The cost of carrying out an environmental impact assessment can be a significant part of the planning and design cost of a development project. Notoriously, the EIA costs are difficult to predict at the outset of the project. This uncertainty is mainly due to an initial lack of knowledge of the environmental baseline conditions on the development site. As the project progresses, site knowledge increases gradually and new costs may emerge while some risks may reduce. Particularly in the current economic climate, there is a need to have a clear understanding of the costs and the risks of the environmental impact assessment at an early stage in the project.

The first step to effective cost management of an environmental impact assessment is to carry out a thorough EIA scoping study. The outcome of the EIA scoping study should be a clear understanding of the basic site characteristics and the likely environmental risks and sensitivities. It should also provide a clear programme on how to address the issues that have been identified in the further environmental impact assessment.

Following a carefully undertaken EIA scoping study, uncertainties remain. These uncertainties are however much more manageable. For instance, during the EIA scoping study it was identified that no important archaeological features have been recorded in the wider area around a site. The following step that is proposed is to carry out a geophysical site survey. Depending on the outcome of the survey there may be a requirement to carry out an intrusive investigation in the form of an excavation.

There are three uncertainties that will determine the final cost for archaeological work as part of the environmental impact assessment. Firstly there is the uncertainty about the exact cost to carry out the geophysical survey. The error margin on this should be relatively small as it is a fairly defined activity. The second uncertainty relates to whether or not the results of the survey indicate the need of further work. This is a yes or no issue, where the uncertainty relates to the chance that further work is required. Finally, the third piece of uncertainty relates to the cost of the intrusive investigation should this be required.

A system that is based on the Monte Carlo cost forecasting system is ideally suited to deal with these kind of uncertainties. The outcome of the Monte Carlo cost forecasting system is typically a series of potential project costs together with the probability that each of these costs will not be exceeded. Thus, employing a combination of a rigorous EIA scoping study and the use of the Monte Carlo cost forecasting methodology are essential tools in the effective cost management of environmental impact assessments.

By: Paul Giesberg

One of the most talked about and modern jobs in business today falls under the title “project management”, but this is often an over simplified description of a large range of skills and abilities. Project management is not an easily defined or quickly learned business skill; instead it is an ability that grows naturally out of an individual’s professional and interpersonal experiences.

A professional wishing to learn about project management will be introduced to a world of organization, communication, evaluation and enthusiasm. There are many “hats” worn by project managers and they can easily include customer service, coordinator, facilitator and even peacekeeper. This means that a thorough understanding of the role of project manager is critical to performing it well for both temporary and ongoing positions.

There are many ways that a professional project manager can be employed. They can find independent contracts within large and small agencies or corporations. They can work directly within a single business or unit of a business to manage work flow, ongoing projects, and even short term events and affairs. Many project managers operate on a freelance or “per job” basis, developing networks of clientele through their ongoing efforts.

Project management skills are very diversified and will require everything from organization, focus, workflow management, team building and negotiation, the ability to be both self-motivated and to motivate others, and incredible professional flexibility.

Where do you learn to channel all of these skills into a presentable and clearly organized profession? At TrainWithKSI.com students can be introduced into the fundamentals of project management, as well as learn the skills and traits of high quality project management for those who are not professional project managers. They offer both intermediate and advanced levels of training meant to enhance existing skills and introduce new concepts to professionals.

By: Jack M Patterson

In most of the times, effective environmental training is an essential element in assuring an organization meets its environmental objective. If any company implementing or operating an environmental management system, the standard required that an employee receive awareness training on the environmental issues related to their job. However, staff may be asked to demonstrate to the certification body that they are competent in their knowledge of the companies environmental policy, objectives and targets, significant environmental aspects and job related procedures.

There are many organizations around the country will provide general environmental awareness training to your entire workforce. One of the consultants from this organization will deliver the training, which will be tailored specifically to your company. It will give all employees an overview of environmental issues, and make them aware of the companies policy, together with a general understanding of environmental management systems.

According to this policy, all business has a duty ensure that any waste produce is handled safely and within the law. This one is called as duty of care. It applies to anyone who produces, imports, transports, stores, treats or disposes of controlled waste from business or industry. These organizations will provide specific duty of environmental training to your employees so that they understand what is requiring by lay and to ensure everyone works towards meeting all the requirements of the regulations.

When you are planning to obtain environmental training course, you need to consider many things. It is important to confirm that all environmental training courses are offered through accredited schools. Only accredited courses can be use towards professional certification, post secondary educations programs, and professional association continuing education requirements. An accredited school has been reviewed by a third party and meets a minimum standard of education, administrative, and management policies.

However, we can use these training, seminars and conferences are available several times a year and hosted by well known and reputed associations. In most of the times,this type of training may be very specific, targeted to a local area or industry. The topics are often based on specific needs, proposals, or new legislation. To participate in this process, become a member of the local environmental agency or association.

By: Shelley Chester

Introduction

Working in Niger Delta area of Nigeria has a lot challenges attached to it. No matter the societal occupational sector one finds him or herself. Due to the nature of the environment, terrain and people, working in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria demands people made of optimum mental state, psychological well-being and astute discipline. This is because on a daily basis, issues arise that test the characteristic nature of every worker in the Niger Delta area. These issues range from traffic congestion and clogging; careless commercial motorcyclists; and the general aggression, rudeness and possessive atmosphere of people who have felt cheated by non-indigenous affiliated companies for many years. However, working in the Niger Delta, can be less stressful if some simple working principles can be imbibed and practiced. These working principles have been practiced and monitored in my company with an overall increase in produce and staff work rate. I think it would be beneficial for other companies who observe a generally moody wave amongst her staff which is affecting their rate of work or people who work in a similar environment. Such working environments would also witness a reduction in sick leaves and absenteeism. These tips are hereby explained.

1 Encourage Smiling at the workplace

A genuine smile is like medicine to the soul. It lights up the inner body and drives out anger, sorrow and unhappiness. It immediately relaxes the muscles and brightens the face. A genuine smile attracts people to you like a magnet attracts a piece of metal. A smile they say keeps old age away.

2 Make Your Working Environment Attractive

The environment can be referred to as the total surroundings of an individual-in this case, working environment. The physical environment is made up of air, water, earth surface, plants, animal and people. It is wise to keep our immediate physical environment clean. This is because a clean environment is a representation of one’s attitude towards cleanliness. Clean environments help keep our minds relaxed and draw positive attention from people. A clean environmental practice generates positive comments from people and such an individual is looked at as a coordinated, hygienic and purposeful person. Above all, a clean environment reduces our exposure to diseases. So, you may want to keep your immediate physical environment clean.

3 Encourage the Use of Gratifying Phrases

“Thank you” is common word most people take for granted. It is mostly used to demonstrate appreciation of a deed, gesture or complement from someone. The phrase “thank you” is as important as other words in the same category like Please, Sorry etc. When said appropriately, the phrase “thank you” goes a long way to speak volumes immediately about a person’s attitude for appreciation. It makes people want to have an encounter with you again. If you are having problem in using these gratifying phrases, you may have to put them into use and see the difference it might make within and around you.

4 Staff Dressing Should Portray Corporate Identity

Depending on the type of functions an office is established for, there are different kinds of offices. As offices differ in functions, size and personnel; so also dress codes differ for various offices. Any corporate organisation would expect its personnel to be dressed ‘corporately’. Banks for example, expect staff to be well dressed, especially in a corporate way, to give a serious business like impression to customers. Engineers who embark on field work often dress in jeans or chino trousers and comfortable T-shirts or polo shirts to avoid discomfort. Examples of differences in dress codes for offices are endless.

The way one dresses to an office environment is very significant because it goes a long way to speak about ones readiness to work. For instance, if someone put a considerable effort in looking corporate, it implies passively that the person might be ready to put a good effort in getting a job done. It is wise to dress corporately to in a corporate environment as this portrays a business like environment. Except dress down Fridays recognised in most corporate offices today in Nigeria, every corporate individual is expected to appear corporately dressed from Monday to Thursday. Finally, this uniformity in dressing fosters unity and gives each staff a sense of belonging.

5 Effective Verbal and Oral Communication

People from different geographical, social, religious and ethnic backgrounds can be found working together in an office environment for a common goal. Communication is the binding factor between people in offices such as the one described above. Effective verbal and oral communication goes a long way in ensuring a good two-way information flow, builds a cordial relationship among staff and enhances the achievement of set targets. The most frequently used form of communication in an office environment is oral communication. This form of communication does not require any formal procedure but should begin in a manner of approach that is not considered offensive by the other party. Thus, it is very important that some level of respect is attached to oral communication to get the optimum results from staffs.

6 Relaxation

To relax simply means to relief oneself from mental or/and physical work to rest the body. Relaxation is very important in that it refreshes the body and keeps away fatigue which can inhibit optimum performance. People relax in different ways. Some people lay down to listen to music; some others engage in sports and thereafter take a nap. A massage appeals to many while some people would make do with a quite stroll. What ever form or kind your relaxation may take, it is important for you to remember that you need to relax for your body to work properly. Every company should have a common room with light music and television for staff break-time activities. It is also advisable to allow staffs stay home during weekends.

By: Abah Roland

]]> http://www.e-p-o.org/6-ways-on-how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-societal-stress-in-the-workplace/feed 0 http://www.e-p-o.org/explaining-environmental-scanning-process http://www.e-p-o.org/explaining-environmental-scanning-process#comments Sat, 25 Dec 2010 13:44:41 +0000 admin http://www.e-p-o.org/explaining-environmental-scanning-process

Environmental scanning is a research process, in which businesses collect all types of relevant information that helps these businesses in making decisions regarding surviving, expanding or entering new markets. In simple words, it can be described as keeping a close eye on external or internal happenings and analyzing this information to know how it can be detrimental or beneficial for the business. The information must be collected, arranged and disseminated among the company directors and managers. Mostly, environmental scanning is limited to external factors; however some businesses also carry out internal scanning. Environmental scanning is critical for the management or decision makers, as this information helps in making well informed decisions and that too, at the right time. These decisions include expansion, innovation, entering or leaving a market.

Small businesses usually carry out environmental scanning only when starting; for the reason that their resources do not allow them to perform environmental scanning on continual basis. However, big corporations are always scanning the macro environment factors to gain competitive advantage over their competitors, at the end of the day, it’s all about spotting the opportunities (or threats) before your competitors do. Something worth mentioning is that it is important to take immediate actions according to the situation or information, because environmental scanning is useful only when followed by appropriate responses. Sitting and waiting for other businesses to respond before you decide your future course of action is going to be of no use. Successful businesses are always born out of bold, timely decisions.

A business is affected by many external factors and it must monitor these factors all the time. For example, if you are entering into a new market, you must obtain information about the import and export tariffs, rate of exchange or an idea of political stability in the region. Similarly, you should base your business expansion (or contraction) decisions on the economic growth, income level or employment rate in the market. When introducing a new product or technology, you have got to have an idea of how patent laws or copyrights work. Other legal factors include union laws, environmental protection or minimum wage laws. Similarly, observing the demographic factors like population distribution, income or education level can help you identify the future trends and eventually opening up various new opportunities for your business. Internal scanning can include the identification of resources in terms of workforce, capital, technology, strength and weaknesses.

By: William King

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