Chunyu HUO

Week 14 / Session 13

29 April 2021

1. Course feedback

This course covers a wide range of subjects, some of which are very interesting but not understood. This course introduces how to understand the whole landscape industry from the aspects of how to be a good boss, how to do a good job in engineering projects, bidding and so on. This will contribute to my future work; At the same time, the online company visit of each class is a part that I like very much. Through live broadcast and guest visit, I can see the working environment and real working methods and processes of different design companies more intuitively. All of these will be of great help to my future job choice after graduation.

2. About the quiz

Many times in the classroom quiz, we learned a lot of things, more details and specific feel that we may learn in the classroom knowledge in reality. The corresponding answers to many of the questions make us broaden our thinking and think of more specific answers.

3. About assignment

We know how to apply for a position by writing the homework arranged by the teacher. By writing this assignment, we learn how to write a standard letter and how to use our experience and awards as a way to show our ability. And through the way of text expression, we show the suitability and potential value of the position

4. About communicating with teachers

In the communication with teachers, we learned that curriculum can not only be the knowledge in textbooks, but also a learning method and learning goal. Teachers emphasize the importance of punctuality and learning. Our punctuality in class is also a very important quality in our future work. The teacher said that it's not normal to have problems at work. It's most important to keep a modest attitude to study hard and seek truth from facts to do a good job.

5. Summary

First of all, this is the only course involving teamwork in all my courses this semester, which improves my ability of cooperation, project planning and interpersonal relationship. I really like this kind of group work. In addition to learning from each other, I also learned many interesting forms of expression, such as interview form, on-site Q & A, interactive questioning and role-playing. Throughout the semester, James, as a group leader, has played a positive leading role. He is a good leader and partner, and arranges the work schedule and logic. He can listen to your suggestions and put them into practice. At last, he arranged the style of PPT that we did together, and rehearsed several speeches at the same time. Finally, it made the speech very successful. Ceci, as the Deputy group leader, also accomplished the task excellently. She was responsible for the final interaction and questioning, and found a way to interact with the students.

I am responsible for the arrangement and arrangement of the content. I found many interesting places and differences between Hong Kong cases and mainland cases in the process of searching materials and comparing them. This process also provides new ideas and feasibility for future work.

I learned a lot from it, not only in the cognitive aspect of professional knowledge, but also in the spirit of keeping improving and striving to be better from the students in the group.

In fact, in addition to professional knowledge, this course also shaped my character. Teachers emphasize the importance of punctuality and lifelong learning. After all, people are a part of the society. They should constantly learn and communicate with others. The most important is trust and effort. So in the future life, this course may have a more profound impact.

Week 13 / Session 12

22 April 2021

WRAP IT UP

Through classroom communication, I understand that the format and content of a cover letter plays a very important role in whether I can apply for the job. And know how to use the appropriate language to express their experience and resume.

For the content of application letter:

1. Keep it short and business-like
   

2. Be matter-of-fact
   

3. Very short introduction of your current situation
   

4. Avoid flowery language, flattering, plaudits and honorifics
   

5. Avoid generalizations about your experience/knowledge, be special
   

6. Avoid subjective analysis of what you think/feel about yourself/company
   

7. Tell a personal story about what and why you are motivated/interested/experienced
   

8. Make allusion to the company ethos and something specific that they did/do/will do that resonates.
   

Week 11 / Session 10

08 April 2021

3d DELIVERING A PROJECT

Role of landscape planting sub-contractors:

Supply soil

Supply plants materials

Provide method statement and material submission before planting on site

Issues to clarify - whether they will be ready on site for plant establishment

Irrigation facilities, water supply

Planters, whether they will be ready for subcontractor

How is the planting design documented - planting plans? Planting schedules? Specifications? Total number of drawings?

(Supposingly when you get the contract, planting plans and documents would have been seen by the subcontractor)

Border restriction, some materials are not available (soil, plant material?) - maybe replacement for less delay in construction

Planting design finalization from design consultant

Planters, Irrigation points, Drainage setting, will they be ready, built by hardscape contractors

Payment from client coordinated by Main contractor

When working at site resumed, will there be Clerk of works, Site Managers on site

Not being allowed to send labour/ manpower to site to establish plants would delay the construction but it is not our fault

Coordination of construction period and work schedule with different sub-contractors (possibly overseas)

Week 10 / Session 09

01 April 2021

3c AWARDING A PROJECT

This is our group report. We have prepared a lot of Logical Consideration and thinking. From the whole bidding process, we gradually introduce more details and rich content. At the same time, in order to ensure everyone's interaction, we use questions and interaction to lead to our theme and topic. In the end, we added the local bidding case of Hong Kong, so that we can feel more truly how to implement these processes in the real project, as well as the possible problems.

1.0 What is construction tendering？

01 tendering methods of contract include:

2.0 Tendering methods

2.1Negotiated Tendering

01 single stage negotiation

02 two stage negotiation

2.2 Open Tendering

2.3 Serial Tendering

2.4 Single Stage Selective Tendering

2.5 Two Stage Selective Tendering

01 The first stage

02 The second stage

3.0 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF ALTERNATIVE TYPES OF TENDERING

3.1 Single Stage Selective Tendering

01 Advantages

02 Disadvantage

3.2 Two Stage Selective Tendering

01 Advantage

02 Disadvantage

3.3 Open Tendering

01 Advantage

02 Disadvantage

3.4 Negotiated Tendering

4.0 TENDERING SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS

4.1 Policy and Principles

01 Open and fair competition

02 Value for money

03 Transparency in Procedures and Practices

04 Public Accountability

4.2 World Trade Organisation Procurement Rules

4.3 Tender Boards

01 Central Tender Board

02 Public Works Tender Board

5.0 TYPES OF TENDERS- GOVERNMENT WORKS

5.1 Open Tendering

5.2 Selective Tendering

1Approved Lists

5.3 Single or Restricted Tendering

5.4 Prequalified Tendering

comparing nature of 3 types of tendering:

And we have some discussions about our topic:

Tendering documents: Specifications – highlight General/ Particular Specification sessions, and Preliminaries in Bill of Quantities

- Types of Tendering process – more analytical approach to Negotiated/ Selective/ Open Tendering (openness to technical capabilities) as layer 1; details go to layer 2

- Tendering Process: think about ways to filter layer 1 information (for efficiently get the messages), and remaining explanation goes to layer 2

- If scenarios or role playing is to be made, focusing on the tendering process (e.g. particular specification – e.g. Hardscape material using GS adopting basic requirements and using PS to indicate quality of the finish; give context and ask what tendering process should we go for, if there are changes in documents go for tender addendum, adverse weather condition extension of time – a few questions to support the scenario?)

- Contract conditions – keep the value, function of contract here; under Standard Forms of Contract, read General Contract conditions and summarize – Keeping timeline of project, Authorization, financial timeline, Adverse weather treatment, unexpected ground condition treatment, injuries treatment; then point out there is “Particular contract conditions”

- Scenario and role playing – no need to be made for Contract session by PINK team

Week 08 / Session 07

18 March 2021

What is procurement?

Client/ Employer

Consultant

Contractor

Supplier

“Chan (2007) defined procurement as the system that represents the organizational structure adopted by clients for the implementation of project processes and eventual operation of the project.”

“Molenaar et al. (2009) defined procurement method as a comprehensive process by which designers, constructors, and various consultants provide services for design and construction to deliver a complete project to the client. “

Many specialists try to give definitions to the procurement process. For example, From the perspective of clients, this process can start at the initial stages of identifying the need for a scheme/project or purchase all the way through to the actual purchase and operation of a project. From the perspective of the supply chain, however, procurement is generally considered the process through which they go to be a chosen or winning supplier to a project. (ACEprocurement, 2015)

Procurement is a very complex and vital investment process, including contracting, purchasing, sourcing or tendering, to weigh up the benefits, risks and budget constraints of a project to determine what the most appropriate procurement method is, and what contractual arrangements will be required.

What is the process of procurement and what are the risks?

The procurement is a very complex process including the Formation of the Procurement Committee, specify requirements, identify suppliers, Launch Competitive Tender programs, Issue Order, and Receive Goods and Services. During these processes, many groups’ interests get involved, and with that comes the risk, including the inefficient procurement committee, the misfit between the client's requirements and the material features, Uncompetitive supplier bid, Bribery and kickbacks, Delays in contract offering, damaged and Nonconforming products.

What factors that can influence the procurement choice?

Week 07

11 March 2021

3a WINNING A PROJECT

In general, to establish a tendering project, a tenderer list is first prepared to provide a number of suitable consultants for bidding. The tenderer list can be varying depending on regulations or the nature of the project. After tender documents are prepared, tenderers are being called for submissions. A scoring system is developed then to evaluate submissions based on multiple factors such as price, quality, innovation, while the weighting of these factors can be different according to the needs of the client. At last, the proposals of different tenderers are being evaluated with the same scoring system, contracts and agreement will be negotiated with the winner.

Tender Procedures for Government Procurement:

The Landscape Consultant’s Appointment is a document that:

1. advises Landscape Consultants and their Clients in the execution of landscape commissions
   

2. sets out the Memorandum of Agreement as well as the standard and additional services provided, conditions of service which apply and a schedule of services and fee
   

It included four elements:

• conditions of appointment
  

• memorandum of agreement
  

• scopes of services
  

• schedules of Fees and Expenses
  

• Conditions of Appointment explains the conditions that parties participating in the Appointment need to meet before signing the contract.It can also be used as a reference for the definition of words and phrases used in agreement.
  

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is a written document describing a cooperative relationship between two parties wishing to work together on a project or to meet an agreed-upon objective. An MOA serves as a legal document and describes the terms and details of the partnership agreement.

Hourly charge rates calculated on the basis of total cost of the staff including salary, benefits, office overheads, profit etc. It can be set that rates can be discounted when used as the basis of competitive bidding. We should calculate how many hours are required – consultants usually need to agree hours beforehand with the client, which effectively turns the fee into a lump sum.

A fixed amount of money for a fixed package of work is usually calculated using either hourly rates multiplied by an estimate of time required by each member of staff, or a simplified form of percentage fee. Fees are paid in agreed stages upon completion of defined work tasks. Lump sum fees are used in 90% of commissions because they offer a good balance between the interests of both client and consultant. Payments area is predictable for both sides. Once agreed there is little to argue over (except interim payments / scope of work).

Fees calculated as a percentage on the capital cost of the works, adopting multipliers to address : different complexities of work; the proportion of hard works to soft works (definitions are required for each). Percentage fees were the traditional method of remuneration but now out of favour due to complexity of calculation. The need for information about costs, and uncertainty as to its accuracy, and arguments over what is / isn’t within the scope of works

A retainer fee is an amount of money paid upfront to secure the services. It can be set monthly or yearly for ad hoc advice or design services, the draw-back of this method is difficult to balance the amount of work and payment, there are no real benefits to the client themselves and it is usually commuted into a time charge budget arrangement.

Week 06 / Session 06

04 March 2021

2a

DEVELOP OR CONTROL?

Planning System

Hong Kong’s planning system comprises development strategies at the territorial level and various types of statutory and departmental plans at the district/local level. The preparation of these plans is taking into account the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, relevant development-related policies and principles, and community views

Town Planning Board

The Board is a statutory body established under section 2 of the Town Planning Ordinance (the Ordinance), Cap. 131 of the Laws of Hong Kong. The Board's main functions are laid down in section 3 of the Ordinance, i.e. to promote the health, safety, convenience, and general welfare of the community through the systematic preparation of plans (that is, Outline Zoning Plans (OZPs) and Development Permission Area (DPA) Plans) for the layout of such areas of Hong Kong as the Chief Executive may direct, as well as the types of buildings suitable for erection therein.

Urban Renewal Authority

A statutory body established in 2001 under the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Ordinance, (Cap. 563) to supersede the Land Development Corporation. The URA collaborates with the Planning Department in the planning of urban renewal and regeneration projects for the improvement of old areas.

Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA)

Chief Executive announced in his 2007-08 Policy Address a package of initiatives for heritage conservation including the requirement to undergo heritage impact assessment for all new capital works projects involving historic and built heritage. The mechanism of heritage impact assessment will ensure a balance is struck between the requirements for development initiated by Government and heritage conservation, starting from the project inception stage.

Week 05 / Session 05

25 February 2021

1c YOU ARE THE BOSS

A business plan serves as a road-map that provides direction to the business.

It describes the nature of the business, background information on the company, financial projections, and the strategies to achieve the stated targets.

Business plans may be internally or externally focused. Externally-focused plans draft goals that are important to outside stakeholders, particularly financial stakeholders.

HOW TO OBTAIN FINANCE?

It is common for the initial costs of establishing the practice to be secured from a combination of these. Once a loan/overdraft facility has been agreed the new practice will need to open a bank account(s), usually with the lending bank.

For Government’s Submission

• Greening Ratio requirements
  

• Tree Preservation and Tree Removal applications should be acquired in advance
  

Resignation of staffs

• Ensure the project duty and skill set or client liaison is not solely rely on one individual member

Cash Flow

• Clear invoicing structure
  

• Be aware of the tax systems in different countries

Company Perspective

Professional indemnity insurance

e.g. the client of the company suffers a severe financial loss and files a claim for compensation against the construction firm.

In this case, a Professional Indemnity Insurance policy would normally provide coverage for the costs of the legal defense, and the liability of the construction company towards their customer's financial loss.

Employee’s Perspective:

Employees compensation insurance (mandatory)

Third-party insurance

Medical insurance (Not legally mandatory)

Week 04 / Session 04

11 February 2021

1b WHERE DO YOU WORK?

The presentation of the group's students selected six interns after graduation from the Hongkong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese mainland, and occupation life provided the train of thought for finding the most suitable way for us in the future. The selected students have the typical characteristics of today's landscape architecture graduates, so that we can find some attributes similar to our personal situation, learn from the knowledge points, and reflect in the real-time interview.

1.0 PUBLIC SECTOR - MAINLAND CHINA:

STATE-OWNED LOCAL DESIGN INSTITUTE (LDI)

& GOVERNMENT BUREAUS

Public Sector (LDI) - Mainland China

There are around 2,000 LDIs across China. Each of them owns a construction design certificate issued by the Ministry of Construction, signs off on construction projects in the country, approves design and drawings regardless of sector. The Chinese LDIs are divided into two categories, either civil or industrial.

1) Civil LDIs

2) Industrial LDIs

Public Sector (Government Bureau) - Mainland China

The government bureaus and departments are the major components of the Public Sector in Mainland China. Some of the most famous examples are the Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development of the People's Republic of China (MOHURD), Urban Management and Law Enforcement, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, and Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

2.0 DESIGN-RELATED INDUSTRIES:

REAL ESTATE AGENCY

3.0 PRIVATE SECTOR:

LARGE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY

PRIVATE CONSULTANCY

A private enterprise refers to a profit-making economic organization whose means of production are privately owned and which employs more than eight people. There are three types of private enterprises:

Sole proprietorship.

Limited liability company.

Partnership.

Three different private enterprises can give us more choices. I understand the advantages and disadvantages of different enterprises, so as to make a better choice after graduation in the future.

4.0 NGO'S, COMMUNITY,

& ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

5.0 PRIVATE SECTOR:

SMALL PRIVATE

CONSULTANCY

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are legally constituted corporations that operate independently from any form of government and generally are not conventional for-profit businesses. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives from membership in the organization.

6.0 PUBLIC SECTOR:

GOVERNMENT BUREAUS

AND DEPARTMENTS

Government Bureaus and Departments – Hong Kong

The private sector often refers to the public portion of the economy shared by government and governmental companies.

7.0 PUBLIC SECTOR:

ENTERPRISES

Public Sector (Enterprises) - Hong Kong

The public sector of Hong Kong is also shared by governmental companies and state-owned enterprises, even though the amount of them are relatively small, comparing to those located in Mainland China.

8.0 PUBLIC SECTOR:

STATUTORY BODIES

Statutory Bodies – Hong Kong The specific responsibilities of landscape-related departments in statutory bodies are different, but they perform various statutory functions in accordance with relevant laws. For example, the Urban Renewal Authority of Hong Kong focuses on improving the urban environment and infrastructure.

Week 03 / Session 03

04 February 2021

ARE YOU A LANDSCAPE

1.Being a Professional

Definition of a Professional.

The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA)

Landscape Architects Registration Ordinance (LARO) CAP. 516

Landscape Architects Registration Board (LARB)

Constitution and By-laws of The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects

Professional Practice Examination Categories of Membership

2.OBLIGATIONS OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT BEYOND HONG KONG

3.CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

4.THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

5.CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

CPD Plans

Why is CPD Important?

6. CATEGORIES OF RESPONSIBILITY

7.0PROFESSIONAL LIABILITIES OF A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Liability in the Tort of Negligence

Liability for Breach of Contract

Liability as a Member of a Practice

Personal Liability of Employees

Liability in Government

Vicarious Liability

Statutory Liability

Employer's Liability

Occupier’s Liability

8.0 LIABILITY MITIGATION

So we followed the landscape architects in Hong Kong to visit the real company and project development. Get to know some details more specifically.Rules of professional behaviour established by controlling professional bodies in order to regulate the actions of their members.

Say NO when ethically impossible!

As a landscape architect, always be careful about what I can say, what I can do, what I can't do.

Landscape Architecture firm organization structure :

the real project we can actually know about the detail responsibility of being landscape architect.

Week 02 / Session 02

28 January 2021

INTRODUCE ME!

After 2min short video introduction from our teammates, we are more close to each other and knowing better about their experience and characteristics in order to do better teamwork. I really think introduce ourselves in the team work is quiet important. Not only for communication and cooperation, but also for the harmonies of the whole year round teamwork.

Week 01 / Session 01

21 January 2021

INTRODUCTION

First time we put ourselves into a random selected team, we can get in touch with others who we are not quiet familiar with in the past. This can help us to improve ourselves and to open our boarder.