Daniel Mekonnen
My name is Daniel Mekonnen. I'm an Ethiopian. I'm a water resources engineer working in irrigation, water supply & infrastructure dev't projects in a social enterprise established by a local NGO.
Location Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
Activity
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
. I am very grateful for Futurelearn, The University of Southampton, IACCM and their respective team members who organized, coordinated, mentored and offered the course. I am also thankful for all course learners.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Genuinely, I have got all contents good, useful or interesting during this course. But, I believe, the major cores can be summarized as follows:
- Commercial relationships
- Business, Trade and procurement rules and regulations
- Understanding customers and making innovations based on their needs
- Contract management in interdependent and business... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Great things are offered in the week. For this and the entire course, I'm greatful for all team members and learners.
-
I'm surprised that those who have more suppliers than their employees are very few.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
According to the stressed notions of the contributors in week three, the contract and commercial managements have to be kept up and kept ahead in order to add value to the business. The client has to be listened carefully and then have the opportunity to be creative and solve their problem.
So, to do differently that would help my organization avoid the...
-
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Before two years, when I was taking another course (Introduction to Building Information Modeling) with Futurelearn, I had a privilege to try a free construction management software which I have decided to try it for my company. When I was doing so, I was faced great resistances from the management and employs. But, after tremendous persuasions and...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I’ve conceptualized the following core ideas:
- Customers’ technology push ideas can often change whole industries and societies.
- Since invention is not enough, the idea has to be developed into some commercial artifact for innovation to be real.
- Innovation is every bit as important for service delivery as it is in new product design, and perhaps more... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think, the major concept in the interview (video) is, in order to add value to the business, it is vital that challenges and problems related to contract and commercial management should be solved through creativity- i.e. technology, mobile and the internet.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Expecting more and additional valuable expertise know-hows, I look forward to week three.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
This week, I’ve acquired great, valuable and applicable acquaintances about:
- connectivity & management of complex relationships b/n stakeholders
- successful stakeholder management
- successful negotiation in contract managementI’m very interested with every topic steps. By all means, I will also try to share and apply on my job what I’ve acquired.
-
I've registered and following webinars.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I'm looking forward to see the entire four sections of the week. To me, all are important and passionate topics.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Construction planning is not an activity which is restricted to the period after the award of a contract for construction. It should be an essential activity during the facility design. Also, if problems arise during construction, re-planning is required. (Source: https://www.cmu.edu/cee/projects/PMbook/09_Construction_Planning.html )
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
This week, all course contents have been most significant issues for me.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
In this week's content what was surprising to me was 'RIBA Plan of Work 2013'.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think the negative stakeholders would be the most difficult stakeholder to manage. It is because they are affected negatively by the project (not benefited or benefited with some risks or losses) and in consequence they resist, oppose or be non collaborative at any effort of the project.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Construction Project is an organized and temporary process of constructing, renovating, refurbishing, etc. a building, a structure or infrastructure which starts after the inception , feasibility studies , detail studies , design , financing and construction contract agreement.
Since the past fifteen years I’ve been involving in about 10 construction...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think the following would have been included in the Qatar 2022 World Cup Stadium Project Charter:
- The business needs
- Assumptions
- Constraints and risks
- The customers’/stakeholders’ needs and requirements and
- The final outcome/product that it is intended to meet requirements/needs -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Project management is an activity of applying or usage of skills, knowledge, system tools and techniques to project activities to meet the desired project requirements throughout the entire phases of initiating, planning, execution and closing of the project.
Key events that I think helped to shape the project management industry we work in today are: (here...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I am happy to learn this valuable course with the prestigious Coventry University, the course organizers and peer learners.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Generally, in construction projects, there are multiple stakeholders with changing or different priorities. Every project has a unique set of stakeholders from the public that may be impacted by it to those that are going to use it, those who are going to help build and construct it, the government that are helping fund it. All of these have their own set of...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
It is very necessary to plan a project from inception to completion. This is mainly because projects are characterized by limitations of budget or any other resources and they are bounded in a limited time frame from inception to completion. Unless we plan the activities, the resources and the time since inception to completion, we can not bring about the...
-
I believe that I do have a good understanding of what the business objectives of my organization are. My organization is a social enterprise like the public sector type indicated in the video. But, now, after watching this video, I feel the objectives have to be set using the framework listed in this course section.
Concerning my individual supplier’s and /... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I work for a social construction enterprise in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia the contract law utilized for public constructions is FIDIC. The major client for my company is government.
As a company (here not as individual) we usually receive the clients exercise of power over us. It is due to the nature of FIDIC (it mostly favors the client) and the government's... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I can understand that we should concentrate on and invest in what we are good at and what provides competitive advantage, and go to outsourcing for we are not specialized (but by consideration of the factors indicated in the video/mind map).
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Thank you for creating and sharing of this glossary. It is essential to know the meanings (and to have a quick understanding) of the basic terminologies.
-
Daniel Mekonnen replied to OGUNREMI EZEKIEL OLANIYI
Yes you are right. What have been learnt must be practiced or applied.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
All course parts & contents were very good, interesting and useful. I could have been acquainted with the following basics of Contract Management:
• Global and cultural differences & basic similarities of contracts
• Importance of understanding what suppliers’ capabilities
• The ten pitfalls in contract management to be avoided/ related in ... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I thank Professor Douglas, the entire team members of the course and every learner. I hope, the upcoming exercises and materials which Prof. Douglas has spoken about in the video and the proceeding course contents as well will be enjoyable and more comprehensive to grasp better and substantial knowledge/ know-hows on Contract Management.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Thank you all. I have got many valuable things and am hopeful to get more in the remaining parts.
-
Even though I've encountered a problem to download the video, I could download the 22 page pdf.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Performance measurement try to:
-Check position
-Communicate position to all stakeholders
-Confirm priorities especially as change evolves
-Compel progressI think, control incorporates processes like identifying what the key performance indicators are (and then measuring against them). But, enablement is capability to take the desired remedial action...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I usually think of value while paying for goods like electrical devices but cheep prices for fasion/clothings.
Food item prices are mostly determined by the market so that I pay accordinglly with no option.
What ever the types of the goods are suppliers always try to convince the custemers to believe the goods are more valuable, costly. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Generally it is a good approach for the overall economical utilization of energy and protection of the environment.
But, to a little extent, I fear it may restrict certain utilities that must use more energy exceptionally.
In my locality (Ethiopia) I've never exprienced such approaches and don't think the possibilities of similar contracts. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I've got this course section very interesting. So, I have tried to look some of the outlined concepts in correlation with the construction enterprise I’m working for.
In spite of the extents of the works, the company owns a few machinery. We usually lease most of the construction machinery we need for different projects. Among the acknowledged reasons that... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Government regulations influence how companies organize their businesses, where companies determine to locate, how they arrange employees etc... Some regulations are also conspicuous and affect employers and their employees.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
In this course section, in addition to have a perception on the about, considerations, some required factors, validity and some types of the law of contract and intellectual property, I believe I have comprehended that it is very important to agree on the difference between ownership, access and such issues before the contract starts since it can be very...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Workplace rules and regulations are envisioned to bind us to a standard of professionalism and personal responsibility. They are established to maintain equitable discipline, order, and efficiency in operations and services.
I think workplace rules and regulations are mostly designed to meet external policies & laws.
The rules & regulations can be...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Thank you all course organizers, providers & peer learners. The course was very interesting & useful.
It is always my interest & wish to join & continue the online MSc in Construction Managment with BIM course. But, unfortunately, things are still inconvenient to me. Unless I'm sponsored, I can't fulfill the great interest & desire I have for this MSc...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I have found all topics good, useful & interesting. The topics must be studied in depth. Therefore, to do so, joining the MSc construction management with BIM course is critical.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
> I've investigated & found many types of analytical soft wares. Some of which are: sisense, orange Data mining, Microsoft R, DataMelt, stata, Atlas.ti, MAXQDA, etc…
> Because I chose the qualitative research method, I think inferential analysis will be suitable for analyzing the information that I intend to collect.
> I think such soft wares like NVivo... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Based on the types of research questions discussed in step 1.6, I derived my questions from an issue of my experience.
Because I chose the qualitative research method, interviews & studies/reports would be most effective. In addition, these data collection methods are also cost effective, dependable, accessible & time saving. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think the qualitative method will be suitable for my research questions. This is because my questions are focusing on investigating ethical issues behind the problems to be researched.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think the qualitative method will be suitable for my research questions. This is because my questions are focusing on investigating ethical issues behind the problems to be researched.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I can find adequate information from academic articles of relevant previous research. But reports & web articles on my chosen topic are limited/ less informative. Next, rather than refining my topic, I’ll elaborate my questions more & try to explore wide information from the chosen sources.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
After watching the video, my thinking has changed that the questions I identified in week 1 must be reassessed in consideration of available data/information sources & appropriate data collection methods.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think the physical & human information sources are more accessible to me when preparing for a research project. I used these resources previously and got helpful.
I don’t think other/ additional resources are needed to me. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I’m looking forward to learn:
- How I’ll apply research methods
- How I’ll collect data
- How I’ll identify/choose data analysis tools -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
This week:
1. I’ve got a good understanding about the contemporary issues of the construction industry.
2. Understood the meaning of research.
3. Understood the importance & effect of research in the construction industry.
4. Identified the common ethical issues in the construction industry.
5. Identified types of research questions.
6. I was able to... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think interpretivism & constructivism methodologies/approaches can also be advantageous on ethical issues of the construction industry.
From this topic’s discussion, I can understand the relations b/n research approaches & the methodologies. Approaches can be derived from the methodologies.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Not recently but a few years ago, when I was a staff of the local NGO, ORDA (www.orda.org.et), which has established the social construction enterprise I’m working for now-ACE, I’ve carried out a slight study.
ORDA had provided 200 manual water pumps to support irrigation practices of poor farmers. Because of inefficiencies & defects, the pumps could not...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
The key stages that a research process entails are:
1. Selection of research topic
2. Setting out questions for investigation
3. Analysing & establishing facts from investigations
3. Conclusions -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I’ve selected the ‘what’ & ‘why’ questions to explore further on.
My draft questions are derived from the case of Megech Seraba Irrigation Project in Ethiopia. W/c is a project I’ve been involved in. (I’ve shared my opinion on its problems & related ethical issues in activity 1.5).
By investigating answers for causes of cost overrun, delay & poor quality of... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think the major ethical issues in the case of the Scottish Parliament are lack of transparency & political disregard.
The following is my experience:
Megech Seraba irrigation project is one of the WB financed projects of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water. It is nearly to completion & expected to benefit 30,000 farmers by irrigating 4,040 ha of land. The...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
In my country, all the mentioned ethical concerns of the construction industry are sever. As a result, the industry is deteriorating, many projects are failed and resources of this poor country are devastated.
I believe the root causes & solutions of these concerns can be addressed through research, and things will be improved if it will be acted accordingly. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
The major contemporary issues facing the construction industry in my country-Ethiopia are:
- Corruption
- Project cost over run
- Skill gap
- Project delay
- Quality/standards
- Technology adoptation
- Safety
- Construction ethics
- Contract & cost mgm't
- Invironmental issues etc... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Keeping a learning log or portifolio is usefull to save in any formats & one place, track back, share etc.. the course works.
I have never used any of the listed tools. But, I will try to use one. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Hello dear learners & educators. I'm Daniel Mekonnen from Ethiopia. I'm a Water Resources Engineer working as a PM & Advisor in a social construction enterprise. I've more than 15 years of exprience in construction.
I joined this course for two reasons:
- Because I believe the problems of the industry in my country are worest, this course will develop my... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
A compliance cost is a cost associated with regulatory compliance that does not contribute to the immediate activities of a company.
The impact of regulatory compliance is great. The cost of regulatory compliance is a load that can drain the resources of the companies in the industry. These costs are related to financial compliance for legislation or... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
One example for ethical leadership is being a role model (in ethical behavior)
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I'm very exprienced/ familiar to the payment practices of the construction industry of my country. I believe that the payment practice of the organization I'm working for represents the entire industry in Ethiopia.
My organization's practices are:
- low wedges (for professionals, skilled & unskilled)
- late payment- for months or longer (for skilled &... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Though I know that the exploitations exist in my country & the rest of the world, I was not familiar with the term 'Modern Slavery'. Now, more to introduced to the term, I'm being more aware & sensitive of this chronic ailment of the industry.
Here in Ethiopia the major abuses are:
- illegal recruitment fees & harassments by agents & broakers (victims are... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
In my country, Ethiopia, all the listed legislations are not followed strictly. I think, this is because that, in cultures of the nation, consideration of offensing such legal issues as immoral/unethical is very low.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I enjoyed most on all contents of the week. I've got more things.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
These values are important in costruction because:
- help to collaborate
- help to enhance productivity
- help to deliver quality work
- help to meet social & client interests
- help on the advancement & uptodate improvements of the industry etc... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I'll try to join CIOB
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
My personal values more reflect the first two core values.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I think my positive values match with the values of my company. But, the challenge is unoperability of these values due to negetive workplace culture.
I believe that positive project relationship brings collboration & this has a great positive effect on values. A negative/poor relationship results the vice versa. -
I definitely agree with the findings.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
It is correct that the way I spend my time rsflects my values.
I usually bring work to home to do on evenings & weekends. So, I spend 10 to 11 hours a day on job.
The time I spend with family and friends is minimum.
This reflects that my values are more dedicated to work selflessly. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I'm very surprised by the result. I couldn't identify & enumerate my values before. The meanings/ indications of the values I've selected have also surprised me.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Very interesting course. I'm introduced with BIM. The next step will be digging deep in to it and being a pioneer of BIM in my country. So as to dig BIM deep, I've planned to continue the MSc 'Construction management with BIM' course- if things will be convenient.
Finally I would like to thank the course organizers, instructors, peer learners, Future Learn... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
1. What I've added more to my understandings on BIM are:
- the overall impacts of BIM on real projects.
- the challenges on adoption of BIM
- the common/ major limitations of BIM
- examples of BIM adaptation in different parts of the world.
- view/imagination on how the future of BIM will be.2. The questions arose to me are:
- how much we Ethiopians... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
The effect of using virtual reality:
1. On design:
- by putting different configurations & senarios, to create concept design in shorter time.
- speeds up design processes, minimize design costs & prevent costly conflicts during construction.
2. On maintenances:
- to identify available free spaces.
- to look deeply & in detail through d/f perspectives &... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
-Improved visualization.
-Improved productivity
-Improved information retrieval.
-Improved coordination of construction documents.
-Higher speed of delivery.
-Reduced overall costs will be occured with BIM usage.I also believe that the gaps in adoption & acceptance of BIM will be filled gradually in the future.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
In 2008 a construction management company started refurbishment works of administrative building in heart the Old town of Vilnius. The design has been made to build Office building as the complex of new office and refurbished old administrative building. Total area of the office building is 10,200 sq. m., it consist of 3-storey underground parking for 2900 sq....
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Even I believe the areas to be researched on the enhancement of BIM effect are many, I offer the following few ones.
I. General
1. Change resistance & lack of awareness:
While BIM adoption is a change management there are problems that will retard its effect like: resistance to accept it, lower business desire to use it & poor awareness about it among the... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I feel it is a good start to us to understand & analyse the benefits & challenges of BIM.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Some of the obstacles that have led adoption of BIM to difficulty are:
- improper plannining before implementation
- poor commitment & involvement
- non collaborative utilization
- not realizing & acting on it
- not realizing the changes it brings
- ineffectivness while utilizing softwares & technologies etc.... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Unless BIM is made mandatory, countries or companies will not be competitive in the fast growing modern built environment of the globe.
-
I agree with Taofeekat's argument & I have no more to add on it.
When I come to unraised treats, that would delay or challenge the adoption of BIM, and should be argued, government policies and standards are vital. Unless governments are commited to revise & incorporate their building policies & standards with BIM, it will not be adaptable or functional at all. -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I have no doubt on the greatest values of BIM to the AEC industries. But, I believe that its adoption or implementation in countries like mine will be challenging.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I expect some thing that I'll take from BIM to enhance the construction management- the job which I'm engaged on.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
All contents were smart. I was not aware of BIM. Now, I'm introduced with BIM and initiated to know more about it. The first thing I will bring to my job is introducing what BIM is to my collegues. In the future, as I go foreward through the course, I'm sure that I'll take many things to incorporate in to my work.
-
Sorrowfully, nothing is known about BIM in Ethiopia. I've tried to discuss BIM with fellows who have been leading construction projects for many years, but no one knows even the terminology.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Hello dear learners, educators and hosts. I'm a water resources engineer working as a project manager & advisor for water resources & infrastructure construction projects in Ethiopia. The organization I'm working for is a social construction enterprise which is established by a local NGO called ORDA ( www.orda.gov.et ). Since the past 15 years, I've managed,...
-
@KulvirBahra Thank you dear Mr. Kulvir. I'm glad to hear you worked for that project & enjoyed liaising the Ethiopian team. You have got another Ethiopian to help/educate in this course.
-
Thank you dear Dr. I'll strive to pioneer BIM in my country.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Hello dear participants. I'm working for a social construction enterprise in Ethiopia. I'm very happy joining this course & learning with you.
Not only I & my company but also every local construction company in Ethiopia are not familiar with BIM.
Eventhough I don't know how it works, I have some understanding on how BIM helps a construction company to speed... -
Yes, our real character and self are defined and disclosed by our behavior. But, I believe that, ruther than focusing on our behavioral actions, people may sometimes misjudg us on our words. Judgment of this kind is also a previlage for those who are bad but pretend to be good.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Since I've completed week 1, I've been more aware of my own & others behaviour- good or bad. I think, I'm now also aware that personal behaviors are bases to be a person of positive values, which in turn leads a person to be an ethical.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I have never identified my personal values before this course. It is so interesting that I can identify my values now- which has been existed within me unidentified.
-
Daniel Mekonnen replied to Daniel Mekonnen
Thank you very much dear Maria.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I spend most of my time for my job.
Through five days of the week:
1. Ten to eleven hrs on my job (8 in office/project field & 2-3 in home).
2. Two hrs to support my children on their study.
3. Two to three hrs on reading, learning such courses like this one.
4. An average of five hrs for sleeping.
In the weekends I spend the eight working hours on job... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
The most interesting thing I've learned this week is the clear & elaborated meaning of ethics. More and in better ways I could understand what ethics mean. And in addition, I've got an idea on how it is manifested in the construction industry. The queez was also such admirable test that could helped me to evaluate my self how far I understood ethics.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
I work for a social construction enterprise in Ethiopia. I am acquainted with most of the private and governmental construction companies. Even though all (the seven) ethical issues are important, the most ones to be addressed here in Ethiopia are bribery, corruption, procurement/tendering, workers’ rights and corporate social responsibility. These ethical...
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
With respect to my existed know how, I found the previous lesson easy on answering what ethics mean to me. In addition, as I progress to the next lessons, I'm sure that I'll understand all about ethics more widely.
Concerning the conversations I had about ethics, I can not remember the last day I engaged on. But, intentionally or unintentionally, I used to... -
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
To describe shortly, ethics is a rule of behavior or a belief on what is morally good (right) and bad (wrong) in all circumstances and walks of life of the human being.
-
Daniel Mekonnen made a comment
Hello dears
I am very delighted to join this course and learning with you. I am also hopefull that I will get more valuable knowlege from the course, the instructors and the learners that will enforce my professional commitments and engagements.
