Designing Success Predictability Scale for Scholarship Candidates - Research Proposal Example

1. Drafting a Success Predictability Scale for International Scholarship Candi s Reasons for Considering this Topic Area: Current data indicates that RasGas can expect to spend between $200,000 and $400,000 US per scholarship candidate to complete an undergraduate education in the United States or United Kingdom. Currently candidates are chosen on a subjective basis by committee vote without an objective analysis of the candidate's potential to complete the educational program he is assigned to. Further, RasGas lacks an objective linkage between positions needed 5-6 year in the future and the degree fields completed by scholarship candidates. This is likely to produce inappropriately educated candidates who will lack the skills to make a contribution to RasGas or allow the company to recoup its educational investment and generate a profit on the candidates acquired work skills. Further, RasGas may choose candidates who will fail to complete their chosen educational programs and create a sunk cost loss for RasGas. The use of an objective rating scale linked to organizational goals and future performance can limit these potential losses and increase the chances of securing productive employees post graduation. In order to create a winning proposition, one of the focus areas for RasGas is the 'development of its employees and the organisation', which can only be realized when the company is in a position to objectively rate the performances. Motivational factors arouse a need, propelling a person to channelise his efforts and energies in the direction of fulfilling those needs. These needs are aroused in the employee of an organization to increase the output, provide quality, increase efficiency, maintain industrial peace etc. An effective management must understand the fact that there are at least two ways by which the behavior of employees could be directed towards the productive pursuits in the organization. One is by changing the personality, i.e. the internal psychological structures of the person, which is a long-drawn and uncertain process. Another strategy is to modify the characteristics of the situation prevailing around the employees. These situational factors have tremendous influence in shaping one's personality. Providing suitable ambience and opportunities for career development and education hold the key in setting the process in motion. 2. Aim: To design a Success Predictability Scale for scholarship candidates Objectives: Analysis of the present policies of RasGas to encourage the talent. Analysis of the levels of motivation and urge for pursuing higher studies amongst the existing staff by conducting interviews and by observing them on the job. Analysis of the internal reports and other data about RasGas available in the public domain. Establishing a documentary link between scholarship awards and degree fields that supports the long-term goals and objectives of the organization. 3. Benefits to the Organization: The benefits to RasGas for using an objective success potential scale linked to organizational objectives for scholarship candidates are: Enhance the reward potential of opportunity costs associated with a scholarship candidate. Lower potential and actual economic losses associated with the scholarship program. Increase the chances of successful degree completion by scholarship candidates. Saving of as much as $500,000 US on candidates who are less likely to complete their assigned programs and make contributions to the organization that exceed the organization's investment in their education. Motivated employees, who in turn help the company more efficient and competitive. Motivation and encouragement leads to lesser attrition rates and turnover ratios, which in turn saves lots of costs associated with recruiting a team of new person time and time again. RasGas considers its workforce as one of its greatest assets and with people from over 36 different nationalities working together within the organisation, encouraging career development plans will prove to be breeding ground for talent. Workaholic employees will feel honored which will bring up a sense of belongingness and responsibility amongst the employees Such measures help in advancement of career opportunities for the employee and business opportunities for the organization That effectively means an overall growth for the organization. 4. Resources: To carry out the study we need the following resources; I need to spend quality time for a brainstorming session with some of friends and colleagues. I need to spend quality efforts and time in preparing the report with the help of my computer and internet. This would also involve financial costs towards arranging scanner, printer and some software tools to prepare a well documented report and presentation. Use of some popular types of bar charts like Gantt chart, spreadsheets to illustrate the project schedule. I need to do the research using the relevant books available in the libraries in my university and some other online libraries. This will also result in incurring some expenses towards gaining access rights for the libraries (online resources in particular). I will have to sift through some of the research journals, to study the trends in oil and gas sector. Correlation of the trends in the business sector with the prevailing political environment is very important for arriving at a relevant report finding. This requires analyzing the political scenario in the oil rich nations, latest on the Iraq and Afghanistan fronts. All such efforts involve directs costs as well as indirect one's like time and efforts. I need to put in efforts and time for conducting interviews with the staff and observing the work culture in different departments of the Company. And of course, once the report is prepared I need time to revise it thoroughly in order to sew some of the loose ends, if any to make it a comprehensive one. 5. Methodology: In order to carry out the research we need to have information and data on the topics like predictability scales. Such data can be collected with the help of secondary as well as primary sources. Data from both the sources has its own significance. Secondary data, available in the public domain provides us with the historical developments, comparisons, research findings etc. while primary data provides a glimpse of the prevailing circumstances within the industry and the company. Primary sources: These sources will be used mainly to gain an insight into the prevailing attitude and perception towards pursuing higher studies. Questionnaire and interview are the two important tools for collecting information from Primary sources. Towards this end; I'll carry out interview the scholarship supervisory staff to know in detail about the procedure being adopted by RasGas to encourage studies and provide scholarships. I'll plan out interviews with the HR department in finding out the difficulties they face in implementing the scholarship rules and regulations. HR department will also be in a position to tell about RasGas data on the number of degree completions from the scholarship program, the number of positions in specific fields needed within the next decade, candidate selection criteria and about the costs associated with such scholarship programs Interviews with some of the candidates who have undertaken such studies in the past with the scholarships in the past and how they benefited from such a study and how the company benefited from the study in achieving its goals and objectives. Interview with the present scholarship program supervisor to get a feel of his expectations from the candidates desirous of using the scholarship program. Analyzing the opinions of some of the experts and industry leaders in the field also helps in understanding the subject. In addition information will also be collected from some employees in general using questionnaire. This questionnaire can be distributed to them for couple of days, so that they can fill it up at leisure. A visit to some of the crucial facilities of RasGas like Qatar's Northfields, Khuff zones will also help in preparing the success predictability scale. Secondary Sources: These sources will be obtained mainly by carrying out an academic research. Secondary sources will help in; Studying some of the demonstrative success predictability scales used by numerous international organizations to choose employment and education candidates. Carrying out academic studies in success predictability scales. Studying different theories of work environment and motivation for employees and comparing the effect of such moves by some of the companies in the past. Online libraries prove to be of great help in gathering information about the latest technology and management techniques being implemented the world over. Latest data about human development indices and their impact on the working efficiency can be studied using the UNDP databank. Though RasGas may not like to encourage the employees unions as such. But the stand of unions over such issues helps in getting a feel of the international community. 6. Anticipated Problems Though RasGas provides a competitive compensation and benefits package, along with career development and corporate growth prospects with an emphasis on balance between life and work, and a multicultural and safety-oriented environment, yet while carrying out the research for completing the study we may come across some practical problems and difficulties like; It may not be easy to extract some time from the management for interviews Colleagues and co-workers may find it little intriguing that one of their colleague is keeping a close watch on their working. Departmental heads may object to taking the working time of their staff while conducting interviews. Collecting the filled up questionnaire from staff may prove to be very time consuming, as sometimes they may forget to fill up the questionnaire or may need a reminder to bring the filled up questionnaire. Searching the relevant books in library, proves very time consuming at times, as the books may not be in their designated shelf or may might have been issued to someone else. Looking for requisite data on the internet and online libraries requires good amount of money and lot of time. Internet has got loads of information, and sifting the relevant one's require patience and good scrutinizing ability. Above all, managing the time schedule for routine company work and the research study requires good deal of time management and lot of labor. In order to carry out the research without causing much problem to the company, amicable resolution of the above mentioned issues is a must. For that I need to plan out most of the activities in advance. I'll try to emphasize on the management that carrying out such a study will go along the company's vision statement which says, "World class global energy supplier striving for excellence." The management of the company places great emphasis on its human capital. A well trained worker will certainly help in better implementation of the policies of the company. Since the purpose of scholarship is to develop specific competencies, skills and qualifications to meet RasGas business needs and support Qatarisation strategies. Academic disciplines followed are expected to relate to specific roles and professions within the Organisation. Therefore colleagues and co-workers need be taken into confidence for such activities, otherwise, at times, it may result in creating some ill-feelings. Prior permission from the management/ departmental heads will help in their active cooperation in carrying out a successful research. I will have to be make sure that all the questionnaire reach the intended recipients as soon as possible so that they get sufficient time to ponder over the queries and jot down their responses. For collecting these questionnaires back I'll have to be very persuasive in my efforts. I'll have to prepare a detailed work-and-time schedule for searching the data and information available from the libraries and internet. Preparing a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) proves to be a good project management technique for defining and organizing the total scope of a project, using a hierarchical tree structure, therefore I will devote sufficient time for preparing such a structure. 7. Time scaled plan for the project Time scaling helps in gauging the progress that has been made towards the completion of the project. Milestones on the way help in providing and judging the shortcomings in implementing the project. Subsequently a corrective step can be taken to bring back the project plan towards original schedule or requisite adjustments can be made in the schedule. Such an adjustment also helps in sincerely conveying to the tutor/s that we're indeed on the job and all their efforts are not going down the drain. For carrying out this study I've made the following time schedule; Academic research 30 days. Compile company data 14 days. Data analysis 40 days. Scale creation 14 days. Study compilation 14 days. Total time required 90 days. 8. Declaration Read More