Jacob Elliott
ENG 302
Oct. 22, 2013
Problem and Solutions Scenario 2
Moderately Advanced Option 1
SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL-BASED/THEMED SCENARIO:
I have been hired by the Quickie Mart Corporation to build a new Quickie Mart twenty-two
miles outside Phoenix, Arizona, alongside Interstate 10. The Quickie Mart will sell gasoline,
diesel and ethanol as well as food, drinks and other miscellaneous merchandise. The Quickie
Mart will be one story with a possible three to six “basement” (optional). I am a contractor
specializing in the construction of commercial buildings and I must take certain precautions in
building in such extreme temperatures, specifically, in laying the foundation. In addition, I must
review the plans provided by the Quickie Mart Corporation and select appropriate building
materials for the construction.
Questions to consider before solving the scenario:
 What is the budget for the project?
 What are the dimensions of the project?
 Are there specific building materials or design requirements from Quickie Mart?
 What materials will provide the best insulation from the heat?
 What materials will provide the most energy-efficient environment?
 Does Arizona code require the building to be sustainable or carbon neutral?
 What materials will be the most durable and weather resistant?
 Should we consider installing solar panels?
 What kind of foundation will be required in the desert environment?
 Is construction of basements possible in the desert?
 Should we use piers to secure and stabilize the foundation?
Solution 1:
Budget and design: have been established by the architect and the Quickie Mart Corporation.
Using the design requirements, I can cost out the materials and labor for the project while
recommending materials that will work in the desert environment.
The store will be 60X40 feet, or 2,400 square feet. The average cost per square foot of a steel
commercial building is approximately $11.50, not including the site preparation and the
foundation (http:www.buildingsguide.com/faq).
Materials: a pre-engineered steel building because it will cost less than any other type of
construction (http:www.buildingsguide.com/faq). In addition, the steel-based systems offer
the quickest form of construction, eliminating excessive labor costs.
Energy efficiency: to my knowledge, Arizona does not have any coded requirements for
sustainability or energy-efficiency in construction however, it is cost effective to have good
insulation in an extreme temperature climate. Steel will achieve the best insulation value and
be the most durable and weather resistant of the building materials on the market.
Solar panels: I recommend installing solar panels even though the initial investment is high. In
my experience, the store can recover the cost in energy savings in a few years. The solar panels
and quality insulation will provide a cost-effective way to deal with the heat in the desert.
Foundation: I will conduct a site and soil analysis to determine the composition of the soil
under the building site. This is important because sandy soil can cause the foundation to shift
and the walls to crack. Cracked walls can allow ground water or heavy rain water to seep into
the foundation and undermine the construction. If the sand is inadequate to sustain the
foundation, I could recommend the use of piers, driven further down into solid rock. This will
be more expensive and time-consuming, however.
Basements: Finally, the possibility of three to six “basements” has been requested by the
company. Basements are very unusual in the Phoenix area because they are very expensive.
Digging out a basement can add as much as a month to the construction cost and can be more
costly then adding a second story (Pela, Robert, www. Phoenixnewtimes.com/).
If more storage is anticipated in the basement, I propose adding more square footage to the
store.
Argument against solution 1:
Quickie Mart has built stores in the desert before and there was no need for the use of
expensive piers driven into rock.
Response to argument against solution 1:
The sand is different in various areas of the country or even in different parts of the same
desert. In addition, the amount of rainfall can influence the stability of the earth. The sand
must be tested for stability and the cost of reinforcing the foundation factored into the overall
cost of the construction.
Anticipation of events:
 It is possible that the company will demand to have the basement(s) included in the
construction.
 It is possible that I will have to shortcut other construction features to accommodate
the basement cost.
 It is possible that the sand will be unstable, requiring extra time and money to drive
piers into the bedrock.
Justification:
The demand for “basements” is unrealistic in this environment. Very few commercial buildings
have basements or even underground parking in Phoenix. Building a basement is not cost
effective and will prolong the construction time.
Utilizing piers in the shifting sand will protect the foundation and the entire store. Building
inspectors will demand the technology based on the sand analysis.
Risks association with solution for scenario 1:
 I could be seen as not creative in my work.
 I could be replaced at the contractor on the job.
SUMMARY OF EMOTIONAL-BASED/THEMED SCENARIO:
As the lead contractor on the Quickie Mart construction site outside Phoenix, Arizona, I must
hire thirty extra workers to lay the foundation and construct the building. I have decided to
place an ad in the local newspaper’s employment section for one week. I have to decide how
much to pay the extra workers and I am considering $10.00 per hour. My regular workers make
$12.00 per hour, but I think the lower wages for the extra workers will be justified because they
have never worked for me before and I am considering giving them four or five extra hours per
week to compensate for the lower wages. I have to consider how the extra workers will feel
about the lower wages and I have to consider how my regular workers will feel about allowing
the extra workers to work four or five more our hours per week.
Questions to consider before solving the scenario:
 Will the extra workers be working a part-time week (under 40 hours?)
 Will the regular workers be working a full-time week (40 hours or greater?)
 Do the regular workers qualify for benefits such as healthcare and pensions.
 What is the minimum wage in Arizona?
 Will the extra four or five hours per week qualify the extra workers for benefits other
than just wages.
 Will the extra four or five hours per week per extra worker take hours away from the
regular workers?
 Are the extra workers skilled in their positions or are they day laborers?
 Will I use the extra workers on other jobs if they prove valuable?
 Will the extra workers learn valuable skills on this job they can use on other jobs?
 Should I be prepared to provide recommendations to other contractors if the extra
workers do a good job?
 How should I word the advertisement?
 Are the regular workers members of a union and does Quickie Mart require that I use
union labor?
Solution 1:
The newspaper advertisement should be placed in the local (Phoenix) newspaper. In addition,
the ad should be placed on bulletin boards where construction workers congregate. The ad
should state that the $10.00/hour wage is well above the minimum wage of Arizona, that the
position requires some construction skills and that there is a possibility of moving on to the
regular crew if the work is exceptional.
The extra workers will probably not appreciate the lower wages, but with the prospect of
learning on the job, being in a position to become full time and an additional four to five hours
per week, the extra workers will see the value in taking the job. In addition, the unemployment
rate is high in the construction field and the workers will be glad to have a job. The extra
workers will be part-time, meaning they will work 30 hours per week with an additional 5 hours
per week, which still keeps them under the 40 hours for a full-time job requirement.
The regular workers may resent the extra 4 or 5 hours given to the extra workers, however, the
full-time crew members have benefits such as healthcare and a pension which the extra
workers will not have. The regular workers will be scheduled for 40 hours per week and the
construction union will make sure that their pay and working conditions are appropriate. The
regular workers are assured a place on the crew, whereas the extra workers will have to earn
any promotion they receive. The extra 4 or 5 hours given to the extra workers will not be taken
from the overtime of the regular workers. Because the job is so extensive and the time frame is
short, the regular workers may have overtime opportunities in order to finish the project on
time.
Argument against solution 1:
The addition of 30 extra workers for the duration of the construction will create an
environment of bias – the regular workers get the best working conditions, the best pay, the
best hours, all the benefits, while the extra workers are made to feel lower class and
expendable. This environment will cause conflict on the job.
Response to argument against solution 1:
I will communicate the parameters of employment to all the employees before the work
begins. It is important that everyone understand that we have a job to do and they are
valuable members of the staff. It is also important to convey to the regular workers that their
positions and pay will not be jeopardized by the arrival of the extra workers. Also, the extra
workers will appreciate that they have a chance at full time employment.
Anticipation of events:
I anticipate that the crew will work effectively together. I will have enough foremen on the job
to maintain an environment of hard work and cooperation.
Justification:
The lower pay for the extra workers can be justified due to their lack of experience. In addition,
the savings on labor will benefit the budget. The extra workers will help to get the
constructions completed on time.
Risks associated with proposal for emotional-based/themed scenario:
 All the workers will be unhappy with the wage disparity.
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The extra workers and the regular workers will come into conflict on the job because of
the wage disparity.
The conflict will cause delays in the work and require more of my time on these issues
rather than the construction.
SUMMARY OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL-BASED/THEMED SCENARIO:
Conflict has developed between a few of the regular and extra workers. Because of the conflict
it is difficult to talk openly between the two groups. In order to not show favoritism or bias, I
have decided to keep the conversation general – mostly about work and occasionally about
family or health or pastime activities. I have to consider how the regular employees and the
extra workers will interpret and react to this impersonal approach.
Questions to consider before solving circumstantial scenario:
 How should I communicate effectively with the workers if some of them don’t speak
English?
 Should I attempt to resolve the personal conflicts between the workers?
 Should I fire the extra workers involved in the conflicts and hire replacements?
 Should I require the workers involved in the conflict to work together, or should I
separate them as much as possible?
 Should I develop activities to foster more teamwork among the workers?
Solution 1:
Since many of the extra workers do not speak English, I have decided to promote one of my
regular workers to explains policies and procedures to them and keep them in the loop. In this
way, they will be more likely to understand how the site is run and what is expected of them.
Even though I have decided to remain neutral with all the workers, I will establish a good
working environment for all the workers by having lunch delivered on Fridays. Occasionally, we
might have a barbeque or picnic. This will establish a better rapport among the workers and
allow them to interact in a friendly manner. In addition, I will create teams to work together,
with each regular worker responsible for mentoring an extra worker and I will set realistic goals
for each team or set of teams. There will be rewards for exceptional and on-time work
performance.
Even though I remain neutral in my interactions with the workers, I will make it clear that I
require the work to be done in a timely fashion. If the conflicts continue to interfere with the
work, I will be forced to fire the extra workers who are involved.
Argument against solution 1:
 The conflict among the workers will not be cured by a few barbeques and a foreman
who speaks Spanish.
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The conflicts will persist because there are two different groups of workers. In addition,
the regular workers will not want to take their time to mentor the extra workers that
they see as a potential threat.
Firing the extra workers will create a signal that the regular workers can just pick fights
with the extra workers and they will be fired.
Firing the extra workers will create an environment of suspicion and fear.
Response to argument against solution 1:
I believe that the over the course of the construction the workers will learn to work together
with some positive reinforcement from the site managers. I also believe that the workers will
value the chance to work effectively together, learn new skills and earn recognition for
exceptional teamwork.
Anticipation of events:
I anticipate that I will learn by trial-and-error whether barbeques or picnics work to bring the
crew together. The work teams will prove to be an effective tool to reduce the conflict and
complete the construction.
Justification:
My goal is to complete the construction on time and under budget. It is my responsibility to
have the crew work at their full capacity at all times and to have a friendly working
environment. I will do whatever I can to maintain the relationships among the workers, despite
the conflicts.
Risks association with proposals for circumstantial scenario:
 The workers may be dissatisfied with how I have handled the conflicts and quit.
 I could get a reputation as a difficult or uncaring boss and have difficulty hiring workers.
 I could become immersed in conflict resolution and neglect my job.
 The quality of the work could suffer because of the conflicts.