressing social, economic and environmental sustainability; hence being able to address concerns which are pertinent to the needs of the immediate society. The company releases annual corporate social, responsibility reports which indicate the programs which the company has being involved in a bid to address other issues affecting the society. One of the main focus of the company is on environmental sustainability(Mott MacDonald 2012e, p.18). On this point, it is important to acknowledge the fact that engineering projects are due to have high impacts on the environment. The type of impact is dependent on the ability of the project managers and developers to initiate programs which have minimal impacts on the environment. So as to ensure that the environment is protected, Mott MacDonald has in place several checks. Firstly, the company releases a carbon audit annually. On this point, it is important to note that the company is not required to do a carbon audit since it is a private company (Mott MacDonald 2012e, p.18).. However, the company does this; an indication of its commitment to environmental sustainability. In addition to this, the company is committed to reducing carbon emissions around the world. As indicated earlier in the paper, the company seeks to design projects which have minimal negative impacts on the environment; a move which has enabled the company to rise above its counterparts in environmental conservation and protection. The company has also taken time to address the issue of organizational ethics which is an important element of corporate social responsibility. The company aims at establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship with the market; a factor which is a key driver to its good public image. The company has also placed a lot of emphasis on the conservation of natural resources. On this point, it is important to note that the world is facing a problem of diminishing natural resources (Mott MacDonald 2012e, p.20). The fossil fuel reserves are getting depleted and water is becoming more scarce among other challenges. For this reason, it is socially responsible to design structures which protect the environment. With the construction and industrial sectors being some of the highest contributors to environmental degradation, it becomes important for engineers to come up with programs which reduce the impact of structures on the environment. Mott MacDonald has taken it up to them to designs which uphold environmental conservation and protection. Mott Macdonald also engages with the communities in a bid to better their lives. Firstly, the company is committed to sharing its knowledge with the community (Mott MacDonald 2012e, p.27). It is involved in many joint programs with schools throughout the world in and to impact the students with the necessary knowledge on engineering. The company also offers apprenticeships to students all over the world. The company also volunteers to address various problems in the society for instance the construction of cyclone shelters in Titkata Bangladesh, partnering with farmers for instance in Uganda, funding community projects for instance the community hall in Saduase and providing support when disasters strike (Mott MacDonald 2012e, p.28). From the above discussion, it is evident that Mott Macdonald has placed a lot of emphasis on corporate social responsibility and its success may be attributed partly to this. References Ryan,A., Mitchell, I., & Daskou, S., 2012. An interaction and networks approach to developing sustainable organizations, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 25, No.: 4, pp.578 - 594 Mott MacDonald, 2012.Mott MacDonald – A Brief History, pp. 1- 3 Mott MacDonald, 2013. About Mott MacDonald, Mott MacDonald, Retrieved on 15th October 2013 from http://www.mottmac.com/company_group_sites/ Mott MacDonald 2013b. Hong Kong International Airport, Aviation Consultants, Retrieved on 15th October 2013 from http://www.aviation.mottmac.com/aviationprojects/hongkongairport/ Mott MacDonald, 2013c. Sustainability, Mott MacDonald, Retrieved on 15th October 2013 from http://www.sustainability.mottmac.com/ourapproach/whywearedifferent/ Mott MacDonald, 2013d. Ethics Policy, Mott MacDonald, Retrieved on 15th October 2013 from http://www.mottmac.ru/aboutus/ethicspolicy/ Mott MacDonald, 2013e. Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2010/2011, pp. 1-30 Read More

Hatch Mott MacDonald Hatch Mott MacDonald was established in 1996. The company was very successful in North America where it was recognized for undertaking great projects in the transport industry. In a bid to target to North American market, Mott MacDonald allowed Hatch Mott MacDonald to join the group. Hatch Mott MacDonald brought with it great expertise in the transportation industry which was and is crucial to the group success. Hatch Mott Macdonald joined Mott MacDonald in 2001(Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). Dalal Dalal was an engineering consultancy firm located in India.

It was established in 1970. The consultancy firm brings with it experience, skills and specialists in industry, infrastructure in addition to social sector development (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). The company joined Mott MacDonald in 2001. Cambridge Education In a bid to ensure that engineering consultancy had the ability to tackle global education, Sir MacDonald and Partners had entered into a partnership with Cambridge University. The partnership ensured that the education world was able to service the needs in the industry; hence being able to give courses which were relevant to the market.

The partnership also gave Sir MacDonald and Partners and edge in Britain. The partnership was established in 1985(Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). Franklin + Andrews Franklin + Andrews joined Mott MacDonalds in 2002. The new addition brought with it great skills and experience in management consulting, commercial and project management. Having been founded in 1860, Franklin + Andrews had a long history which was a bid plus to the Mott MacDonald Group (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). HLSP HLSP joined Mott MacDonald’s group in 2003.

The group offers professional services in project management in addition to technical and consultancy services in the healthcare sector. Mott MacDonald allowed the company into the group so as to tap into the core health sector (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). EuroConsult BMB EuroConsult BMB joined Mott MacDonald in 2007. The company was renowned for its consultancy in environment related issues. Mott MacDonald allowed the company in a bid to boost its move towards sustainability (Mott MacDonald 2012 p.3). There are other smaller companies and partners which have joined Mott MacDonald.

This has boosted the company’s range of expertise hence boosting its ability to handle projects of any type around the globe. 2. Organizational Sustainability Sustainability is an aspect of an organization which focuses on enabling an organization to have in place a system which enables it to enjoy the benefits associated with current business activities and not compromise on its chances of doing so in the future (Ryan, Mitchell & Daskou, 2012, p. 579). In the wake of intensified competition in various sectors of the global economy, sustainability has become a very important business aspect.

On this point, it is important to note that the modern consumer is far much more informed than that of the previous years. As a result of this, businesses have focused on operational areas which they have given such importance in the past for instance with respect to green energy. Linking this with Mott MacDonald, it can be acknowledged that sustainability is an important aspect of the business. Ideally, it can be noted that its business practice of getting into mergers and partnerships is as risky as it is beneficial.

Managing a labor force of over 14, 000 people in addition to maintaining a strong global presence is undoubted a hard task. Moreover, ensuring that the company is able to stay true to its organizational objectives in addition to guaranteeing its customers on continued quality services necessitates that the company integrates sustainable business practices into its operations. The following sections will discuss several crucial aspects with regard to Mott MacDonald’s organizational sustainability.

Economic Sustainability Economic sustainability is an important is a crucial aspect of any business organization.

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