Q1 (a) Using the PESTEL Framework, identify which of the factors are impacting the industry in which your organization is categorized and how.
ECMC Ltd is a privately-owned multi-disciplinary company providing consulting services mainly in civil, structural and forensic engineering; construction management; building surveying, commercial and residential property valuation; project cycle management; land development, preparation of business plans and agri-business advisory services (ECMC Ltd). As indicated above, the company provides a range of services; which generally fall into the engineering and construction industries.
A PESTEL analysis is a framework or tool used to analyse and monitor the macro-environmental (external environment) factors that have an impact on an organisation (Professional Academy). The factors of PESTEL include political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors.
Having conducted research on the local engineering and construction industries in Saint Lucia, I believe that the political, economic, technological, environmental and legal factors impact the industries the most. The impact of each factor is described in more detail as follows:
Political factor: One of the first major policies initiated by the current government (Saint Lucia Labour Party) post the November 2011 general elections was a construction stimulus package which was launched in August 2012. According to Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, “the package offers several incentives including reduced prices on building material by up to 40 per cent, reduced fees associated with new mortgages for residential and commercial construction as well as soft financing for these projects.” (Caribbean Elections Today, 2012). This stimulus package was supposed to have “…. addressed some of the worst financial conditions now being experienced here….” (Caribbean Elections Today, 2012); it was also supposed to have boosted employment levels in...