B electrical system design, project electrification, automation and control system including

instrumentation for all types of industrial and telecom projects; and

B design, manufacture, supply and installation of EHV Switchyards, transmission lines.

Methodology of the case study

The case study methodology based on an exploratory and descriptive research design with
an inductive approach, using the evolving anecdotal style of narrative has been used. Both
primary and secondary sources of information have been used for this purpose. While the
primary sources of information consist of responses to an executive perception survey on
employees and interactions with senior executives of the company, the secondary sources
of information consist of information published in the public domain. The personal interviews
with the senior management executives represent the qualitative aspect and the responses
to the executive perception survey represent the quantitative aspect of the mixed-method
approach used in this case. Details of each of these are provided.

Personal interactions with senior executives of the company

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The case study data has been collected based on personal interaction by the primary author
with top executives of the company and based on the following five parameters:

1. Needs. The needs/expectations that the employees have from the company.
2. Constraints. The constraints/challenges faced by the company in order to fulfill the
needs/expectations of the employees.
3. Alterables. The alterables/noteworthy practices undertaken by the company in order to
satisfy the needs of the employees or to overcome the challenges/constraints that exist
with respect to them.
4. Strengths. The strengths possessed by the company with respect to the employees.
5. Areas of improvement. The areas where the company needs to improve with respect to
the employees.
The parameters of needs, constraints and alterables as stated above are based on the
social systems engineering tools as proposed by Sage (1977) and Warfield (1976). This
framework provides a structured method to understand the various aspects relating to the
employees. Studying the people-related initiatives of the company is one part of the case,
but the purpose behind undertaking those specific initiatives is understood after studying
the needs/expectations that the employees have from the company and the constraints that
the company faces with respect to resources – financial or others in order to fully satisfy
these expectations. The organisational strengths focus on the areas capitalizing on which
the company has already made a mark for itself. The areas of improvement give the futuristic
focus path for the company.

Responses to an executive perception survey of employees

Responses were also gained to an executive perception survey on employees conducted by
the primary author. This consisted of 36 parameters relating to various aspects and initiatives
related to the employee stakeholder by ABC Constructions. 19 respondents across different
levels of the management hierarchy within the division responded to the survey and
indicated the level of implementation of each of the stated employee-related initiatives within
the organization. Important observations relevant to the case study have been appropriately
included.

Triangulation was done through the study of published material available in diverse media in
the form of reports, web-based documents and published articles.

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VOL. 3 NO. 6 2013 EMERALD EMERGING MARKETS CASE STUDIES PAGE 3