MEC Magazine February 2024

THINKING MODULAR

Al Masaood Bergum’s Jens Otterstedt on Modular construction

PLANNING

The core essentials of mapping a city from scratch

FIREPROOF

Key methods for preventing a fire becoming a catastrophe FEBRUARY 2024

110

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

Heart of the Matter

HKA’s Clare Lavin talks Forensic Accounting

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Contents | 01

18

February 2024 Issue 110

Dispute Resolution

“Client experience is the prime concern”

Middle East Consultant has often looked at the various contexts for litigation and dispute resolution in the GCC, and now we take a deeper dive, speaking to Clare Lavin, Partner, Forensic Accounting & Commercial Damages, HKA… On Site

DIFC: Speedingup Sustainability

12

Dubai’s financial hub has set a record-breaking initiative to align its portfolio with the highest levels of Sustainable certification.

We take a detailed look at what’s actually been achieved, and how…

Close-up

08 meconstructionnews.com

Exceeding the client’s expectations

Middle East Consultant spoke to Jens Otterstedt, General Manager, Al Masaood Bergum, about the growing popularity of modular construction and the opportunities and constraints of current market trends…

February 2024

02 | Contents

22

On Site

The Five Essentials of Urban Planning

Middle East Consultant spoke with the planning experts at Easy Render, the leading Architectural Rendering and 3D Visualisation Platform, who believe there are five Architectural tenets underpinning the shape of a city…

Dispute Resolution

A Strategy for growth and diversity

Jad Chouman, Partner & Head of Middle East, HKA, has recently taken over the new sole Head of Middle East role, and he speaks here about the trends and drivers he sees in HKA’s market presence and ambitions

26 Diversity

Cultural Intelligence: the critical skill of the future

Emma Jordaan, CEO, Infinite Consulting explains how to adopt better Cultural Intelligence and benefit from the protocols it shows us

32 Sustainability

Blaze! Fire safety in tall and super-talls Middle East Consultant speaks to US-based fire protection specialists Koorsen Fire Security and Australian firm PROFINISH Fire Protection about the most effective active and passive protocols to follow…

February 2024

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Editorial

Trends we forget at our peril…

Now that we’re already deep into 2024, it’s probably just as well to remember the raft of trends that industry pundits were predicting great things for in 2023: do we now want to take the initiative and get to grips with these technologies? Or, will we let them go for the time being - and potentially miss the boat?

Here are perhaps the most important trends to consider – THE USE OF DRONES AND UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVS)

We still see very little of this in the construction sector, but remember, you can use drones and UAVs for aspects such as site surveying and mapping; inspections of highrisk areas; materials deliveries; and of course, as the lead tech in creating high-precision 3D modelling.

fossil fuel use); plus, a desirability factor that encourages big-ticket occupants and tenants.

EDITOR PAUL GODFREY paul.godfrey@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5470

Design ADVANCED 3D PRINTING

This technology has been silently progressing at an astonishing rate. Creating structures and components from a digital file, it’s already been used to ‘print’ various construction projects, including houses, bridges, and even skyscrapers. It is also being used now in the manufacture or replacement human organs and body parts.

ART DIRECTOR SIMON COBON

ADVANCED ROBOTICS AND AI-LED

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AUTOMATION

After a slow start, robotics and automation are making rapid strides: there are now highly-mobile robots for a wide variety of tasks - gone are the days of smart solutions meaning pre-programmed carts on a track around a warehouse. We’re talking robots that can run, do menial tasks - and think for themselves. Robots can now provide scary levels of perimeter security - or lay bricks up to 100 times faster than a master bricklayer.

Are you on board with these changes? I hate to use the phrase ‘it’s now or never’ - but in many cases, perhaps it really is.

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RTA in new partnership for Dubai Harbour bridge

EVENT: Critical Infrastructure Summit to take place on 17 April in Dubai

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Webuild wins US $4.7bn deal to build three dams in Saudi Arabia The contractor will also develop ‘The Bow’ which will feature a hotel overhanging the mountain’s valley below

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AESG tracks 46% growth on the back of healthy regional economic climate

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US $336mn expansion of Sharjah International Airport gets underway The expansion will separate the arrivals from the departures and offer new systems and facilities

Queequeg Renewables to apply for permissions for 750MW of energy projects

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CCA and GCCA to collaborate on low-carbon development of cement and concrete industry

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February 2024

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On Topic | 09

Speeding-up Sustainability: DIFC in the spotlight Dubai’s financial hub has set a record-breaking initiative to align its portfolio with the highest levels of Sustainable certification. Middle East Consultant takes a detailed look at what’s actually been achieved, and how…

n a major sustainability drive, a broad portfolio of buildings under Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has been awarded 15 LEED Certifications by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

The story begins with the well-known, landmark 15-storey DIFC Gate Building, the conduit to the financial district, being awarded the prestigious LEED Platinum Certification, the highest rating within the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) framework. This entails meconstructionnews.com

being recognised for implementing several sustainable strategies, including, eg, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, transportation, and quality of day-to-day human experience.

14 additional structures within DIFC including Innovation One, have also received LEED Gold certification for excellence in green building practices.

DIFC is working here to deliver bestin-class practices in line with its DIFC Strategy 2030, the Centre’s decarbonisation drive, and the UAE’s ‘Net Zero by 2050’ initiative.

Long-established as one of the world’s premier financial freezones, DIFC has become an acknowledged leader in sustainable construction.

February 2024

10 | On Topic

Meanwhile, in terms of comment from the awarding certification bodies themselves, Peter Templeton, President and Chief Executive Officer, US Green Building Council, Green Building Certification Institute and Arc Skoru, said: “We are excited to celebrate the certification of 15 Dubai International Financial Centre LEED certified buildings across this incredibly community. This is a great example of ongoing progress, coinciding with COP28, truly highlighting all the great work that is taking place around the world to advance our collective goals towards decarbonisation and the Paris Agreement targets that has been February 2024

No other zone in the GCC contains 15 LEED certified buildings in one community.

DIFC is the first financial centre in the region to have 100 per cent of its own building assets LEED v4.1 Certified”

set for us. The LEED certification stands as an impressive real-life example here in the centre of Dubai of what is possible with the commitments of organisations like DIFC behind it.”

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer, DIFC Authority, said: “Achieving LEED certification across our world-class sustainable infrastructure and urban community sets a global standard, delivers tangible value and reinforces the Centre’s commitment to ensure DIFC is a leading sustainable financial hub. Aligning with the UAE’s Net Zero goals, COP28 commitments, and DIFC’s Strategy 2030, the multiple LEED certifications meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 11

further showcase DIFC’s dedication to creating a built environment, benefitting like-minded tenants and clients, by driving innovative solutions crucial for a sustainable future.”

PRACTICAL, MEASURABLE SOLUTIONS

To fulfil its sustainability aspirations, DIFC executed a series of practical and measurable strategies and technological solutions to optimise and enhance building design, construction, operations, and maintenance. These steos include – • Incorporation innovative HVAC cooling systems • The use of renewable energy sources such as solar PV cells to enhanced energy efficiency • Regular audits conducted to identify and address energy inefficiencies.

• Upgrades to conventional lighting solutions with LED and other energy efficient control systems In addition, there have been investments in low flow fixtures, efficient irrigation systems, and usage of TSE water for landscaping. These have led to significant improvements in water conservation while comprehensive recycling programmes are helping reduce waste. To improve the health and quality of life of its occupants, buildings across DIFC also regularly monitor and address indoor air quality.

Energy and water conservation measures across DIFC have led to average annual savings of 10.5 million kilowatt hours of energy and 39.7 million Imperial Gallons of water.

DIFC is the first financial centre in the region to have 100 per cent of its own building assets LEED v4.1 Certified, the latest next generation LEED standard for green building design, construction, operations and performance.

Meanwhile, one of the best-known recent additions to the DIFC skyline, ICD Brookfield Place is the tallest and largest office building in the EMEA region to achieve LEED Platinum certification in 2020.

Conservation measures across DIFC have led to average annual savings of 10.5 million kilowatt hours of energy and 39.7 million Imperial Gallons of water”

THE DETAILS

What is LEED? Well, LEED is the most widely used sustainable buildings rating system in the world. It provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving sustainable buildings and has gained global recognition for its comprehensive approach to evaluating and certifying sustainable building practices. meconstructionnews.com

February 2024

12 | Close-up

EXCEEDING THE CLIENT’S EXPECTATIONS

Middle East Consultant spoke to Jens Otterstedt, General Manager, Al Masaood Bergum, about the growing popularity of modular construction and the opportunities and constraints of current market trends…

February 2024

meconstructionnews.com

Close-up | 13

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February 2024

14 | Close-up

Jens Otterstedt, General Manager, Al Masaood Bergum.

Jens, what would you describe as the key architectural trends taking place today?

“There’s no doubt that the biggest trend is modular construction. That’s because it can provide solutions to a number of the challenges that we see in the market.

For example, the situation in the Middle East and in KSA is quite demanding right now - with product delays becoming more common, causing a real need to reduce timeframes wherever possible. That’s where modular construction really comes into its own. Modular construction is a very good solution to this problem. That’s the number one reason behind this trend.

At Al Masaood Bergum, we provide our customers with solutions that can be tailored to our clients’ requirements and needs. We’re not always doing the same things - which means my solution for one client to another might be quite different, it depends on various factors.

“A good example here is one of our projects with a key regional client. The project we have been working on is offshore – an hour travel time to reach the island – hence we need to be thorough on how we execute the solution - from the shipment to the installation part.

“Another trend I see in the market is the preference for Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). It was invented in the 60s or 70s in Sweden. Nowadays, you will find many buildings are completely made from CLT in Northern Europe. This is what we want to implement here. Currently, Al Masaood Bergum is looking to build the first villas in Dubai that are 100% made out of Cross Laminated Timber. This is one of the first projects using CLT in the Middle East.”

February 2024

Tell us about the design and style

How do your products meet key

benefits of your products?

Sustainability requirements?

“As a solution provider, we have to adapt to the requirements of our clients and try to give the best modular solutions. These solutions have to fit in with our clients’ needs and expectations. So, if a client has a specific requirement, I cannot change it.

What we do here is to adapt to the client’s requirement and offer a tailored modular solution that fits within their framework.

For example, a structure that we recently built for a key client has a very innovative and individual round roof: something that you don’t often see, and it’s also extremely beautiful and striking. So, we always try to deliver solutions that exceed the client’s expectations.”

“At Al Masaood Bergum, in order to be sustainable, we have our Manufacturing Environment that manages our materials.

However, this is a quite challenging journey for us.

“Even if we powered our complete manufacturing process with renewable energy, it still wouldn’t take away the fact that we need to transport the final product from point A to point B, and 99% of our business is in Saudi. So, the only way around this, of course, is to move to Saudi - which we plan to do this year.

“When we do this, it will mean that not all the final assembly is done in the UAE. We will load the part-finished work in containers meconstructionnews.com

Close-up | 15

and then ship it to new logistical hubs in KSA - and then we assemble right there. I would add that we try to have the modules as nearfinished as possible by the time they arrive on-site. So, for example, our latest projects have been 99% assembled in the factory.

“To give you an example of the speed and volume of output here, we have the capacity to produce nearly 1,000 modules in 45 days - and then we have it fully installed in 60 days.”

Tell us about the future of modular construction?

“The future of modular construction, I hope, is that we all get closer together – manufacturers, supply chains, logistics, authorities, designers, and investors; all coming together so that we get an effective masterplan that works very smoothly and effectively throughout. If we can reach this goal and avoid any hiccups, I would say that modular construction is definitely the future. I hope that we can properly use

meconstructionnews.com

Modular construction brings many key advantages - not least of which is the ability to introduce sustainable materials and superior methods of assembly.

the lessons that we’ve learnt and really look to a more collaborative future - and avoid being too short-sighted.”

How popular is your brand for procurement specialists?

The future of modular construction, I hope, is that we all get closer together – manufacturers, supply chains, logistics, authorities, designers, and investors”

“The best answer I can give is that, for us as a company, we currently have so much work that we need to decline most of it - because the reality is, we simply can’t grow as quickly as the demand comes in.

In 2023, for example, we have already grown by 500%.

“I believe these factors mean that word is getting out in the market about what we do. We are an Abu-Dhabi-based company, and we have a very good name in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Now we have created a very good name in Saudi too. In KSA, we have so many enquiries coming in from prominent entities, which I believe is a good sign of our progress and growing appeal in what is undoubtedly a premium marketplace.”

February 2024

16 | Close-up

Aesthetics play an important role in modular construction and design and are facilitated by an increasingly wide choice of materials.

What we do here is to adapt to the client’s requirement and offer a tailored modular solution that fits within their framework” Tell us about your own background, Jens?

“My background is a carpenter; in fact, I worked with my hands for nearly 30 years. I worked my way up the traditional way and finally became a Master Carpenter in Germany.

“Today, this background is my strength, because I know each and every detail of the business - I know exactly what a carpenter does when they screw

February 2024

a gypsum board to the wall, structure engineering, and more.

“I learnt everything one step at a time. When I moved into manufacturing and assembly, I learned how to build complete factories from scratch.

“I built multiple factories, and then had the opportunity to build one of the most profitable prefab housing factories in North America. I then took the same approaches and built

another factory in Mauritius, then I ran a company in Indonesia. I’m a hands-on person: I dedicated myself and worked my way up.

“As for my family life, almost 18 years ago we made a decision as a family to broaden and expand our horizons. That in turn led to a number of quite exciting new destinations before settling here in the Middle East. Now let’s see what the next chapter brings…”

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MZ Architects believes in pushing the boundaries of architecture and design to inspire and transform Our work relates to spatial concepts, form and structure

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18 | Dispute Resolution

February 2024

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Dispute Resolution | 19

“Client experience is the prime concern” Middle East Consultant has often looked at the various contexts for litigation and dispute resolution in the GCC, and now we take a deeper dive, speaking to Clare Lavin, Partner, Forensic Accounting & Commercial Damages, HKA…

re

there

significant

differences

between the disputes you work on here in the GCC compared to those in other markets?

There are several notable differences.

A fundamental one is how the parties to disputes in the Middle East are more inclined to go to arbitration or litigation.

In other jurisdictions there is greater use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options, such as adjudication in the UK. In this region it is sometimes possible to get the parties talking and explore mediation. Where some ‘middle ground’ can be found, it can lead to swifter settlement.

But this tends not to be the preferred option as parties are more litigious. So, having worked for more than 12 years in the Gulf, I’d say I have been on the stand far more meconstructionnews.com

often than I would have been if practising in Europe.

Another difference is the diversity of the parties. Large-scale projects - from construction to product research and development (R&D) - almost invariably involve international partners and joint venture agreements. The GCC market attracts major players from around the globe. These partnerships combine essential local and international knowhow, but if the project runs into difficulties, the differences in language and culture tend to fuel the fire of the dispute.

Arbitration centres in the region are developing to meet the needs of international parties. In addition, the separate system of local courts is also undergoing a radical transformation.

Traditionally, all proceedings were conducted in Arabic, expert witnesses are court-appointed, and other experts only in an advisory role. We have seen an evolving role of international experts in local courts recently.

Our team includes Arabic speakers to reflect the diversity of our clients and workload. Given the increasing complexity

of projects and disputes, local judicial reforms - such as allowing the use of foreign experts and English– can enhance clients’ confidence, and they are to be welcomed.

The changes being rolled out seem positive from our experience so far in the UAE. I’ve also been involved in commercial litigation work through the DIFC (Dubai International Finance Centre) courts.

Again, my experience of its system of specialist courts and judges for different business sectors has been extremely positive, such as the flexible ways of conducting hearings, including the continuation of remote hearings.

What does your Early Case Assessment work involve? And can Forensic Accounting be applied proactively to manage risk, rather than just retrospectively when problems come to light?

An early assessment of disputed accounting treatments or damages - including lost profits or loss of opportunity, or indeed the interpretation of a contract - often paves the way to a negotiated settlement or mediation.

It’s true that much of our forensic work is reactive, responding to clients’ concerns when, say, a whistle-blower or internal auditor sounds the alarm, or irregularities are discovered in financial transactions or their reporting. In the construction sector, these investigations often focus on the procurement process, whether it’s transactions that were not conducted at arm’s length, overpricing or various forms of bribery and corruption.

Businesses may have different priorities, such as establishing a robust case for action against an employee, or correcting misrepresentations in company statements so the accounts show the true financial position.

Clare Lavin, Partner, Forensic Accounting & Commercial Damages, HKA.

February 2024

20 | Dispute Resolution

Companies and other organisations do also - and should regularly - take a deep, hard look at their internal controls. We carry out fraud risk assessments. Many aspects of a business may need to be reviewed, but the finance function and procurement processes are usually critical.

What checks and controls are in place for tendering? Is there third-party verification of supplier lists? Having identified gaps and weaknesses, we design and recommend a framework of measures to mitigate the fraud risks. The reality is these cannot be eliminated entirely, hence the need for regular reviews.

IPOs (initial public offerings) are also driving a more proactive approach in the region, where most companies have previously been reactionary. International investors also want to see best practice in internal controls and accounting practice before investing.

As well as early case assessment, we’re also being brought in earlier in some cases to provide expert determination (whether contractual or not or binding on the parties or not) that can pre-empt a long-running dispute so that the parties focus jointly on a successful completion or enable an ongoing relationship. The risks and costs involved in arbitration or litigation are another incentive to do this.

Is there a typical issue you encounter in the Construction sector as opposed

Clare Lavin's philosophy is that successful forensic accounting depends on combining complete fluency with accounting conventions with key valuation methodologies.

to other sectors?

While many of my colleagues specialise in construction, HKA experts and consultants also have sector-specific knowledge across a spectrum of industries. Our Financial Accounting & Commercial Damages team works across all sectors - but we also bring industry experience and insights to bear.

Valuation of damages requires a robust assessment of the loss of profits or opportunity, for example. In construction this often arises from delays in completing an asset - recent cases have involved a shopping mall and a major oil and gas facility. We also help determine losses associated with contract breaches and terminations.

February 2024

Having worked for more than 12 years in the Gulf, I’d say I have been on the stand far more often than I would have been if practising in Europe”

What we’ve found in construction disputes is that loss of profit is often not identified as a head of claim. The income lost - because, say, a hotel or residential development opens a year late - should be a separate head of claim so the assessment captures the full quantum of damages for the client.

Hence, the added value of combining commercial and construction expertise in the same team.

Would

better,

tighter

contracts

make for an easier life in the Construction universe? What would be your recommendations for change and reform?

It’s notable that our latest CRUX Insight analysis of major construction and engineering projects shows that ‘contract interpretation issues’ was the third-highest ranking factor in claims and disputes across meconstructionnews.com

Dispute Resolution | 21

We act anywhere clients and their contracts require, and have provided expert witness testimony for all the major arbitration centres. Personally, I’ve been appointed as expert in arbitration matters involving DIAC, DIFC-LCIA that was, and ICC, among other centres.

Our six-strong Financial Accounting & Commercial Damages team based in Dubai is growing, but we also operate as part of a cross-border group with 10 Partners - most with Middle East experience - and some 30 consultants.

We’re familiar with how the different seats of arbitration operate, but the prime concern is the client experience. Our regional centres are becoming more userfriendly as they adopt best international practice and vie for clients’ confidence.

It seems to be working in as much as SCCA (Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration), for example, reports an increase in its caseload.

work also requires a clear understanding of different valuation methodologies and when they should be used.

It’s essential, too, to have the confidence and capability to communicate often complex accounting principles in a way that’s easily grasped by nonaccountants, be they clients, lawyers or judges/arbitrators. It helps that our team reflects the diversity of corporate sectors and stakeholders we serve, speaking their language and factoring in the pitfalls and challenges in their markets and industries.

Being commercially minded can mean, especially when we are dealing with imperfect information, having to stand back and look at the bigger picture - and taking a different approach (to achieve a robust valuation, for instance) rather than the bottom-up, detail-based ways of working often expected of accountants.

How do you see the future of Forensic Accounting in the GCC?

What are the factors that are most prized in an accounting expert witness?

the Middle East. More than 28% of projects were affected, compared with around 17% in the rest of the world.

In my experience, most commercial disputes also tend to arise from the misinterpretation or breach of contracts.

We do encounter the misuse of technical accounting language. The terms are either wrong in themselves or in the context of the contract, causing issues over their interpretation. As forensic accountants, we have to unravel the wording to arrive at the true meaning and intention, and then advise on the appropriate treatment and/or impact of these to the client, from a contractual point of view or indeed the financial reporting implications.

Tell us something about your experience with arbitration centres such as LCIA, DIAC and ICC? meconstructionnews.com

Previously, lawyers needed to look outside of the region for accounting experts, and in some cases still do, but there are many more experienced experts within the Middle East now that have been in the region some time. Also, some disputes do have a regional nuance that requires an understanding of the dynamics in Gulf states.

Having been long-established in the region (our firm having more than 15 years’ experience on the ground in Saudi Arabia, for instance), HKA has built longterm relationships as trusted advisors.

That position is underpinned by our ability to offer a comprehensive range of services, draw on a global network of expertise, and provide tailored support in whatever jurisdiction our clients sit.

Forensic accountants need to be technically strong. That means not only having the appropriate qualifications, but also mastery of the basics, from ledger entries to tracing transactions, as well as accounting conventions. Our commercial

As with construction projects, there is a general trend toward ever-larger and more complex disputes in other sectors too. This is a challenge that demands the involvement of multiple experts to address the different facets of a claim. There are advantages when these services are joined up to provide a more coherent and integrated solution to clients.

Forensic accountants must also be equipped to tackle cross-border, international disputes as foreign investment and involvement grow in the Gulf ’s expanding economies. Many investigations are commissioned into regional branches of global businesses, which we find are not following international best practice.

Economic diversification and business innovation will also give rise to disputes in new and emerging sectors.

We believe that HKA’s global experience, solid foundations in the Gulf, and multi-service offering puts us a strong position to serve these changing needs of our clients in the Middle East.

February 2024

22 | Dispute Resolution

Jad Chouman, Partner & Head of Middle East, HKA.

ad was previously Co-Head of Region with Haroon Niazi (who now leads the global risk mitigation consultancy’s core construction claims and expert (CCE) services across Europe, Middle East and Africa), and he’s well-placed to comment on the matrix of opportunities and challenges here in the region, as well as HKA’s corporate strategies.

“We’re in an exciting phase of ambitious growth and diversification.”says Jad, who could be describing the macroeconomics of the Middle East, rather than reflecting on HKA’s strategy in the region.

HKA’s strategy has driven the recent expansion across the region and includes significant assignments, ranging from Qatar’s 2022 World Cup and metro developments to Saudi Vision 2030 giga projects.

While the Kingdom and other Gulf states transition from hydrocarbons by developing their services economies and other sectors, HKA’s growth and diversification are being fuelled by its four main service streams – Construction Claims Expert Services, Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages, Forensic Technical Services, and Advisory Services.

February 2024

As the world’s leading construction consultancy, evidenced by topping the global Who’s Who Legal rankings for the last seven years, HKA has more experts listed in the region than any other firm. Whilst 18 years ago, the norm was to “export” work back to practices in America or Europe, the UAE business has now become the region’s longestestablished construction claims and dispute resolution consultancy as HKA has focused on attracting and training its own pool of local construction experts.

“HKA operates without borders, and we always seek to bring the best experts to service our clients from across EMEA or the globe, whilst we also pride ourselves on having local expertise where needed,” said Jad Chouman.

EXPANDING INTO FORENSIC ACCOUNTING AND COMMERCIAL DAMAGES

A similar process is now underway with Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages (FACD) expert services.

“We started by relying entirely on our European experts, but now have a team of people on the ground here, so

that they can be close to our clients and developments happening in the market,” Jad explained.

In spring this year, HKA appointed Clare Lavin as a Partner in the Middle East FACD team. It is set to grow as service markets develop independently of construction.

“We are seeing more commercial, financial and economic disputes that require forensic accounting and commercial damages expertise,” Jad confirmed.

All types of contracts, including commercial and investment treaty disputes, can avail of this expertise, but also state bodies.

“There’s a demand in the public sector for our investigative services to assist in their endeavours to fight corruption and fraud, bringing in best practices to ascertain compliance and protection of government funds,” Jad added.

BUILDING FORENSIC TECHNICAL SERVICES CAPABILITIES

Since HKA became an independent business in 2017, it has been building up its Forensic Technical Services (FTS)

A Strategy for Growth and Diversity Jad Chouman, Partner & Head of Middle East, HKA, has recently taken over the new sole Head of Middle East role, and he speaks here about the trends and drivers he sees in HKA’s market presence and ambitions meconstructionnews.com

Dispute Resolution | 23

meconstructionnews.com

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24 | Dispute Resolution

Jad brings an exceptional wealth and breadth of understanding, both to dispute resolution strategies and working practices across the GCC.

capabilities. Over the last year or so, the firm has acquired teams specialising in fields such as architecture, aviation and environmental consultancy.

The EMEA FTS operation is headed up by Julia Humpidge, Partner, with Bill Haggart, Partner, leading FTS in the region. This local team has many testifying experts and draws on HKA’s European network of technical specialists.

These disciplines are highly specialised – ranging from metallurgy to seismology or fire engineering to boiler chemistry.

So, the plan is to grow a local team of assistants to support them and offer FTS across the region, drawing on HKA’s comprehensive line-up to match the appropriate specialisms to each client’s technical challenges.

PROVIDING UPFRONT STRATEGIC ADVISORY SERVICES

The EMEA advisory services team is another significant growth area and is led

by Dafydd Wyn Owen, Partner, who works closely with colleagues in the region. HKA has proven the value of upfront, strategic advice on the planning, procurement and management of major infrastructure and capital projects globally, but particularly in Australia and Europe.

Advising on effective contracting strategies, early contractor involvement, and collaborative working, may currently be a niche service in the Middle East, but the scale of upcoming projects and market conditions demand new thinking and ways of working.

“We have already been retained on Saudi Arabia’s giga projects, and there is a growing demand from other major clients across the region,” said Jad. February 2024

SHARED FOUNDATION

The common foundation for all service offerings is sound and impartial advice rooted in world-leading multi-disciplinary expertise and experience. This enables HKA to anticipate, investigate and resolve the most complex challenges for clients.

“We can provide the full scope of services from the inception of projects through to damages calculation,” he explained.

With four main offices in the region (Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia), the consultancy has been established here for over 40 years, and is proud to have been in KSA for 17 years.

Jad added: “As an agile business, we can be anywhere our clients want, regardless of whether we have a local base or not.”

HKA works with many established clients in Egypt, for example, and also in North Africa. Other growing markets include Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan.

TALENT STRATEGY

Underpinning the HKA growth strategy is the ability to attract and retain highcalibre consultants. “Over several years, we’ve built a brand and culture that is attractive to people, and we retain them.

Our attrition rate for ‘good leavers’ is very low.”

Word of mouth is powerful. People in professional services talk to their peers about their working environment, collaborating with team members, and the scale and complexity of their projects and disputes. “So, we’re able to choose the best people who fit our highly collaborative culture.”

High-profile, complex projects are another big pull factor for ambitious professionals. “This is what personally attracted me to the Middle East region in 2005. Now, exciting projects like the Line, NEOM and Red Sea developments are inspiring a new wave of expats as well as the region’s home-grown talent,” said Jad. STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY

As a global business, HKA relies on people

from diverse backgrounds working closely within and across teams. “We recognise the strengths that diversity brings in creativity and decision-making.” HKA is working towards gender parity, has signed the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge, Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses Pledge, and its Experts support, advocate and participate in various industry and professional events around the world.

Though English remains the lingua franca of mediation, several consultants meconstructionnews.com

are Arabic and French speakers. HKA invests in mentorships, provides for neurodivergent employees, and engages in outreach work with schools, promoting careers in the industry and inclusion.

Other community activities involve sports sponsorships – for girls’ rugby and the Dubai Hurricanes – and support for the Emirates Red Crescent Authority’s IFTAR campaign.

Jad also emphasised the wider value to the industry from sharing lessons learnt through HKA’s unmatched project meconstructionnews.com

We always seek to bring the best experts to service our clients from across EMEA or the globe, whilst we also pride ourselves on having local expertise where needed”

experience. The CRUX integrated research programme analyses the root causes of claims and disputes. These are ranked by region in the annual CRUX Insight Report and can be analysed further through the free-to-use CRUX interactive dashboard.

“We share CRUX insights directly with clients but more widely through our CRUX ambassadors,” Jad stressed.

“We believe that, if applied on major projects, this knowledge can lead to better outcomes for the benefit of all stakeholders,” he concluded.

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26 | On Site

THE FIVE ESSE NTIALS

February 2024

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On Site | 27

OF URBAN PL ANNING

At a time when the design and conception of the built environment has never been so critical, Middle East Consultant spoke with the planning experts at Easy Render, the leading Architectural Rendering and 3D Visualisation Platform, who believe there are five Architectural tenets underpinning the shape of a city…

meconstructionnews.com

February 2024

28 | On Site

1. TALL BUILDINGS AND SKYSCRAPERS

irst things first. It’s arguable that architecture has never been just a career option, or a practical way of conceiving the built environment - it was and always will be an art form.

Yet there is, however, no doubt that from the mid-20th century onwards, newer districts, blocks, and city-regions have become more and more uniform in their exterior design, and likewise, interiors have all begun to look alike. This is because modern architecture is closely related to city planning as a whole.

This has resulted in a ‘balanced’ model for the built environment, whereby whole cityscapes look similar enough to be uniform but different enough to peak our interest - and this approach has now become the industry standard.

So, how does modern architecture approach and influence our city planning?

There are basically five different ways, which are as follows: February 2024

Tall buildings and skyscrapers seem to be more and more prevalent in today’s cities, but why?

Well, tall buildings and skyscrapers fulfill many different needs for both their residents and the architects who are designing them. Tall buildings are a part of modern urban design and indeed, have been popular ever since people decided to move to cities. While residential buildings might employ older, brick and mortar designs, office buildings and other places of work tend to strive for a more glassy, formal-but-glamorous, look.

Glass is a highly appealing, multifunctional material that, despite concerns about heat retention and its role in urban ‘hotspots’, is - right now - skyrocketing in popularity as a building material. While the infrastructure of the building is not built out of glass, the facade tends to be.

It’s actually a misconception that glass is so popular because of its transparency; glass is so popular because it gives a building a neat, clean look.

While glass might be the king of facades in office buildings, residential buildings follow a different trend. The efficient, on-point look that glass provides for an office space can be quite the opposite of

the creative, lifestyle-designed approach that a residential development might look for. There is another important trend here, too: due to a rising housing shortage, architects are working hard to design bigger and bigger buildings to fulfill the demand. Building big is considerably more cost-effective than actually building more, separate, communities, which might each require extensive landscaping, mixed-use floors, a range of amenities, and so on.

Creating structures at this larger scale also lets the architect give more attention to detail, because ‘working big’ means that individual features and aspects can be magnified in the overall scheme of things; this also allows functionality to become streamlined and part of the DNA of the building, rather than a series of ‘addons’. Hence we arrive at the possibility of minimalism.

Most urban environments don't have the luxury of starting from scratch, but instead choose a dedicated zone for building high, as is the case with Shanghai.

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Far from being purely an aesthetic style, minimalism enables the incorporation and scaling-up of key functional features.

2. MINIMALISM

Minimalism is so far the most popular modern style of architecture. Attractive, minimalistic buildings aren’t only impressive, but having bigger buildings gives architects more space to play around in.

Minimalism does not mean minimum effort. Minimalism is best combined with high functionality to provide for a quality building, and both residential and commercial architects are very much jumping on the bandwagon.

In short, Minimalism has found its way into urban design due to its simplicity and appealing nature. In fact, urban city planning is giving minimalism a priority, and the amount of minimalistic structures is only rising.

With city planning being integral to the city’s aesthetic infrastructure, uniformity is key to the preservation of these aesthetics.

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3. SMART BUILDINGS AND AUTOMATION

Another thing that is rising in popularity is the use of smart devices in our homes.

When you think of smart devices in your home, you most likely envision the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, yet buildings have been smart for much longer than you might think.

Smart buildings are taking the world by storm, and have been for quite some time now. This removes the need for numerous different security features, as they are included within the smart system that runs the operations of the bundling.

Smart systems provide a wide array of different services, such as: Entry/Exit Control: Entry and exit control has been in operation in one way or the other for quite some time but has recently become automatic, courtesy of smart building systems.

In the past, residential and office buildings might have had a doorman or bellhop on building floors controlling who enters and exits a building. These days, this process is made fully automatic through the use of surveillance cameras.

Security: One of the most important

It is often overlooked that today's developments in Smart tech not only provide better security solutions, but enable the built environment to empathise with our needs.

things people want in a building is premium security. Feeling safe is one of the essential things overall, and the safety of smart buildings is considerably more advanced than you might think.

While buildings might have had a security guard on sight in the past, today, many buildings employ smart security systems, with automatic distress calls, locking capabilities, and advanced security features.

Light Control: One of the first things that smart buildings implement in their infrastructure is lighting control.

Automatic on/off lights have been present for some time now, but modern smart buildings control and modulate lighting based on the intensity and quality of the light outside.

Lighting can be dimmed if the room is filled with natural light. The system February 2024

30 | On Site

4. COMBINING OLD AND NEW

determines this through a set of smart sensors that send signals to the system, informing it about the amount of light in the room.

Automatic Garages: Since everyone drives a car, residential and especially office buildings have their garages. While in the past, this process required personnel on-site to regulate who can enter and park in the garage, this process is now automatised, though card reading and facial recognition technology.

While smart buildings might be rising in abundance, architects need to plan ahead when it comes to their design. Smart buildings have quite a lot of requirements to fulfill, and the rising demand for them in combination with skyscrapers has had a strong impact on urban city planning.

With the emergence of planned cities all around the world, whole planned smart cities that work in unison to achieve a common goal of safety, security, sustainability, and accommodation are not that far in the future.

Minimalism is the dominant style in designing new buildings, but what of the existing old buildings?

Well, architecture is an art form, after all, and it is currently striving to create a combination of old and new. Modernising old buildings - perhaps referred to as ‘repurposing’ - has been in effect for quite some time, giving numerous and improved commodities and fresh opportunities.

The only exception to this rule is of course buildings of historical value, which are preserved without any modification, offering according to priority systems of grading.

Older buildings are modified to fulfill the commodities and requirements of the modern urban citizen in numerous ways. While functionality is essential, combining these with the best traditional aesthetics has raised quite a problem for contemporary architects.

Architects work to implement new designs with the old; hence, with the

rising popularity of residential complexes and skyscrapers, some architects have created a merger, designing new buildings influenced by archaic design fads known as ‘neo-traditional’ style.

Remember, though, that city planning regulates a lot of things, such as floor areas and their strength, ceiling height, overall building height, and to an extent, the building style.

Some older buildings do not fulfill all of these standards and regulations – and therefore, the principal way in which they are changed and renovated is not purely for stylistic reasons, but - more often than not - to satisfy these requirements.

Far from being mutually exclusive, traditional and modern design can co-exist highly effectively.

Applying Smart tech to garages means less need for staffing and simpler protocols for users.

February 2024

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5. SUSTAINABILITY AND STRATEGY

Sustainability and strategy are both integral parts of urban city planning, and modern architecture has to work to accommodate both into its ‘modus operandi’.

Sustainability, strategy, and the overall placement of buildings need to follow regulations and fulfill many different

As all GCC developers are crucially aware, this is indeed the peak era of the mixed-use community.

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needs, to achieve the maximum optimal functionality of a particular structure.

Urban planning regulates this so that there is never too much of anything in one single place. Imagine the following example of the dangers of ‘misproportion’: a residential building complex that contains ten gyms and five supermarkets, to accommodate the 200 people living there. Clearly, this would be a costly imbalance. It would also mean that the residents in other clusters would have an absurdly long journey to get to all the amenities that have been wrongly focused in one place.

Strategic placement of buildings in a particular area not only has a residential purpose, but has a significant impact on administrative centres, transport, and numerous other aspects of modern life. This imperative has led directly to the very modern concept of ‘the 15minute city’.

All in all, it is crucial that modern buildings follow modern plans, and fall within a strategic template with their surroundings. At a time when data, convenience and lifestyle are the new watchwords, the maverick building has no place in todays built environment.

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32 | On Site

integrity of a building’s structure. This is especially true of high-rise buildings where the internal structure supports immense weight and the building caters to vastly higher occupancy numbers.

The consequences of structural damage due to fire are far too great, so the risk has to be minimised as much as possible. ant to know the most important factor for implementing effective fire safety in high-rise and multi-storey buildings?

Planning. The safest fire protection systems found in multi-storey towers and apartment buildings are designed into the building plans well before construction begins. Adequate fire protection is absolutely critical to the

WHY DO HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS NEED EXTREME FIRE SAFETY?

High-rise buildings present a number of unique fire safety challenges to developers, architects, occupants and firefighters. Passive fire protection is crucial in preventing the vertical spread of fire and its damaging effects. In other

BLAZE! FIRE SAFETY IN TALL AND SUPER-TALL STRUCTURES While they may be the glamorous and impressive titans of the modern built environment, tall buildings of every shape and size greatly magnify the risks and impacts of a major fire. Here, Middle East Consultant speaks to US-based fire protection specialists Koorsen Fire Security and Australian firm PROFINISH Fire Protection about the most effective active and passive protocols to follow…

February 2024

words, defence is the best offence in higher structures.

Remember: if a high-rise building’s structural components are weakened during a fire, the building could collapse.

This sort of disaster presents extreme danger to the occupants as well as surrounding buildings. The building must be able to withstand prolonged fire exposure to give occupants time to evacuate and to slow the spread as much as possible so active fire systems are more effective in controlling the fire.

FULL BUILDING EVACUATION IS DIFFICULT

Because occupants have to escape vertically, full evacuation can be difficult if a fire has broken out. Many buildings have a ‘defend in place’ emergency strategy (which means ‘riding out’ the fire), but this is a last resort. If fire spread is effectively slowed, occupants have more time to execute a successful evacuation.

Firefighting can be ineffective on upper levels, because as emergency resources mainly fight the fire from ground level in a critical situation, they are limited in reaching the upper floors of a high-rise building.

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS CAN BE COMPROMISED

Active fire protection systems such as sprinklers and fire doors rely on public utilities. If for any reason the water or electrical supply falters, sprinklers and other automated systems may not be effective.

The only way to ensure fire safety in high-rise buildings is by implementing a complete passive fire protection system during planning and construction. This will ensure your building’s fire safety and guarantee compliance with the relevant national Building Codes.

WHAT ELEMENTS NEED PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS?

One of the most important aspects meconstructionnews.com

of passive fire protection is effective compartmentation so that fire and smoke cannot spread from the point of ignition.

A specialist Fire Protection provider will be able to use a range of certified products to treat potentially hazardous building components. These are installed and applied by highly experienced team members to meet the required industryspecific fire codes.

Service & Air Ducts High-rise commercial buildings are built with an intricate network of ducts to regulate airflow. As these ducts breach walls, they require specific treatment to stop the spread of heat and fire both through and around them. The passive fire protection of ducts is most commonly achieved by the application of what’s meconstructionnews.com

It is often overlooked that relatively minor fire incidents can rapidly spread to surrounding complex environments.

known as a ‘300 Vermiculite spray’. Ducts can also be treated through the application of fire wrap and or fire-retardant board.

Passive fire protection is crucial in preventing the vertical spread of fire and its damaging effects. In other words, defence is the best offence in higher structures”

Pipes & Compartments As services run through firewalls, these can double as openings where fire, heat and smoke can potentially spread. To stop this from happening, passive fire protection helps to seal these penetrations that otherwise form weak points.

Fire-stopping penetration treatments and applications that help stop the spread of flames include: • Collars • Fire Wrap • Fire Strips • Acrylic Sealant • Fire Proof Mortar; and • Fire Proof Grafitex February 2024

34 | On Site

Structural Steel Commonplace in modern multi-storey buildings, steel-framed construction remains favourable for its strength and durability. The major downside is that its load-bearing capacity is significantly reduced when exposed to extreme heat.

The application of a fire protection product such as Vermiculite spray or Intumescent Paint can drastically increase steel’s fire resistance.

Vermiculite fire spray consists of cement fibres, vermiculite and plaster. It is highly effective at retaining moisture, which turns to steam in extreme heat and has a cooling effect on the steel, delaying the increase in temperature.

Intumescent Paint is a specialised coating that insulates the surface of structural steel. As steel loses its loadbearing capacity when its temperature rises above 550ºC, intumescent paint

February 2024

reacts and swells to form a protective layer.

It is critically important that sprinkler installation meets the agreed operational standards required by the leading international bodies.

The building must be able to withstand prolonged fire exposure to give occupants time to evacuate and to slow the spread as much as possible so active fire systems are more effective in controlling the fire”

Aesthetic Materials Contemporary design features such as exposed steel and timber beams can pose fire risks if not treated with a fire protection coating. To maintain the aesthetic appearance of these materials, Fire Protection specialists can apply a thin film intumescent paint. Various topcoat options are available to give the desired colour finish.

AN ACTION CHECKLIST

Here are some of the best practices for fire safety in high-rise buildings.

1. Fire Protection Systems: High-rise buildings should have a comprehensive fire protection system, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire suppression systems, and smoke management systems. These systems

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On Site | 35

should be installed and maintained in accordance with codes and standards to ensure they effectively detect and suppress fires.

2. Emergency Evacuation Plans: Highrise buildings should have well-planned emergency evacuation plans with clear evacuation routes and procedures for occupants. Building occupants should be trained on the evacuation plan and what to do in the event of a fire.

3. Fire Drills: Fire drills should be conducted regularly in high-rise buildings to ensure occupants are familiar with the evacuation routes and fire protection systems. Fire drills should be used to practice evacuation procedures and ensure employees know what to do during a fire.

4. Fireproof Construction: High-rise buildings should be constructed using fireproof materials and designed to prevent the spread of fires. This includes using fireproof doors, walls, ceilings, and fireproof electrical systems.

5. Fireproofing Maintenance: Regular maintenance of fireproofing systems is essential to ensure they remain effective in preventing the spread of meconstructionnews.com

Rigorous testing is a key element in effective fire prevention; all too many fires grow and spread as a result of poorly-functioning alarms.

fires. Building owners and managers should ensure that fireproofing systems are inspected and maintained regularly to ensure they are in good condition.

6. Emergency Power: High-rise buildings should have an emergency power system to ensure the fire protection systems, elevators, and other essential systems remain operational in the event of a power failure.

7. Regular Inspections: Regular inspections of fire protection systems and other fire safety equipment should be conducted to ensure they are in good condition and working properly.

Building owners and managers should work with fire protection specialists to ensure that inspections are conducted regularly and that any necessary repairs or upgrades are made.

FROM TALL TO SUPER-TALL

All the preventive measures and risks

outlined above increase dramatically in importance/severity when we transition from tall structures to the world of the super-tall (ie, buildings taller than 350m).

This is largely because of three key factors: • Extreme weight of the structure.

The internal support framework has to support perhaps three to four times more weight than in an averagely tall structure - so it is potentially more likely to crumple and collapse under extreme exposure to fire and heat.

• Greater internal complexity. Supertall buildings are a rabbit-warren matrix of ducting, ventilation, and elevator shafts and often involve transitions between residential floors and dedicated commercial areas (eg, it’s not untypical for super-talls to be part brand-name hotel - Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Kowloon’s International Commerce Centre are classic examples). Each of these zones require different fire protection codes and will necessitate advanced Fire Protection specialists who bring dedicated services to each.

• Inability of traditional emergency services to reach the upper floors for external spraying, etc. It is unlikely that most emergency services can successfully work from the ground-up at heights much above 200m. Further elevations will require aerial, in-flight extinguisher services, traditionally by helicopter - but the role of sophisticated drone operation is now being more commonly explored and will perhaps become the best and most cost-effective solution during the next decade.

Note that super-tall structures in New York, Dubai, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Singapore have all experienced major fires in recent years that have led to wholesale evacuations of the building - leading to the virtual impossibility of finding alternative shelter for the occupants while fire damage is sorted. Hence, there’s no more critical focus with a super-tall than looking long and hard at the best possible means of both active and passive fire prevention.

February 2024

36 | Diversity

February 2024

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Diversity | 37

CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE: THE CRITICAL SKILL OF THE FUTURE In an increasingly fluid and diverse world, it’s inevitable that our team-building will involve many ethnicities and nationalities, whom we may well be ill-equipped to deal with effectively - let alone manage. The answer?

To adopt better Cultural Intelligence and benefit from the protocols it shows us. To learn more, Middle East Consultant spoke to Emma Jordaan, CEO, Infinite Consulting…

s a British national living and working overseas, daily I experience interactions with others that feel so different to how we would do things ‘back home’. The longer I live overseas, the less unusual these interactions feel, because I have become accustomed to meconstructionnews.com

different ways of doing things. Remember: the UAE has a population made up of over 200 different nationalities, so it’s highly unlikely that you would be working with a homogenous team, and you could easily interact with over five (or more) different nationals and cultures in a single day.

With the rapid rate of globalisation, the world is feeling smaller - now more than ever. Tag on to that the changes caused by geopolitical and financial issues, and we are seeing an increase in global movement of people emigrating or having to flee their home countries. Plus, entrepreneurial nomads who want the option to work February 2024

38 | Diversity

wherever they like in the world. You can easily find yourself interacting and working with colleagues either face to face or virtually who come from the other side of the world.

Emma Jordaan, CEO of Infinite Consulting, an organisation that specialises in designing customised Cultural Intelligence (CQ) training and coaching and assessment solutions to help organisations navigate the complexities of a diverse workforce.

BUT WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

It means that we need to be considering how we can be more effective when interacting with people from diverse cultures to that of our own. This is cultural intelligence or CQ, the critical skill of the future.

“Cultural Intelligence, or CQ, measures your capability to relate and work effectively in culturally diverse situations. It’s a form of intelligence that has been tested by academic researchers in over 98 countries for nearly two decades.” [1] Cultural Intelligence or CQ - which stands for Cultural Quotient - is a form of intelligence that can be developed to provide strategies and skills to be more effective in culturally diverse situations. The four dimensions of Cultural Intelligence are: 1. CQ Drive, your motivational intelligence – how motivated are you to be effective when working with others from diverse backgrounds and your willingness to learn.

February 2024

2. CQ Knowledge, your cognitive intelligence – how much do you know about other cultures.

3. CQ Strategy, your metacognitive intelligence – how much you plan your approach in advance of your interactions.

4. CQ Actions, your behavioural intelligence – how you alter your behaviour to maximise the interaction with others.

approach for equitable interactions. Some liken Cultural Intelligence CQ to emotional intelligence (EQ), but these two concepts differ. While emotional intelligence is a valuable foundation, focusing on regulating one's emotions and managing others' emotions, its applicability may be confined to familiar cultural contexts. Different cultures express emotions in distinct ways, rendering strategies effective in one country potentially ineffective in another.

Cultural intelligence surpasses cultural awareness, technical proficiency, and even emotional intelligence, serving as a mental model for diagnosing and effectively responding to intercultural situations.

HOW DO WE APPLY CULTURAL

BUT WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

INTELLIGENCE?

I often heard business professionals affirming their cultural intelligence based on years of successful international work.

However, it's crucial to recognise that technical competence in a role doesn't automatically translate to cultural competence. Merely being culturally aware doesn't guarantee sensitivity to diverse cultures or a willingness to adapt one's

Integrating Cultural Intelligence (CQ) in the workplace echoes the principles of the Blanchard's Situational Leadership Model, where a nuanced understanding of individual competence guides the managers’ approach.

In parallel, cultural intelligence aligns with this model, with the view that if you build an appreciation for cultural values of the employee, you can adapt you approach to suit. Some managers express reservations to this idea, citing time constraints that hinder tailoring their management style to accommodate diverse cultural values - an objection akin to those who assert a lack of time for performance management and individual check-ins.

Yet, challenging this perspective prompts a crucial reflection. Consider how much time is wasted through miscommunications and misunderstandings that could have been mitigated with a touch more CQ, giving us the strategies to flex and adapt our approach for more effective multicultural interactions.

While workplace equality lays the foundation for respect, authentic equity delves deeper, acknowledging that behavioural norms in the workplace vary across cultures. It goes beyond a one-size-fits-all mentality; instead, it urges us to adapt our approach to harmonise with each person's cultural context.

Essentially, equity involves a purposeful endeavour to comprehend and honour how meconstructionnews.com

individuals prefer to be treated. It signifies a departure from a uniform standard, encouraging us to embrace the cultural intricacies within our global workplace. The conventional notion of "treating everyone how we want to be treated" is evolving into a more nuanced paradigm: "Let's treat everyone how THEY want to be treated." By championing cultural equity, we not only construct a foundation of inclusivity but also unleash the collective potential embedded in the wealth of diverse perspectives.

Let’s imagine you are the senior leader within an organisation and you come from an egalitarian (flatter) culture: you’re likely to champion a collaborative, inclusive approach to work, where titles are less emphasised, and decision-making is a collective effort. The challenge arises when you have to manage a team from a more hierarchical culture. Your team values clear directives, a structured hierarchy, and a defined chain of command. This for you may feel like lording it over your team and may feel out of character for you. However, the absence of overt leadership might be perceived by your team as a lack of guidance or appreciation. Hierarchy and power need not always be seen as adversaries. It's entirely possible to wield power positively, ensuring that leadership is both supportive and authoritative.

Another example could be that you are meconstructionnews.com

Cultural Intelligence is all about delivering more effective performance through equity and the inclusion of diverse opinions and experiences.

a project manager within an organisation who has specific deadlines for deliverables within the project and yet you are struggling to get the team to deliver. The issue here relates to how trust is built, based on the idea that cultures tend to prioritise either building strong interpersonal relationships or achieving specific tasks and goals and your credibility. Relationship-Oriented Cultures place a high value on building and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships, while Task-Oriented Cultures emphasise achieving specific tasks and goals efficiently and effectively.

For individuals who are naturally task-oriented, adapting to a relationship-

It's crucial to recognise that technical competence in a role doesn't automatically translate to cultural competence”

oriented culture, such as that prominent across the Middle East, can present some challenges. You may need to invest significant time and effort in networking and building relationships with colleagues, superiors, clients, and other professionals.

Relationships may need to be built to meet project deadlines. This cultural contrast can pose challenges, as task-oriented individuals believe in managing circumstances and adhering to set timelines, while relationshiporiented counterparts prioritise trustbuilding within the context of personal connections. However, this isn’t about having more business 1-to-1’s with your team, it’s about socialising with them, having coffee together in the staff canteen, learning about their interests, their family.

It’s important to recognise that there isn’t a right or wrong culture, there is just ‘different’. Often our own cultural values are so ingrained in us that we are unable to consider another’s perspective. Although, if we were asked, we probably wouldn’t be able to pinpoint or articulate the specific cultural values that impact the way that we communicate, value time or lead a team.

True Cultural Intelligence CQ® begins with introspection. Being aware of our own cultural value preferences helps us to draw perspective in situations where the behaviours or actions of others don’t feel like they align with your own.

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40 | Diversity

“90% of leading executives from 68 countries said finding effective cross-cultural personnel is a top management challenge.” [2] Aside from the fact that it is ethically right to provide a culturally intelligent workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging, research shows that multicultural teams with a high level of cultural intelligence outperform homogenous teams due to increased creativity, innovation, idea sharing, adjustment, and overall wellbeing.

“According to research, diversified teams perform better than homogeneous teams.

Employee productivity in diverse workplaces is 12% higher than in businesses that make no attempt to be inclusive. Additionally, according to research, inclusive teams perform up to 30% better in situations with strong diversity.” [3] HOW CAN I ASSESS OUR ORGANISATION’S CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE?

To strategically assess your organisation's level of Cultural Intelligence, consider implementing the following measures. Firstly, delve into the Employee Net Promoter Score (ENPS) results, a potent metric that provides a nuanced understanding of employees' sentiments. Are they experiencing a sense of value and belonging within the organisational culture? Secondly, leverage insights from exit interviews and surveys of departing employees. Uncover patterns that may reveal trends within specific demographics or departments, prompting further exploration.

Lastly, look to external benchmarks and awards. These recognitions not only serve as accolades but also function as a compass, validating the organisation's commitment to cultivating an inclusive workplace culture.

Recognition from esteemed bodies becomes a testament to the authenticity of the ongoing efforts to enhance Cultural Intelligence within the organisational framework.

HOW CAN WE BECOME MORE CULTURALLY INTELLIGENT?

So, we need to ask ourselves different questions to determine what cultural nuances are at play in our different interactions.

February 2024

The significance of Cultural Intelligence CQ cannot be overstated.

It’s more than a skill set; it is a mindset that empowers individuals and organisations to navigate the complexities of an interconnected world” 1. How does your own culture shape your perspective in this situation, and what assumptions or stereotypes might you hold that could impact your cultural sensitivity? CQ Drive (Motivation): 2. What specific cultural challenges are you currently facing, and what have you learned about the cultures involved, including communication styles and business norms? CQ Knowledge (Cognitive): 3. How can you build rapport and trust across based on the cultures involved?

CQ Strategy (Metacognitive) 4. How can you adjust your approach to align with cultural norms and ensure clarity in cross-cultural communication? CQ Action (Behavioural) Once you start to analyse your approach, you begin to see where there may be communication breakdowns and misunderstands due to different cultural perspectives and you can consider how you need to adapt your approach.

The need for Cultural Intelligence CQ is not just a nice to have skill, it’s a critical skill for success in the interconnected world of business. As we navigate through a time marked by unprecedented mobility, both in terms of people and ideas, cultivating Cultural Intelligence CQ becomes a strategic imperative. The ability to adapt and thrive

in diverse environments is not only about embracing differences but also about leveraging them for collective growth.

Furthermore, the application of Cultural Intelligence CQ goes beyond individual interactions; it extends to shaping organisational cultures that build inclusivity and harness the strengths of diversity. Leaders must recognise that Cultural Intelligence CQ is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing initiative of self-awareness and learning. Establishing a culturally intelligent workplace involves creating opportunities for continuous learning through training and coaching, open dialogue, and a shared commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The organisational ethos should reflect the understanding that embracing diverse perspectives not only enhances creativity and innovation but also fortifies the company's resilience in the face of global challenges.

The significance of Cultural Intelligence CQ cannot be overstated. It’s more than a skill set; it is a mindset that empowers individuals and organisations to navigate the complexities of an interconnected world. As we witness an unprecedented exchange of ideas and talents across the world, the ability to understand, appreciate, and adapt to diverse cultures becomes a foundation for success. Cultivating Cultural Intelligence CQ is not just about responding to the challenges of today but about proactively shaping a future where collaboration, innovation, and respect for differences are woven into our organisations culture. It is a call to action for leaders and professionals alike to embark on including Cultural Intelligence CQ improvement into the organisation’s strategy planning.

Cultivating cultural intelligence is not merely a choice; it is an imperative for those who aspire to lead and excel in the dynamic and interconnected world of tomorrow.

References [1] Cultural Intelligence Centre - https://culturalq.com/ [2] The Economist Intelligence Unit - https://www. economist.com/business/2010/04/06/in-search-of-high-cq [3] Forbes - https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagency council/2023/04/18/creating-a-diverse-and-inclusiveteam-for-long-term-success/?sh=2f08f2fa5314 meconstructionnews.com

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