At which point in the Project Life Cycle can your business find Value?

27 Jul 2016

At which point in the Project Life Cycle can your business find Value?

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Construction Chat, Frequently Asked Questions, General, Uncategorized | 6

At which point in the Project Life Cycle can your business find Value?

At which point in the Project Life Cycle can your business find Value?

To answer the above lets break it down.

What is the Project Life Cycle?

One of the services we offer at Leads 2 Business is Projects and the various phases within these Projects are known as the Project Life Cycle. The Stages in a Project Life Cycle are Conceptual, Procedural, Design, Tender, Awarded & Underway, Complete and Postponed.

To learn more about each Life Cycle you can check out How Projects Work

What is Value?

According to the Business Dictionary value is described as, “The extent to which a good or service is perceived by its customer to meet his or her needs or wants, measured by customer’s willingness to pay for it. It commonly depends more on the customer’s perception of the worth of the product than on its intrinsic value.”

In short the answer to the question, “At which point in the Project life cycle can your business find value?” is simple: you can find value in every point in the Project Life, depending on what your business does.

You may be asking, “How?”

Here are a few examples:

Professionals like Architects, Engineers and Quantity Surveyors can contact the Client/Developer directly at the Conceptual/Procedural stage to be appointed as part of the Professional team.

Project Managers can contact the Client/Developer directly at Conceptual/Procedural/Design Stage to get involved. They can also contact other Professionals appointed on a Project to market and build relationships.

Subcontractors like plumbers, electricians and painters can contact Companies at Tender/Awarded Stage to provide quotes.

Vendors, Suppliers, Manufacturers and Fabricators can contact the Architect/QS during Design Stage if they have a product that can be specified on the BoQ and supplied later.

Property Managers can contact the Client at Conceptual Stage and start building a relationship while the project is still being developed in order to be appointed once Complete. They can also contact the anchor tenant at Completed Stage to get involved.

IT, Security and Cleaning Services can get involved at Tender/Awarded Stage to provide quotes and offer subcontracting services to Contractors that may be awarded the Project.

Landscapers can contact the Landscape Architect or Architect during Design Stage or contact the Client directly at Underway Stage to offer their services. They can also look at completed projects and offer services in the future as a marketing tool.

All of the above can benefit from the Postponed Stage so they are aware when the Project is going ahead in order to manage their work flow efficiently.

Finding Value in the Project Life Cycle couldn’t be easier with Leads 2 Business.

Want to know more about Projects or any of the other Services we offer? Contact me on SashaA@L2B.co.za

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
To view more articles, please visit our blog.

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Reach out if you want to talk: L2B, social media, construction, technology, marriage, parenting, popular culture and travel. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

15 Jun 2016

Pricing Online – RfQs

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Construction Chat, General, Uncategorized | 0

Have you ever received one of these and wondered why?

The reason you have received an RfQ email is because you are listed on our Directory as a Vendor. We have Buyers (main contractors) who subscribe to our Leads 2 Quotes platform who use our Directory to select Vendors to send RfQ’s to.

Basically these Buyers send us BoQ’s for each relevant contract. We (L2Q Bills staff) process these BoQ’s by formatting them and splitting each item into the relevant trades (which may sound simple but can often take many hours to decipher). The Buyers, using our Directory, select a trade and region and a list of the relevant Vendors under that Trade and Serviceable Region appear, they select who they want to send to and click ‘Send RfQ’. You (the Vendor) will then receive an RfQ email (as above).

You have received this email, now what?

Firstly you need to check if the RfQ you have received is relevant to what your company does. If not, you will need to click on the “Update my Trade Profile”.

If the items are of relevance and you would like to price you can click on “Intend to Price”. If the items are of relevance but you are unable to quote for that time period (see respond by date/start date) you can click on “Decline to Price”. This will indicate to us (L2B) and the Buyer (who’s details are listed on the top right hand corner of the email) whether you will or won’t be pricing.

You’ve decided to Price the RfQ, where to next?

You will need to go ahead and work out the relevant rates required. Remember to take note of the Buyers T’s & C’s as some of these may specify whether VAT should be exclusive or inclusive and whether delivery or labour should be included. If you require Drawings in order to price you can click on the “Drawings” link in order to view or download the drawings. If there are no drawings on that link you will need to contact the Buyer. It is vital to note that we only have the information that the Buyers have provided. Any additional information required that is not available online, will have to be requested directly from the Buyer by the Vendor.

In order to use any of the L2B online features you will need your Vendor login details (Registration is Free). If you cannot remember these or have never registered as a Vendor you are welcome to contact us, via email, telephonically or via our Live Help option in order to request assistance.

Once you have all your relevant rates you can then go ahead and choose how you would like to respond to the RfQ. You could choose Fax, Email or Online Pricing, please note that Online Pricing is the quickest and easiest.

You’ve (wisely) chosen to use Online Pricing, where do you start?

You can use Online Pricing by clicking on the “Price Online Now” link which will take you to the L2B website where you will log in using your Vendor login details.

Once logged in you select the Vendor Home page on the Home drop-down. Your Active RfQ’s will now be displayed where you can click on “Submit Price” next to the relevant contract number and you will be redirected to enter your T’s & C’s, after submitting, the “Pricing” page will be displayed where you can simply enter your rates for each item which are automatically multiplied by the quantity to give a total and a grand total in red at the bottom. You are also able to interact with the other tabs as their relevance requires. Once you are happy with everything you can click on “Submit Prices”, ticking the “Send a copy to my email” box if you would like to keep a copy of the pricing you have submitted.

What do you do once you’ve submitted your prices?

Once the contract is awarded you will receive a notification via email. If the Buyer who sent you the original RfQ is awarded the contract you can now follow up with them regarding the prices you previously submitted to see if they will require your services and how competitive your prices were. If the contract is awarded to a different contractor you can still contact them and offer to send them your prices (you should have a copy if you selected to send a copy to your email) or by logging into your L2Q Vendor Profile and clicking on the relevant “Download Sent Bill” icon.

Receiving and responding to RfQ’s has never been easier with Leads 2 Business Online Pricing.

Want to know more about being a Vendor/Buyer, our Platinum Directory Listing (PDL), Leads 2 Quotes (L2Q) or any of the other Services we offer? Contact me on SashaA@L2B.co.za

About Sasha Anderson

18 May 2016

Developments in KZN under Construction

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Construction Chat, Construction Events, General | 0

This month on the Blog we have covered Trending Tenders in KZN and the Municipalities which produce the Top Tenders in KZN.

By now I’m sure you’ve guessed our theme for the month of May is KZN.

Do you know which Tenders were awarded recently, which developments are underway or nearing completion in KZN?

Knowledge about current events can allow you to decide where you stand on developments and other issues impacting your city, region and country. This knowledge can provide you with the ability to start discussions with friends, colleagues and the community about issues and the economy. Professionally speaking this kind of knowledge can be extremely beneficial for business allowing you to get ahead of the competition by getting in contact with the relevant key players and as an individual it’s vital to set yourself apart from your peers by displaying a broad understanding of current events among others.

With that said, I thought it would be apt to highlight some of the developments in KZN currently under construction that will soon be part of the KZN landscape.

DTA 491631 – Construction of a New Wellness Centre (Durban Station) related to PPA 15337

DTA 409809 – Emapheleni Phase 1 Housing Project (Mhlabunzima Ridge) related to PPA 12591

DTA 501521 – Rectification of 486 units Shallcross related to PPA 15697

DTA 458636 – Construction of Amajuba Disaster Management Centre related to PPA 11052

DTA 428462 – New 3 storey, 192 Bed Adult in Patients Accommodation including New Crisis Centre, Perimeter Fencing and Demolish Wards E,F,G,H and Relocate Crisis Centre Parkhome related to PPA 13069

DTA 479270 – Home Affairs: Hluhluwe: Construction of New Offices related to PPA 14823

DTA 504069 – Construction of 150 rental housing at Ndumo related to PPA 15956

Want to know more about Projects and Tenders on Leads 2 Business? Access this information right now with us. Contact me on SashaA@L2B.co.za

About Sasha Anderson

13 Apr 2016

How does Load shedding impact your Business?

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Business Risk, Construction Events, Frequently Asked Questions, General | 2

How does Load shedding impact your Business?

Load shedding impact your Business?

Load shedding, a word we have come to know all too well in SA. So familiar in fact that we have a regular Power Alert Advert that runs daily from 5pm. Load shedding is even used in advertising from the Santam “One-of-a-kind” ad to the SPAR “Better Together” ad which try to highlight the ‘positives’ of Load shedding.

In many ways we have learned to live with the fact that Load shedding is a part of our daily lives even if we haven’t had any recently. You may be celebrating this relief but Load shedding is far from over. Eskom has said it is still monitoring the situation and will implement Load shedding if necessary. Our power grid is fragile and constantly at risk and this will only be alleviated once all pre-existing plants have undergone comprehensive maintenance and new plants have been completed. The future of our energy supply is uncertain and alternative energy although necessary is not an option for immediate relief.

It’s one thing living with Load shedding on a personal level when we can light candles, turn on the gas and order takeout but for a business Load shedding can have serious impacts especially for smaller businesses.

Ethel Nyembe, Head of Small Enterprise at Standard Bank, said: “While big companies have the infrastructure, client bases and capital to cope, many small businesses, which have the potential to be active players in the South African economy, do not have the financial muscle and resources to overcome these challenges.”

According to Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, the impact of even short periods without power was greater on SMEs than it would be on larger companies that likely have generators and other fall-back options and due to this there has been a dramatic shift in what SMEs consider to be the biggest external threats to their businesses.

“With power failures cited by 71% of respondents, the issue rates at almost exactly double the importance of crime, which came in a distant second, at 36%. This category is obviously driven to a large extent by those concerns that are highest in the public mind – SMEs have in the past attributed their sleepless nights to crime, the high cost of fuel, or even interest rates. These results came even when power failures were featured in the survey during the first load shedding several years ago, but load shedding still came well below crime at the time,” he says.

Productivity is vital for any business and Load shedding hits productivity hard which impacts profit. Load shedding is estimated to cost our economy between 8 to 10 billion rand a month understandably as Eskom currently provides 95% of our power.

Here are the Top Impacts Load shedding has on Business:

Loss of Production

Stock spoiling

Damage to electronics & machinery

Theft and burglary

Lighting

Battery life

Loss of Profit

On the positive side there are ways to minimise the impact of Load shedding:

Keep up to date on the Load shedding schedules

Solar Power/Alternative energy solutions

Generators/Gas

Surge protection

Back up your data

Back-up batteries/UPS

The fact is, there is no way to avoid Load shedding but by thinking smart, creatively and calmly could give your business the power to minimise the impact of Load shedding.

How does Load shedding impact your Business? Do you have tips to share? Leave a comment and let us know.

Sources/Further Reading:

http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Poor-load-shedding-plans-affect-businesses-20150128

https://www.enca.com/money/load-shedding-biggest-threat-small-businesses-survey

http://www.rdm.co.za/business/2015/02/11/how-load-shedding-hurts-the-economy

http://www.poweralert.co.za/poweralert5/how-does-it-work.php

https://www.santam.co.za/blog/santam-news/our-latest-tv-ad-one-of-a-kind-insurance-for-a-one-of-a-kind-country

http://www.gadget.co.za/sme-survey-shedding/

http://paycorp.co.za/is-load-shedding-killing-your-business-2/

http://www.nolands.co.za/index.php/auditing-news-and-information/business-news/item/341-load-shedding-your-business

http://adslive.com/why-load-shedding-is-bad-for-business/

http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/2015/07/30/what-basic-things-can-you-do-to-limit-load-sheddings-effects-on-your-business

About Sasha Anderson

23 Mar 2016

Top 10 Tendering Mistakes to Avoid

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Construction Chat, Frequently Asked Questions, General, How To | 0

Top 10 Tendering Mistakes to Avoid

What are the Top 10 Tendering mistakes?

Most things in life revolve around the dos and don’ts; the game of tendering is no different. It may seem exciting to push the boundaries in life sometimes but deviating from the requirements when tendering can cost you a valuable tender that your business desperately needs.

There are many examples of tendering mistakes some of which may seem minor or harmless but could cost you a tender. Let’s be pro-active!

Here are the Top 10 Tendering Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Don’t be late – For the Site Meeting or the Closing Date. Mark the dates on your Calendar, set reminders and know where you are going, preferably before and not on the day. Submit the tender with time to spare. Account for things like traffic, unknown locations or any other obstacles that could result in a last minute rush.

2. Site Meeting – Attend and sign the Register. The purpose of a Site Meeting is for you to have a detailed understanding of the tender requirements and is also significant as you will be able to see who else is planning to tender. When evaluating your tender the Client may check whether you attended and if it’s a Compulsory Meeting you will most likely be disqualified. Either way it makes sense to attend to get useful info regarding the tender.

3. Don’t Assume – if you have questions, if you are unsure, if you think something is incorrect or missing, communicate with the relevant contacts and get clarification, chances are you’re not the only one asking. On that note if your tender is unsuccessful ask why so that you can use the information when applying for future tenders.

4. Don’t be Irrelevant – Keep all your answers clear & concise and most importantly relevant.

5. Copies, Copies, Copies – remember to submit the correct number of copies required and keep an extra copy for your own records.

6. Don’t be Untidy – Imagine how frustrating it is for the person evaluating or adjudicating a tender to try and decipher poor handwriting, or make sense of pages which aren’t in order. An organized and legible document creates a positive impression. After all, you want to present your company in the best light and a well presented tender creates the impression that contracts will be handled with the same care and attention to detail.

7. Don’t Misrepresent – Stick to the facts. Don’t make false statements about your company or its ability. A Tender Document is a legal document and therefore enforceable by law. Misrepresentation or unsatisfactory practices could lead to your company being placed on the National Treasury Restricted List. “Some of the common practices that lead to the restriction of suppliers are poor performance, breach of contract, failure to obtain permission to do remunerative work outside of employment, supply of counterfeit products, and collusion.”

8. Follow the Requirements – Meet all the minimum requirements. Go through the requirements carefully ensuring you meet them. Tenders that do not meet the minimum requirements otherwise known as non-responsive are disqualified.

9. Check, Check & Check again – Admittedly not the most exhilarating task but vitally important. Get someone with fresh eyes to check your tender a final time while making sure all the required documents are attached. Be 100% confident that the tender you are submitting is complete and accurate.

10. Delivery Location – Make sure you know exactly where your tender needs to be delivered to, right down to the Tender Box number, before the Closing Day.

Bonus tip:
Keep abreast of the developments in your sector. Subscribe to a service that provides direct, simple access to valuable building and construction information delivered daily directly to your Inbox, thereby ensuring consistent wealth of new business leads. A service which also provides Support Services if you need assistance or have a query. Want to know more? Contact me on SashaA@L2B.co.za

DYK (according to www.getbiz.co.za):
“A bidder must not quote more than R1 million when the bid document stipulates that the bid is an 80:20. This means that proposals cannot exceed R1 million. Bidders must be aware that 90:10 bids, on the other hand, are valued above R1 million, but bid issuers are not allowed to indicate how much they have budgeted for a project. However, bid issuers are required to indicate whether a bid is a 90:10 or 80:20 in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA). So this serves as a good indicator of how much the bid issuer has set aside for the project.”

Sources:
http://www.getbiz.co.za/index.php/biz-news/business-and-economy/82-top-five-mistakes-that-can-cost-you-a-tender

The business of tenders

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/tenders/support/tips

10 top tender tips for small business owners

About Sasha Anderson

3 Feb 2016

Giving it Horns: Social Responsibility to Rhino’s

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Life Lessons, Rhino's | 0

Giving it Horns: Social Responsibility to Rhino’s

To start off our 2016 Blog Journey we’re ‘Giving it Horns’ in the form of Social Responsibility to Rhino’s.

I’m sure most of us are aware of issues surrounding Rhino poaching and the fact that these beautiful animals are on the brink of extinction but what are you as an individual or company doing in response to these threats? Are you Socially Responsible to Rhino’s?

Did you know?

World Rhino day is on 22 September

The full name for Rhino is actually Rhinoceros

There are 2 species of African Rhino (White & Black)

[tweetthis]Rhino’s can gallop up to 48 km’s per hour[/tweetthis]

The Black Rhino population has decreased by 97.6% since 1960

[tweetthis]The Rhino’s current conservation status is Critically Endangered[/tweetthis]

Rhino’s have poor eyesight

Rhino’s have a Life Span of 35 to 40 Years

Rhino’s are considered ‘Mega-Herbivores’

A Rhino’s Gestation is 16 Months

1kg of Rhino horn can fetch up to 1 million rand or more

[tweetthis]Adult Rhino’s have no natural predators, except for man[/tweetthis]

What does it mean to be Socially Responsible?

Social Responsibility means that people and companies behave with ethical sensitivity toward social, cultural, economic and environmental issues. The benefits of being socially responsible are a positive impact on development, business and society ultimately leading to a better future.

Why become Socially Responsible to Rhino’s?

Conservation – When Rhino’s are protected, many other species (birds, reptiles, fish, insects and vegetation) that interact with Rhino’s are also protected.
Tourism – In the wild, Rhino’s attract tourists as they are one of the “Big Five”. Eco-tourism relies on tourists wanting to see the Big 5 which would be 4 without the Rhino.
Educate & Spread Awareness – The more people learn and spread their knowledge about Rhino’s, the better it will support the cause.
Eco-system Balance – Everything revolves around balance and all species are intricately connected. Rhino’s being ‘mega-herbivores’ fulfill many important roles in the ecosystem. Rhino’s eat an average of 23.6 kg a day and their dung piles can be 5 meters wide and 1 meter deep. That’s a large amount of trimming and fertilizing!

How to become Socially Responsible to Rhino’s?

Get Social about your concern for the Rhino’s. The more people who highlight the cause the more it will lead to initiatives to protect, save, prevent and secure the survival of our Rhino’s. It’s as easy as: read, share and comment.
Interact with Government and local Wildlife Conservation Organizations and put pressure on them to advocate Rhino Conservation and Laws that can contribute to the cause. When traveling share your concerns with local travel agencies and encourage them to do the same with Government and Tourism Organisations.
Volunteer for Rhino Conservation Organisations. Web Links can direct you to volunteer opportunities.
Donate to your Rhino Conservation Organisation. Pick Organisations where 100% of your donation goes to save Rhino and is not diluted by admin fees and other sundries.
Get involved with local Fund Raising activities that donate proceeds to Rhino Conservation.
Support Companies who support Rhino’s like Leads 2 Business. As a socially responsible individual you can demand that companies become more socially responsible by supporting companies who are already socially responsible.

However you show your Social Responsibility to Rhino’s, make sure you Give it Horns!

Help Leads 2 Business raise awareness: Check out our Heart of a Ranger video here. Like, comment, share, re-tweet.

About Sasha Anderson

4 Nov 2015

Survive & Thrive the remainder of 2015

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: General, How To, Life Lessons, Recommended Reading | 0

The end of the year is approaching and fast. Deadlines are looming and time is slipping away.

If you’re like most people you’re probably wondering when you’ll turn the corner and see that finish line, the one you have been looking for since the start of 2015. You’re exhausted, light-headed, in serious need of a siesta and possibly considering quitting and trying again next year.

Don’t let November get the better of you!

You may need a quote or 2 to help keep motivated and focused, something like:

“Just keep swimming.” by Dory (Finding Nemo) or,

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.” by Maya Angelou

If that doesn’t float your boat try these to help you Survive & Thrive the remainder of 2015:

Carpe Diem!

Ask for help

Be realistic

Show gratitude

Breathe deeply

Be proactive & plan

Spend time with nature

Take care of your body

Be optimistic & positive

Focus on your strengths

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Keep things in perspective

See the beauty around you

See problems as challenges

Have a break (have a Kitkat)

Reward yourself when you achieve

Get to work a little early and stay a little late

Don’t rely on your memory (write things down)

Try something new, variety is the spice of life after all

And lastly…

Eat, Drink & be Merry

You made it! You survived another year and that’s reason enough to celebrate. Lighten up, enjoy yourself and others during the ‘silly season’.

Sources:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/thrive.html#RQFWChEYMXemX25c.99

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/20-ways-to-thrive-in-life-not-just-survive

About Sasha Anderson

7 Oct 2015

Ways to Reduce your Carbon Footprint

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 2

What is a Carbon Footprint?

A Carbon Footprint is defined by the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation, or community.

When researching the ways to reduce your Carbon Footprint there were endless articles, so many in fact I nearly got lost in the green of it all. Let’s break it down.

10 Ways to Reduce your Carbon Footprint:

Plant a Tree – A classic and for good reason. Trees provide shade and oxygen while consuming carbon dioxide. [tweetthis]One 10-year-old tree releases enough oxygen into the air to support 2 human beings.[/tweetthis]
Energy Efficient Appliances – Look for the energy rating when purchasing appliances. The current South African label gives a rating from A down to G; with A being the best for refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and electric ovens. For most appliances, insist on an A-rated appliance, they are not difficult to find. (Old refrigerators in your house may be the inefficient equal of a G-rated fridge.) In addition to the letter rating, the label should carry an energy consumption number in kilowatt hours. It is often more useful to compare this number between models than to compare the letter rating.
Switch Off – Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Turn off your computer when not in use, a computer that is off uses at least 65% less energy than one left on screensaver/standby. [tweetthis]Did you know that many electronic devices continue using energy even when off? This is known as Phantom Power.[/tweetthis] Unplug electronic devices when not in use.
Drive Smart – Go for a hybrid when purchasing a new car and if you aren’t going to be doing that anytime soon make sure you keep your current vehicle properly maintained. Carpool if you can, the benefits are obvious. One car uses less fuel than two and much less than three. If you can’t carpool, stick to the following Carbon minimising tips: Don’t idle, travel light, accelerate smoothly, limit air-con use, warm up your car and plan ahead.
Use CFL’s and LED’s – That’s Compact Fluorescent Lamps or Light Emitting Diodes. CFL’s use 75% less energy than an incandescent and last up to 10 times longer. LED’s are also extremely energy efficient; although not widely in use due to their cost, there is no question that LED’s are poised to supersede CFL’s in the future.
Local is Lekker – Purchasing foods that are both in season and grown locally can drastically cut down the carbon emissions of the vehicles used to transport that food. The same concept goes for other goods and services as well as not to mention, you will be supporting the local economy too.
Go Digital – There has been a lot of debate regarding the environmental costs of digital vs. print. The best policy to adopt is, “be mindful”. If you subscribe to a print paper, be sure to recycle your paper every day. If you prefer online news chose an unplugged laptop or e-reader, rather than a plugged-in device for the majority of your browsing time.
Shower Power – [tweetthis]Taking a shower uses about 1/5 of the energy as taking a bath.[/tweetthis] You can also install a “low flow” shower head to limit the amount of water being used and take shorter showers.
Recycle – Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to rubbish dumps and incinerators; prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials; saves energy; reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change; helps sustain the environment for future generations and helps create new jobs. Once you get in the habit of separating your cans, plastic, glass, paper and cardboard, it’s as easy as pie.
Compost & Grow – It makes sense that what nourishes us from the earth should go back to nourishing the earth. Plant your own herbs and veggies. Not only does growing your own food make you a more conscientious global citizen, it brings you a sense of satisfaction.

Long story short, the more pollution that we let into the atmosphere, the worse it is for the environment. No matter what your view is on climate change these tips can save you money. Most of them don’t take that much time or effort and at the end of the month you may notice less coming out of the bank account which is a plus at any rate.

Why not start by calculating your Carbon Footprint here

Reuse Reduce Recycle

Sources:

https://www.carbonfund.org/reduce

http://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-footprint/

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/minimisecfp.html

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/reduce-your-carbon-footprint/drive-smarter-for-a-better-planet/

About Sasha Anderson

2 Sep 2015

Trends in Africa

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Frequently Asked Questions, General | 1

What’s trending?

You might take a sneaky glance at twitter’s ‘trending’ timeline to answer or perhaps Google. What about Africa? [tweetthis]Do you know what the Trends in Africa are?[/tweetthis] Many may answer with, “no clue”.

I doubt that this will be your answer for much longer. The narrative on Africa is evolving, there are more individuals and companies joining in the conversation and rightly so. Previously known as ‘Deepest Darkest Africa’ and most recently dubbed ‘Silicon Safari’, Africa is not only becoming an interest but a Trend in itself.

According to numerous sources the biggest Trend in Africa at the moment is Technology. Frost & Sullivan report that Africa could evolve into a $50 billion e-commerce market within the next three years. Kenya and Nigeria are leading in terms of fundraising and start-ups, other countries include Tanzania and South Africa. Africa has had explosive increases in internet usage and economic growth. In fact Internet usage is now growing faster in Africa than in any other continent and mobile subscriptions in Africa have eclipsed those in the Asian Pacific region. Companies like Safaricom, IBM and Facebook have all realised the significant opportunities for investment and innovation on the continent.

Technology is a major driving force of progress in every industry. This is particularly evident in Education in Africa. Tony Bates highlights the boom in online higher education enrollments in Africa, with many countries using eLearning as a way to meet the increased demand for higher education that traditional programs cannot. South Africa is the dominant country but will be overtaken by Nigeria by 2016 in terms of the volume of revenues from eLearning.

The population in Africa is projected to grow to 2 billion by 2050 resulting in the largest workforce according to the Harvard Business Review. Africa is also rich in natural resources, 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land in fact. Additionally, Africa has a USD$2 trillion economy with approximately a third of its countries obtaining annual GDP growths of more than six percent. [tweetthis]Of the top ten fastest growing economies in the world, six are in #Africa.[/tweetthis]

To end here is a quote to illustrate the Trends in Africa from the 2014 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos:

“Africa is the story. The big story is Africa. The Chinese and Japanese are fighting over Africa. This is a market of a billion people, of natural resources.” Dr Ahmed Heikal, Chairman and Founder of Citadel Capital

Sources:

https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/05/9-mega-trends-shaping-the-future-of-africa/

http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/ten-african-consumer-trends-to-run-with-and-profit-from-in-2015/45999/

http://ww2.frost.com/news/press-releases/frost-sullivan-identifies-top-trends-ict-africa-2015/

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/042915/why-tech-trends-africa-are-good-investment.asp

http://www.tonybates.ca/2013/01/29/africa-is-the-worlds-fastest-developing-e-learning-market/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/faraigundan/2014/01/28/top-quotes-about-africa-at-the-2014-world-economic-forum-in-davos/

About Sasha Anderson

26 Aug 2015

What is the PRASA Saga all about?

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: General | 4

The PRASA Saga – What is it really about?

A little background:

The PRASA (The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) Saga revolves around an Upgrade Project that was out outsourced by PRASA to Swifambo Rail Leasing which in turn awarded the contract to Vossloh España for R3.5 billion.

The height of the Afro 4000 Locomotives purchased for the Shosholoza Meyl long-distance passenger service in relation to the height of the overhead power lines has come into question. The Initial order height for the locomotives was 4.262m high and the current height is 4.1m. All current locomotives in use have a maximum height of 3.965m. The normal accepted safe distance between a locomotive roof and electrical cables is at least 150mm (ie. the cables should be at least 4.5 metres above the rail tracks). Although the power lines are supposed to be no lower than 4.5m there are many places in the country where, because of poor maintenance, overhead wires are much lower. In order to provide safe travel conditions for the new locomotives overhead power lines will have to be raised, the costs of which are unclear at this point.

A brief Timeline:

13 October 2013 – The DA requests that the Auditor-General, Terrence Nombembe, investigate the PRASA R3.5 billion locomotives deal

February 2014 – A report from PRASA in February 2014 points out four places where overhead lines are as low as 4.22m.

January 2015 – One of the four batches of locomotives procured by PRASA from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh España arrive in Table Bay Harbour.

March 2015 – Transnet Freight Rail General Manager, Caesar Mtetwa wrote to to PRASA’s Chief Engineer, Dr Daniel Mtimkulu, stating the locomotives exceeded the permitted height limit for Transnet’s rail system.

10 May 2015 – ‘Rapport’ publishes an article regarding issues surrounding the Locomotive Tender

5 July 2015 – ‘Rapport’ publishes an article stating the Locomotives procured are “too high for the long distance routes they were intended for”.

6 July 2015 – Lucky Montana, the CEO of PRASA speaks at a media briefing regarding the “grossly misleading” article published in Rapport.

12 July 2015 – An article published in the ‘Rapport’ with documents attached highlight the following:

* PRASA sent a message to Spain on 5 November 2013 to ask whether the locomotives, which had been ordered eight months previously, could be lowered.

* PRASA wanted the locomotives heights lowered to 3 965mm.

* But Vossloh España said in a letter, which Rapport obtained, that the PRASA request was not possible, “Although it is not possible to reduce Euro 4000 locomotives’ height below 4 140mm … it is understood that with actual height and with the information we manage, the locomotives should be acceptable for operations on South African tracks,” sent in late 2013.

* 1 week later PRASA paid R468m for the first locomotives.

16 July 2015 – PRASA Board resolves that CEO of PRASA, Lucky Montana will not be required to complete his notice period (1 June to 31 November 2015) due to him not complying to the conditions of serving out his notice.

17 July 2015 – PRASA Executive Manager for Engineering, Daniel Mthimkhulu, is suspended as a result of an inquiry revealing he lacked the necessary qualifications.

17 July 2015 – The Public Protector’s office confirms it has concluded an investigation into PRASA and CEO Lucky Montana after a union requested a probe in 2012 into allegations of maladministration relating to financial mismanagement and tender irregularities and will be “ready to release it on 23 July”.

23 July 2015 – The Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela postpones the release of her report. According to City Press, staff at PRASA had approached Madonsela requesting to make representations against Ex CEO Montana now that he was not at work. “They feared they would lose their jobs, but now they feel at ease and want to make submissions,” said a government official.

23 July 2015 – PRASA Chairman, Dr Popo Molefe reports that he has received death threats which have been reported to the Police who are investigating ‘a case of conspiracy to commit murder’.

27 July 2015 – PRASA Executive Manager for Engineering, Daniel Mthimkhulu resigns. PRASA is to continue with its criminal case against Mr Mthimkulu.

Is all this controversy really over a 400mm clearance between a locomotive and the contact wires or is it something more? Is it about R3.5 Billion which has been spent on locomotives which may not be able to operate on our railways? Is it about Politics? Is it about Corruption? Is it about Tender Irregularities? Is it about a lack of leadership?

In my opinion it is the latter; a lack of leadership. Let’s consider:

In essence what is leadership? The following adjectives come to mind: Accountable, Alert, Approachable, Authentic, Aware, Communicative, Credible, Customer-focused, Decisive, Dedicated, Ethical, Knowledgeable, Moral, Motivating, Pro-active, Responsible, Transparent, Trustworthy and Vigilant.

Does this describe those in leadership roles in the PRASA Saga?

In order for any organisation to succeed and prosper, it is critical that the right leadership is in place. I think Dwight D. Eisenhower said it best, “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”

What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment.

Sources:

http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/transport/2015/07/07/prasa-ceo-says-detractors-want-to-tarnish-him-in-train-saga

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Newsmaker-Popo-Molefe-vows-to-stay-put-at-Prasa-20150726

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Prasa-war-heats-up-20150718

http://www.netwerk24.com/nuus/2015-07-05-r600-m-optelfout

http://www.biznisafrica.co.za/prasa-dismisses-zar600-million-train-saga/

http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/casualties-symbolic-of-derailed-prasa-1.1889710#.VbX2EvmqpHw

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/party/something-fishy-about-prasas-r35bn-locomotives-dea

http://ewn.co.za/2015/07/17/Prasas-engineering-executive-suspended

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Prasa-Transnet-had-concerns-over-locomotive-height-documents-20150712

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/prasa-leadership-failure-case-study-vusi-thembekwayo