Overcoming organizational change challenges through seam : construction company in the state of Qatar

Abstract

In the middle of the fast changing and perpetual innovative era that the economy is living nowadays, companies, all over the world, are facing enormous challenges. Coping with all new developments, implementations and innovations is becoming a harder task to achieve; in many cases surviving has become the ultimate goal. Managing these challenges within the company in an efficient method can save efforts, minimize losses, decrease delays and increase production ultimately increasing profits. Having said that, the research aimed to find solutions to contribute in overcoming these challenges. The study is based on the SocioEconomic Approach to Management (SEAM), an intervention research applied at a construction Small to Medium Enterprise (SME). The company operates in the gulf region, in the state of Qatar, where the construction sector is considered the second major after the gas production and being a multinational company which gives the research a unique perspective. The intervention was carried over a period of 15 months during which many dysfunctions that were causing hidden costs were revealed. The study conducted a Horivert diagnosis and applied SEAM tools to manage conflicts, enhance communication and reduce delays. The company was operating without the implementation of any strategy which led to lack of synchronization and coordination, revealed many undeveloped competencies and created delays. The research proposes several solutions to decrease the estimated hidden costs that were calculated, develop human potentials and to operate more efficiently.