Module Three Construction Management Notes-1
Module Three Construction Management Notes-1
POINTS
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT II
INTRODUCTION;
This module unit involves the study of management techniques in the building
industry. It is designed to provide the trainee with essential knowledge, skills and
attitude in management.
Before going through this module unit, the trainee should have covered general
building technology in module 1.
General objectives;
By the end of the module unit, the trainee should be able to;
55
TOTAL
TOPIC ONE
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Theory
Specific objectives;
By the end of the sub module unit, the trainee should be able to;
a) Explain the project management cycle
b) Understand the concepts of work study
c) Explain the stages of contract planning and programming
d) Outline the procedure of procuring materials
Competence
Content
Project phases
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Controlling
- Closing
Work study
- Meaning
- Method study
- Work
- Measurement
- Material handling
- Site layout
Contract planning
- Planning stages
- Pre-tender
- Pre-contract
- Contract programme
- Calculation sheets
- Based on BQ
- Based on actual measurement
- Programming methods
- Bar charts
- Critical path network
- Pert
Material procurement
- Materials computation
- Ordering
- Supplying
- Documentation
- Storage
- Control and security
Practice
Specific objectives;
By the end of the sub module unit, the trainee should be able to;
a) Develop a construction programme cycle
b) Prepare calculation sheets Efficiently
Content
- Contract planning
- Materials
- Procurement
TOPIC TWO
LAW
Specific objectives;
By the end of the sub-module unit, the trainee should be able to;
PERSONNEL
Specific objectives
Recruitment
- Sources of labour
- Job description
- Job specification
- Interviewing and selection
Training techniques
- Lecture
- Demonstration
- Discussion
- Text reading
- Seminars
- Field works
Staff appraisal
- Meaning
- Purpose
- Methods
Industrial relations
- Meaning and importance
- Causes of disputes
- Grievances procedures
TOPIC 4
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Specific objectives;
TOPIC ONE;
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Management cycle
- Initiation
- Planning
- Execution
- Controlling
- Closure
Initiation
Steps for the project initiation phase may include the following;
Planning
- Creating a project plan: identify the project timeline including the phases of
the project, the tasks to be performed and possible constraints.
- Creating work flow diagrams: visualize your processes using swim lanes to
make sure team members clearly understand their roles in a project.
- Estimating budget and creating a financial plan: use cost estimates to
determine how much to spend on the project to get maximum return on
investment.
- Gathering resources
Build your functional team from internal and external talents pools while
making sure everyone has the necessary tools (software, hardware e.t.c) to
complete their tasks
Closure
Steps for the project closure phase may include the following;
- Analyzing project performance; determine whether the project’s goals
were met (task completed, on time and on budget) and the initial problem
solved using a prepared checklist.
- Analyzing team performance; evaluate how team members performed,
including whether they met their goals along with timeliness and quality of
work.
- Documenting project closure: Make sure that all aspects of the project are
completed with no loose ends remaining and providing reports to key
stakeholders
- Conducting post-implementation reviews; conduct a final analysis of the
project, taking into account lessons learned for similar projects in the
future.
- Accounting for used and unused budget : allocate remaining resources for
future projects
WORK STUDY
Work study is a means of enhancing production efficiency (productivity) of the firm by
elimination of waste and unnecessary operations. It is a technique to identify non-value adding
operations by investigation of all the factors affecting the job.
Advantages of work study
It helps to reduce the cost of the product by;
- Eliminating waste and unnecessary operations.
- Better worker-management relations.
- Meets the delivery commitment
- Reduction in rejections and scrap and higher utilization of resources of the organization
History of work study
The development of “work study” has been a constant process over the centuries with man
endeavoring to find and improve ways of doing his daily work. Many of these developments did
not cause great benefits on their own but have, with the passing of time been collected and used
by men with wide vision to produce results and labour conditions of a very high order.
Benefits;
To the organization
- The reducing of costs resulting in bigger profits
- More competitive tendering
- Better control of the management
- Better use of resources
- Collectively a better service to clients
To the supervisor
- More efficient planning
- Better control
- Fewer bonus target disagreements
- Easier overall supervision
- A more rewarding job
To the operative
- Better working conditions
- Satisfactory bonus targets- steady high income
- Less fatigue
- Happier atmosphere and site relationship with foreman
- More security- company successful
Generally work study is considered under one method study and two work measurement as
illustrated in figure one
Work study
METHOD STUDY
This in simple terms, is the study and recording of an existing or proposed way of doing work
and by careful and critical examination of the recording produces an easier and more effective
way of doing it. Figure two shows the outline of the procedure with various stages in order of
study.
1. Select the work or activity to be studied
2. Record the existing or proposed methods of work are observed and data recorded by :
(a) String diagram (b) Process chart (c) Flow diagram (d) Multiple activity chart
4. Develop – from the examination of results the most economical and efficient method
best suited for the particular situation
6. Install – new method into operation making sure everyone knows their new role
7. Maintain- make sure system does not slip back into old method.
= ALL THESE IS GEARED AT HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY
Process chart
This is a form of recording information by use of five easily understandable symbols. The
symbols represent the activities of procedure or work method and show quite simply a visual
step in a present or proposed method work.
Types of charts using these symbols are;
a) Outline process charts
This chart is used as the name suggests to record a broad outline of a procedure, especially useful
in showing the collection of material or procedures to makeup a whole unit as in fig 5 only
operation and inspection are shown
b) Flow process charts
These are used to develop and expand the problems with the aid of the other symbols; transport,
delays, storage, a typical example is shown in fig 6. This chart can be made to record the
movement of men or material
c) Flow diagrams
Drawn on a scaled plan and used as a supplement of the flow process chart, show the path of
material or operatives by the use of a line joining the process symbols together. A simple
diagram can be seen in fig 7 and shows how it could supplement fig 6.
Fig 4 SYMBOLS USED IN METHOD STUDY
RECORDING
SYMBOL ACTIVITY MEANING
Operation A productive activity that will bring completion
nearer e.g. laying a brick, knocking in a nail.
Inspection Examining – checking quantity or quality. E.g.
measuring opening, plumbing up.
Transport A movement of plant, labour or material. e.g. pushing
a barrow, hoist by crane.
Delay A delay or temporary storage when next operation
cannot take place e.g. hoist waiting to be loaded.
storage Material kept and protected until wanted for use.
e.g. cement in silo, brick stacks
Combined activity Two activities performed at the same time or by the
same operator e.g. loading aggregates, into weigh
batches
Fig 5
Outline process chart
Study no ……… charted by …………….. Date ……………………
Sheet no ………
Operation description; batching & mixing concrete
Chart ends; mixed materials (concrete) discharge
Man Material, equipment
3-5
5-4 2 1
Water to Fill & weigh Load hopper Load hopper
mixer check
guage
1
Check weight Check weight
Charge
4 drum
6 Mixing time
5 Check mix
7 Discharge
Summary : Operation 7
Inspection 5
Flow process chart
Study no ………… chartered by …………………. Date ………………..
Sheet no ………….
Operation description; offloading of sinks into storage compound
Man/material/equipment
Present/proposed method
description quantity distance time operation inspection transport storage delay Remarks
Takes to stores
Checked
Return barrow
WORK MEASUREMENT
This is used to establish the time taken to do a specific task and is a complimentary technique of
method study. The aim is to cut ineffective time, with the workers effort, production and
conditions of work being related to the necessary relations allowances to ensure that undue
fatigue does not occur. It is believed by many that work measurement cannot be operated on the
building site because of the many variables that occur such as the changes in climatic conditions,
different types of materials, varying conditions of work and so on.
This is not the case for there are many occasions when, by work measurement, operatives‟
ineffective time can be shown to exist and a new system developed also the time studied
operations provide an excellent base for competitive estimating, planning, costing and the
forming of sound incentive schemes.
Fig 8
OUTLINE PROCEDURE OF WORK MEASUREMENT
WORK MEASUREMENT
2.measure – all the relevant data after break down into elements
4. Compile- times for each operation with all the allowances added.
6. Install Unit
7. Maintain
NB: All these efforts are geared at a highest productivity
Time study this can be carried out quite often by the use of an ordinary wrist watch or stop watch
and is possibly the most useful form of work measurement used in the building industry, it can
be used on both single operations or gangs as required. Stages in time study are;
(i) Timing
(ii) Rating
(iii) Normalizing
(iv) Allowances
Timing – the actual taking of the time to complete an operation. The degree of accuracy in
timing will depend upon the task being recorded. The operations are first broken into
elements (operating parts) and the time to do each separate element is recorded on prepared
sheets
Checked ……………….
Element W O B Element W O B
description R R T T description R R T T
This means that every element is converted by multiplying the appropriate rating to a normal
time.
Example; if an element took 1.4 min and was given a rating of 90, the basic time would be:
1.4 x 90 ( scale 0/100)
100
This time of 1.26 min represents the time it would take if the operator was working at a normal
rate “Mr. Average”
Allowances – these allowances can be divided into two groups;
a) Process allowances
b) Rest allowances
A process or unavoidable delay allowance is given so that the worker will not lose earnings due
to an enforced delay over which he has no control, eg. The cleaning of tools or plant
Rest allowances vary with every performance and conditions of work, and psychologically fit to
perform an operation for the allocated time. The allowance is in fact sometimes timed “fatigue
allowance”
Contingency allowance
This is a special allowance applied to various tasks that have to be carried out by the worker who
will not be doing a productive job; as an example, a joiner to sharpening saw or chisels.
These allowances should not exceed 5% and should only be applied to justifiable cases
Allowed time;
A final time allowance for a task can now be ascertained by the simple calculation shown;
Example;
Basic time - 1.26 min
RST allowance - 30%
Contingency allowance - 2%
Standard time = basic time x (100 + total% allowance)
100
= 1.26 x 132 = 1.66 (say 1.7) Standard minutes
100
CONTRACT PLANNING
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES;
At the end of this topic, the trainee should be able to;
a) Explain the planning stages involved in the construction process
b) Use calculation sheets in programme preparation
c) Prepare construction programmes
Planning stages involved in the construction process
i) Pre-tender planning
ii) Estimate build up
iii) Decision to tender
iv) Site to site report
v) Enquiries to sub-contractors and supplier
vi) Method statements
vii) Pre-tender programme
viii) Preliminaries build up
ix) Estimate adjudication
x) Analysis of results
i) Pre-contract planning
Pre-tender planning
Estimate build up
Decision to tender
Site visit report
Enquiries to sub-contractors and supplier
Method statements
Pre-tender programme
Preliminaries build up
Estimate adjudication
Analysis of results
i) Contract planning
Monthly and six week planning
Weekly planning
Daily planning
Progress reporting
Updating of progress
Programme calculation sheets
i) Calculation sheets based on bill of quantities
ii) Calculation sheets based on act of measurement
Construction programming methods
i) Need for programme charts
ii) Programmed operations
iii) Ban charts
iv) Critical path network
Pre-tender planning
Much of the builders work is obtained through the process of tendering and if a builder is to stay
in business, his estimates have to be competitive and in good number for them to be successful.
In the estimation of work, all facts that are possible to gather should be collected and critically
examined for the project to be achieved.
Pre-tender planning needs to be planned so that a systematic approach can be made to ensure that
all information and facts are gathered on time. A typical example of this procedure is as follows;
1. The pre-tender report (site investigation)
2. Method statement
3. Plant schedule
4. Site organization on costs
5. Sub-contractors and supplies
6. Outline programmes
7. Final estimates (for board‟s decision)
Pre-tender report
A document complied to show in as comprehensive form as possible all information regarding
the area and general site conditions. A report is shown and is usually carried out under the
control of the planning department.
The estimates may of course add questions that he deems necessary relating to a particular
project onto the standard document which is usually used and developed by the individual
company. This is a task that can be carried out in a gurry and great care is necessary to ensure
that facts are reported and that waiting is overlooked.
Example of a pretender report
MUGOYA CONSTRUCTION CO LTD
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
SITE INVESTIGATION REPORT
PROJECT CONSTRUCTION OF NYAMBENE TEA FACTORY
Prepared by …………………………………………….…… DATE ……………………
1. SITE;
General description
Local authority
Access
Crossovers
Temporary roads
Distance of site from main road
Working space for sitting offices, etc.
Trespass precautions
2. SUB-STRATA
Types of soil
Stability
Anticipated water table
Source of water
Pumping
Disposal of water
METHOD STATEMENT
Basically this indicates how the project is to be built, what plant is to be used and so on. Each
stage of the operations is studied to find the best method of completing it, carefully weighing the
various alternative methods that could be adopted. Consideration has to be given as to whether
we require the cheapest or the fastest method, very often not one or the same, for it may be
expedient to spend a little extra at one stage to finish early so that other operations can be started.
METHOD STATEMENT
CONTRACT NO …………….
Only required
for first 10
weeks
PLANT SCHEDULE
This is carried out on the completion of the method statement and is a detailed summary of all
the plant and equipment required to build a project, giving as much relevant details as possible.
PLANT SCHEDULE
CONTRACT …………………….…….. PREPARED BY ………………
CONTRACT NO …………………..…..
SHEET NO ………………………….….. DATE ……………………
Estimate; with all the information now available, the estimator can begin to allocate prices to
items in the bill of quantities, estimating not only to direct cost e.g. site supervisory staff, general
overheads etc.
Upon the completion of the estimate, the estimator will prevent persons concerned with
finalizing the tender, e.g. board of directors, construction manager, with a summary of the
estimate with costs, enabling them to give approval or otherwise.
After the final completion and vetting of the estimate, a figure is agreed and submitted. The
estimated price can now be put forward as the tender figure. This price when received by the
architect is not in any way a form of contract but will be referred to as the contract figure when
the successful builder has been selected.
Pre-contract planning
If the builder is successful in his tender and is asked to undertake the project, upon signing the
contract documents he will be allowed a short period of time to make preparation and organize
his resources before actual commencement of work. This period of time is called pre-contract
period and will vary in time with the size and nature of the project.
Meetings become the order of the day within this period; meetings between architect, client and
builder between planning department and other departments within the organization and so on.
The new service site supervisor will be concerned with most of them for he is the one who will
have to deal with all parties and problems on site. If he can get to grips with things before work
gets underway, many of these problems may never arise.
Major items dealt with at pre-tender planning would include;
i) Site layout and general organization
ii) Labour and plant requirements finalized
iii) Contract programme prepared
Contract programme
An essential detail of any project is to ensure completion within the time specified. The more
complex the job, the more difficult this becomes as so many more things can go wrong. To help
prevent problems arising in the form of delays and general coordination a master plan is prepared
to show all the concerned with the project what should happen , when it should happen and by
whom it is carried out. This master plan can be prepared by the use of several forms of planning
techniques and will result, whatever method is adopted in a visual diagram of project activities
and other related information.
The outline programme (pre-tender plan) worked out in the pre-tender stage will be used as a
foundation in the preparation of the more detailed master plan. The decision and careful
examination of all aspects of work at this stage will most certainly result in the saving of money
and time in the project period.
Preparation of programme
To access the duration of an element, the itemized details produced by the quantity surveyor in
the bill will be collected under a general heading. For example, under the heading of “BRICK
WORK” would also be collected damp proof course reveals to openings, placing of airbricks and
lintels etc. It will be realized that these items will have an effect on the output per hour in laying
bricks and it is the planners job to assess this output. This will occur for all project elements and
takes the form of a calculation sheet.
CALCULATION SHEET
CONTRACT …………………………….. PREPARED BY …………………..
CONTRACT NO ……………………..….
SHEET NO ………………………………. DATE ……………………………..
Activity Quantity Output Production Lab/plant Duration in Remarks
hours requirements days
Concrete 58m3 1.2m3/hr 48 7NT mixer
6
foundations 6 labourers
NB/ Great care must be exercised when considering outputs so that realistic targets can be set.
An invaluable guide is the information obtainable from records of past work of similar nature,
alternatively work study figures.
Cost must also be considered when method of work is being decided upon to ensure that the
method chosen is the most economical in the circumstances.
Information
To enable the planner to make realistic assessment of the operation, he will call upon the
historical information and records obtained from past projects ( this is one of the main reasons
for information being fed back to head office). Having determined the element time, starting and
finishing date, is necessary to communicate this information. This is generally done by setting
out the master programme in the form of;
1. Bar or Gantt chart
2. Arrow network ( critical path diagram)
Whichever method is used, certain characteristics of a good plan are essential to both;
- It should be based on clearly defined objectives
- It should be simple to understand
- It should be flexible, so that alterations and alternatives can be made
- It should provide standards so that control can be maintained
- It should provide standards so that control can be maintained
- It should provide a suitable balance of work, so that labour once off the job need not to
return.
- All resources should be used to their fullest extent and not left standing waiting for other
activities to be completed.
The use of these network techniques is mainly limited to the more complex construction projects
to which the major firms appear to be more successful in tendering. The application is far
reaching and can be applied to the simplest of work but which unfortunately to few individuals
have attempted to apply in a real situation, the attitude being that the bar chart is an easy
technique to learn and to apply to those at site level.
The most cost conscious managers see the critical path network as a superior control document
to the bar chart because the effect of a delay in one activity over successful ones can be seen
more readily.
SYMBOLS USED IN NETWORK: CRITICAL PATH METHOD
1. Activities or operations
These are denoted by arrows, the length of which generally is immaterial. One activity which
takes two days could have a representative arrow which is the same as an activity requiring 20
days to complete. Usually the activity name is printed above the arrow, while the realistic
expected duration is shown or printed below.
(DURATION) 2 DAYS
2. NODES OR EVENTS
These denote the start and finish of a planned activity and are shown at the beginning and end of
each arrow. In order that an activity can be identified, each node/event is allotted a number.
3 5
The use of a dummy is given in the example below where two activities have identical reference
number i.e. drains activity (3-4) excavate foundations (3-4)
Drains
3 4
Excavate Foundations
This could lead to confusion, so an alternative better system is by the use of a dummy
3 4
Also considering the example below in this diagram, the activity (18-20) cannot commence until
activity (17-18) finishes, also activity (16-19)
17 18 20
16 19 21
NETWORK PREPARATION
As in bar charts, it would be advisable to prepare a method statement to show at least the job
broken down into operations which would indicate the extent of work to be undertaken.
Similarly durations of each of the operations would be determined by the preparation and use of
a calculation sheet. The queries which should be asked when setting out the network of a project
are:
1. What controls the start of each activity?
2. What controls the finish of/the end of the project?
3. What job(s) can be done before the next activity starts?
4. What job(s) must follow the activity?
5. What job(s) can run concurrently?
The following are typical examples of the sequences which may be found in network analysis
and should be thoroughly understood before attending arrow diagrams in full.
1. Activity X depends upon activities A&B
B Y
B Y
4. Activity Y depends upon activities A&B and activity X depends upon A only
A X
B Y
A X
C Y
6. Activity X depends upon A&B, activity Z depends upon activities B&C and activity Y
depends upon B only
A X
B Y
C Z
7. Activity Z depends upon activities A,B&C activity X upon A only and activity Y upon
A&B
A X
B Y
C Z
8. Activity Y depends upon activities A,B &C, activity X depends upon A only and
activity Z depends upon activity C only.
A X
B Y
C Z
Act. E
Step 2: when logical satisfactory network has been complied, the event numbers are inserted to
identify each activity. Also the duration in (days, weeks, months, or years) are extracted from the
calculation sheet along with the proposed gang and plant, and these are included to the
appropriate activity.
Earliest starting time
Latest starting time
4
C
4
.A .B .D . F G
1 3 2 6 3 2 5 3 67 7
E
6
KEY
EST - Earliest Starting Time EFT- Earliest Finishing Time
LST - Latest Starting Time LFT – latest Finishing Time
Step 3: it is now essential to calculate the earliest starting time for each activity by commencing
at activity one and two:
(a) The earliest starting time is the beginning of day one which is 0. This is inserted in the left
hand box above the first event. Therefore the earliest finishing time for activity (1-2) is
calculated by adding its duration and earliest starting time i.e. earliest finishing time =
0+3=3 days (insert this in second event)
(b) Earliest starting time for activity (2-3) is the earliest finishing time of the preceding
activity, which is day 3. Therefore earliest finishing time=3+6=day 9.
(c) The earliest starting time for activity (3-4)is the earliest finishing time for the preceding
activity which is day 9. Therefore earliest finishing time=9+4=day 13.
(d) The earliest starting time for activity (3-5) is the earliest finishing time for the preceding
activity which is day 9. Therefore earliest finishing time = day 11
NB/ As activity (5-6) cannot start until after both activities (3-4) and (3-5) have been completed,
the earliest starting time that activity (5-6) can commence is day 13. This is inserted in the event
for the earliest finishing time for activity D.
Bearing this example in mind, one always considers the longest route which has to be taken until
the last activity is reached.
Step 4: now calculate the latest starting and latest finishing times by commencing at the last
activity and working back to the first activity, remembering this time that the shortest route back
should be taken as follows
Earliest starting time
Latest starting time
4
C
4
0 0 3 3 9 9 13 13 16 16 23 23
.A .B .D . F G
1 3 2 6 3 2 5 3 67 7
E
6
(a) The latest finishing time for activity (6-7) will be the same as the earliest finishing time
i.e. day 23. Therefore the latest starting time of activity (6-7) will be the duration
deducted from the latest finishing time i.e. day 23-7=16
(b) The latest finishing time for activity (5-6) will be the latest starting time for activity (6-7)
therefore the latest starting time for activity (5-6) is the latest finishing time less the
duration which is day 16-3=day 13
(c) The latest finishing time for activity (3-5) will be the latest starting time for activity (5-6)
therefore the latest starting time for activity (3-5) is the latest finishing time less the
duration which is day 13-2=day 11
NB/ Activity (3-6) has the latest starting time for the day which is 16-6=day 10 activity (3-4) has
the latest starting time which is day 13-4=day 9 this figure fixes the latest starting time above
event 3. Bearing this in mind, one always considers the shortest route back until the first activity
is reached.
Step 5: The critical path can be drawn on the chart through the arrows whose starting and
finishing times are the same. The “darker” line. The darker line on the network denotes the
critical path. It is the route which shows the activities or operations on a job which are critical
under no circumstance must there be delays in completing these activities otherwise the
contractor‟s duration will be extended.
FLOATING TIMES
From the diagrams and the analysis, it will be seen that, if the earliest starting times are deducted
from the latest finishing times, some activities have a greater length of time for carrying out the
activity than the work quantities required. The spare time in each case is called the “TOTAL
FLOAT”. The total float for each activities is calculated as follows:
CRITICAL PATH
Where there is a 0 float against an activity, this activity will be a critical item. This means that
such an item must not be delayed otherwise it will delay the whole project. This activities will
form a continuous chain through the network and this chain is called “THE CRITICAL PATH”.
There may be more than one critical path in a network.
ACTIVITY SHEET
ACTIVITY DURATION EARLIEST LATEST TOTAL CRITICAL
Starting Finishing Starting Finishing FLOAT ACTIVITY
A (1-2) 3 0 3 0 3 0
B (2-3) 6 3 9 3 9 0
C (3-4) 4 9 13 9 13 0
D (3-5) 2 9 13 9 13 2 X
E (3-6) 6 9 16 9 16 1 X
F (5-6) 3 13 16 13 16 0
G (6-7) 7 16 23 16 23 0
ASSIGNMENT 1:
B 3 F
10 13
A E H I
1 2 5 6 7
15 14 14 2
C 8 G
12 28
ASSIGNMENT 2:
Seven operations A, B, C, D, E, and F&G are to be programmed in a network diagram. From the
following example, construct a network showing their sequence
Activity E relies on A
B relies on A
C relies on B
F relies on E
D relies on E & C
G relies on D & F
If the time for the activities are:
A=3WKS, B=4WKS C=4WKS D=3WKS E=10WKS F=1WK G=2WKS
1. Calculate the total float and determine the critical path
MATERIAL PROCUREMENT
Specific objectives
At the end of this topic, the trainee should be able to;
a) Calculate amount of material to be ordered
b) Prepare documents used in ordering and supply of materials
c) Identify correct methods of storing materials
d) Maintain proper records for the purpose of material control
e) Exercise proper control in the use of materials
f) Maintain security in connection with materials
Records of materials
- Materials record book
- Materials transfer forms
- Inventories
- Materials delivery board
Storage of materials
- Timber
- Cement
- Sand and ballast
- Pipes
- Sheet metal
- Scaffold tubes and fittings
- Small articles
- Reinforcements
Materials control records
- Issue of materials
- Schedules
Security of materials
- Stores
- Watchman
- Fencing and hoarding
- Site lighting
- Security alarms
Materials computation
The materials used in construction work are usually calculated from the following;
- Drawings and specification
- Bill of quantities
Ordering procedure
Documents relating to ordering should always be in triplicate or even more
depending on the system;
- top copy – to supplier
- second copy- either to yard store man or to site
- third copy – retained for filing by the purchasing department
- fourth copy- may be sent to the account‟s office for checking invoices
Cement
Cement in bags absorb moisture if not stored well in a dry, airtight place. Water
absorption leads to loss of strength. A good cement which still retains its maximum
strength is warm to the touch and contains no lumps of hardened powder. A lump
of cement should not be crushed into powder and used for concrete because it has
already lost its original strength.
Cement should therefore be stored well and the following methods should be
adopted
i) Store all bagged cement in a water-tight shed with a sound, dry floor. If
the floor is not dry as is the case on most sides, construct a floor raised on
bolds standing on building blocks so as to raise the cement bags above
the moist ground. In a large shed, cover the cement with plastic sheeting.
Make sure the roof of the shed does not leak.
ii) On small jobs, cement may be stored in the open. Ensure that the cement
is raised on timbers clear off the ground and covered in tarpaulin sheet
iii) Nowadays, large contractors benefit from the use of cement silos for bulk
storage of cement on site. The silos are portable and offer ease of
handling. Silos are completely weather proof, wastage due to broken bags
is eliminated and pilfering, which has always been a major concern of
builders become impossible.
Soil/waste pipes
These are pipes which are used to drain used water from houses. Soil water is that
which carries human waste (urine& faeces) and waste water is the one which
carries used water from the kitchen and washing areas. The pipes are made from
different types of materials including;
a) Cast-iron
b) Clay
c) Pvc
d) Pitch-fibre
e) Concrete etc.
NB/ It is only pvc drainage pipes which are commonly available in the market.
They are available in a number of sizes and it is good to store them in a rack
according to their sizes. This is important so as to be able to retrieve them easily.
Service pipes
These are basically pipes used to convey water to houses. They are chiefly
available in two categories:
i) Mild steel
ii) Pvc
It is good to store them in a rack raised above the ground and according to their
sizes
Sheet metal
These are either plain or corrugated and are chiefly used for roof work. They are
best stored in a rack for plain sheet and on an inclined surface for corrugated
sheets.
Glass
As in plain sheet, store in an inclined surface.
Small articles
Include boxes of tiles, screws, nails, clips etc. store under lock and key
Scaffold tubes and fittings
-Store as in pipes
- Reinforcements
-Store as in pipes but according to their sizes for ease of retrieval.
Control in material used
Wastage – a big problem in most building sites is the large amount of material that
due to varying circumstances become classed as waste. Basically this is the
problem of the site supervisory staff to control and whenever possible eliminate; it
requires a supervisor to be constantly on the lookout for loss.
A little success will be achieved if the operatives do not play their part and so it
should constantly be impressed upon them the importance and value of all
materials. How then can waste be reduced?
a) Ensure that materials are delivered as required so that site storage time is cut
to a minimum. This requires careful phasing of deliveries between site and
supplier.
b) Ensure that materials delivered are those specified for the job.
c) Issue just the right amount of materials with only a reasonable allowance for
wastage to workmen.
d) Ensure that workmen are not producing excessive amounts of (offcuts).
e) Allocate and prepare storage areas this can be done by marking on the site,
plan the exact layout of all materials storage areas; giving each a code
number or letter; and then marking this area out on site with pegs or similar
showing the equivalent code/letter
f) Make sure that when materials are stored they do not deteriorate
g) Collect waste, e.g. half bricks and use to prevent more cutting- a few by each
brick layers‟ spot will suffice
CONTROL
The prime function here is to ensure that materials are ordered in good time and
that, a very close watch is kept upon planned delivery dates. Schedules are required
here that quick reference can be made as to when and from whom deliveries are
required.
Materials in short supply or late delivery should be chased up immediately, with
possible alternative material or supplies being sought.
Control on site must be exercised in respect of waste, deterioration, pilfering and
misuse. Careful checks should be made to ensure correctness of orders and that
materials delivered can be properly stored and unnecessary handling avoided.
Standard quality of materials should be maintained through checking against
samples or specifications. Many materials used on site can be tested quite simply
without the use of expensive laboratory facilities.
Acceptable wastage
Although a form of waste can be considered detrimental, it is inevitable on site that
we cannot avoid them. Examples of wastages on site are;
a) Cement- loss during mixing and placing
b) Timber – loss when cutting to size
c) Paint – loss in part used tins
d) Floor tiles- loss in cutting and fitting
These can be termed acceptable wastage and allowance made in estimating and
purchasing. Some control is possible to ensure a minimum waste occurs, thus:
- Control deliveries to avoid accumulation
- Avoid double handling
- Control issue of materials to exact amount
- Mark out storage and stacking areas
- Keep the site tidy so that discarded materials or items do not show up on
untidy site. Anything could be waste
- Protect materials against deterioration
- Organize collection and re-distribution of offcuts
Unacceptable wastage
Loss by pilfering or theft is waste, proper security is essential. Control is key factor
in prevention;
a) Keep small expensive items in lockable stores in charge of a store keeper
b) Keep records of delivery and stock
c) Keep records of issue and names of persons using materials
d) Maintain regular stock checks
e) Compounds and sheds kept locked
f) Check vehicles in and out
g) Control private car packing
h) Provide Flood lights and askaris at night
i) Come up with a method of controlling keys
TOPIC: LAW
Statutory authority
Where a statute authorizes a particular act, a person who does it is not liable in tort.
The authorization of an act is also an authorization of its natural consequences. But
the person acting must do so in good faith and within the scope of the powers
conferred by the statute, or else it will not be protected. Where the person acting
exceeds the powers conferred by the statute, the compensation payable by him to
the injured party cannot be more than what is provided by the statute itself. The
statute may stipulate a definite sum, or it may give powers to certain officials to
assess the loss suffered by the injured party. Thus, where a person has acted in
pursuance of the provisions of a statute, he may plead statutory authority in this
defence and where statute doesn‟t protect him from liability (e.g. where he has
exceeded the powers) and the injured party claims by way of compensation a sum
in excess of that stipulated by the statute, he may plead the statute in mitigation.
This is especially so in what are known as statutory torts.
Exemption clauses (or disclaimers)
As already seen, torts are common law wrongs based on certain duties imposed by
law. This is different from contract where the duties imposed on the parties are
created by the parties themselves. For this reason a strict construction is imposed
by common law on any exemption clause whose support is to displace a duty of
case created by law. Thus, under the “contra proferentem rule” an exemption
clause which does not expressly cover negligence can not protect the party seeking
to rely on it an action based on negligence. But where the exemption clause is
phrased in such a way that a duty imposed by law is expressly displaced, then the
exemption clause may be relied upon as a defence to an action brought in tort.
Trespass
There are 3 types of trespass;
- Trespass to land
- Trespass to the persons
- Trespass to goods
Trespass is actionable per i.e. without proof of any damage- once it is established
that a trespass has been committed, the plaintiff is entitled to legal redress, whether
or not he has suffered damage, the actual damage suffered (if any) merely gauges
the extent of the redress entitled to. Trespass, as such is a classic damno”. It is in
this fact that distinguishes it from negligence which is actionable only upon proof
of damage.
Trespass to land
Trespass to land is committed where the plaintiff‟s possession of land is
wrongfully interfered with. It is the fact of possession rather than ownership that
is important as such the plaintiff may be anyone in possession of the land,
whether he is the owner or tenant. Wrongful interference with possession in
relation to the plaintiff‟s land may take the form of wrongfully remaining on it,
or wrongfully placing or projecting any material object on it.
Remedies
- Damages ; the plaintiff may recover monetary compensation from the
defendant the extent of which depends on the effect of the defendant‟s act on
the value of the land in question.
- Ejection ; we saw earlier on that a person is entitled to use reasonable force to
defend his property. Thus, where a person wrongfully enters or remains on
another‟s land, he may be ejected using unreasonable force may entail
liability for assault. An ejection may also be based on a court order (an
eviction order)
- Action for recovery of land- the plaintiff may bring an action to recover his
land from the defendant where there has been a wrongful dispossession. It is
common for such action to be coupled with the above two remedies.
- Injunction – in addition to the above remedies an injunction may be obtained
to ward off a threatened trespass or to prevent the continuous of an existing
one.
- Distress damage feasant- in the case of trespass by placing things on land (or
in the case of chattel trespass the plaintiff has a right to detain the defendant‟s
chattel or animal which is the cause of the trespass in question.
Trespass to goods (chatttels)
A trespass to goods is committed by a person who directly and intentionally
interferes with goods in the possession of another without lawful
justification. The plaintiff may be a person either in possession or entitled to
immediate possession of goods. The wrongful interference may be
constituted by removing the goods from one place to another (e.g. wearing
the plaintiff‟s shirt) or destroying or damaging the goods (e.g. tearing the
plaintiff‟s shirt)
Conversion
Like trespass to goods, conversion is based on possession and is actionable
only if the defendant‟s act was intentional but not where the defendant was
merely negligent. Conversion is constituted by dealing with goods in a
manner that is inconsistent with the rights of the person in possession of the
goods or entitled to their immediate possession, e.g. where A intentionally
sells B‟s goods to C without any authority from B or where A intentionally
delivers B‟s goods to some other person without any justification at all.
Every person is presumed to intend the natural and probable consequences of
his intentional acts, and it follows from this that where a person used the
property of another in such a way as to risk its confiscation he is liable for its
conversion.
- A borrows a car from B
- A uses the car to smuggle contraband watches
- He is arrested and the car confiscated
- A is liable for conversion of the car because he had intentionally acted in a
manner that was most likely to lead to the confiscation.
NEGLIGENCE
The omission to do something which ordinarily regulate the conduct of
human affairs, would do, or doing something which a prudent and reasonable
man would not do.
As a tort, negligence consists of the following 3 elements;
- The duty of care
- The breach of the duty of care
- Injury to the plaintiff
These 3 elements must all be established before the defendant can be made
liable.
The duty of care
This is the duty to take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions reasonably
foreseeable as likely to cause injury to your neighbor. This raises the
question; who is my neighbor? A neighbor in law is a person who is closely
and directly affected by your act that you ought reasonably to have him in
your contemplation. In the case of a driver, every other road user (including
his own passenger and also a pedestrian) is his neighbor in law, the driver
owes all these others a duty of care, the duty to have regard to them and to
drive or use his vehicle safety, e.t.c
Breach of the duty
The duty of care, as we have seen answers the question whether the defendant was
under any legal obligation towards the plaintiff. The standard of care, on the other
hand, is a yard stick by which the defendant‟s conduct is measured. It answers the
question whether the defendant did what a reasonable man would have done in the
circumstances. Thus, the standard of care required of every person is that of the
reasonable man.
- Who is a reasonable man?
- Ordinary person in a city bus
- Qualified driver an advocate or doctor
Land law
Co-ownership of real property
Co-ownership of real property exists when two or more persons share the
same estate (the same type of ownership interest) in the same property. The
co-owners do not have separate rights to any portion of the real property,
each has a share in the whole property.
Types of co-ownership of real property
- Tenancy in common- people who own property under this arrangement have
undivided interest in the property and equal rights to possess the property.
When the property is transferred to two or more people without a
specification about their form of co-ownership, there is a presumption that
they will take the property as tenants in common do not have a two thirds
ownership interest in the property and the other tenant could have a one third
interest. Each tenant in common has the right to possess and use the
property. However, she cannot exclude the other tenants in common from
also possessing and using the property. If the property is rented or otherwise
produce income, each tenant has the right to share income in proportion to
her share of ownership. Similarly, each must pay her proportionate share of
the cost of taxes and necessary repairs. A tenant in common can dispose of
her interests in the property during life and at death. When the tenant dies,
her share passes to her heirs or if she has made a will to the person or persons
specified in her will.
Tenants in common can sever the co-tenancy by agreeing to divide up the
property or if they are unable to agree, by petitioning a court for partitioning
of the property. The court will physically divide the property if court will
physically divide the property if that is feasible , so that each tenant will have
proportionate share. If physical division is not appropriate, the court will
order the property sold and divide the proceeds.
Joint tenancy
A joint tenancy is created when equal interests in real property are conveyed
to two or more people by a single document that specifies that they are to
own the property as joint tenants. The rights of use, possession, contribution
and partition are the same for joint tenancy in common tenancy is that it gives
the owner the right of survivorship. This means that upon the death of one of
the joint tenants. This means that upon the death of one of the joint tenant,
that person‟s interest automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s). this
feature makes it easy for a person to transfer property at death without
making a will.
A joint tenancy may mortgage, sell or give away his interest in the property
during his life time. For that reason, a joint tenant‟s interest in property is
subject to the claims of his creditors. When a joint tenant transfers his
interest, the joint tenancy is served and a tenancy in common is created as to
the share affected by the transaction. When a joint tenant sells his interest to a
third person, the third person becomes a tenant in common with the
remaining joint tenants.
Community property
This type of co-ownership is based on the theory that marriage is a
partnership in which each spouse contributes to the property base of the
family. Property that is acquired during the marriage through a spouse‟s
industry or efforts is classified as community property, in which each spouse
has an equal interest. This is love regardless of who produced or earned the
property. Since each spouse has an equal share in the community property
neither can convey the property without the others joining the transaction.
Not all property owned by a married person is community property, however
property that a spouse owned before marriage or acquired during marriage by
gift or inheritance is separate property. Property exchanged for separate
property also remains separately owned.
Tenancy in partnership
When a partner takes title to property in the name of the partnership its form
of co-ownership is called tenancy in partnership.
Types of leases
A lease is a contract by which an owner of property conveys to another the right to
possess the leased premises exclusively for a period of time. The interest conveyed
to the tenant (lessee) is a leasehold estate. There are four different kinds of leases,
each of which differs in the duration of the tenant‟s right to posses the property and
in the manner in which that right terminates.
- Tenancy for a term- results when the landlord and tenant agree on a specific
duration of the lease and fix the date on which the tenancy will terminate.
The tenant‟s right to possess the property ends on the date agreed on without
any further notice, unless the lease contains a provision that permits
extension.
- Periodic tenancy- is created when the parties agree that rent will be paid in
successive intervals until notice to terminate is given, but do not agree on a
specific duration of the lease. If the tenant pays yearly, the tenancy is from
year to year. To terminate a periodic tenancy, either party must give advance
notice to the other. The precise amount of notice required is defined by the
law (rent tribunal)
- Tenancy at will; occurs when property is leased for an indefinite period of
time and is terminable at the will of either party. Generally, tenancies at will
involve situations in which the tenant does not pay rent or does not pay it in
any certain intervals. Although the tenancy at will is terminable by either
party at will. Most authorities require that the landlord given advance notice
to the tenant before terminating the tenancy.
- Tenancy in sufferance; this tenancy occurs when a tenant remains in
possession of the property after the expiration of a lease. The landlord has the
option of treating the tenant as a trespasser and bringing an action to eject
him as a tenant and collecting rent from him. Until the landlord makes his
election, the tenant is a tenant at sufferance.
MORTGAGES AND CHARGES
An owner of property may use it as a security for his indebtedness to some other
person. The mortgage is the name given to the transaction by which a borrower
(mortgager) obtains a loan from another person (mortgagee) on the security of his
property. A charge is a legal interest which entitles the mortgagee to sell the
mortgaged property to recover his debt in case the mortgage fails to repay the
borrowed money on due date.
Types of mortgage
There are 2 main types of mortgage. These are legal mortgages and equitable
mortgages.
Legal mortgages
In Kenya, the legal mortgage may be created under section 58 of the indian transfer
of property act 1882. According to this act, the following four classes of legal
mortgages may be created;
- Simple mortgages
- Usufructuary mortgages
- Mortgages by conditional sale
- English mortgages
In a simple mortgage, the borrower binds himself to repay the loan and in
case of default, the lender can use the security to recover his money.
In case of a usufructuary mortgage, the lender takes possession of the
mortgaged property and repays himself either wholly or partially from the
rents, rates and proceeds from the land.
A mortgage by conditional sale is that type of arrangement where the
borrower sells the property to the lender subject to the following conditions;
- On the default of payment the sale shall become absolute or
- On payment of the mortgage debt the sale becomes void
- On payment of the debt, the property will be re-transferred to the borrower.
An English mortgage is that type of mortgage when the mortgage binds
himself to repay the mortgage money on a certain date and transfers the
mortgaged property absolutely to the lender, subject to this provision that he
will re-transfer it to the borrower upon repayment of the mortgage money.
NB/ The English mortgages are more valuable as compared to other types of
legal mortgages.
EQUITABLE MORTGAGES
These mortgages are created in accordance with the provisions of the
equitable mortgages act (cap 291) together with the relevant sections of the
government land act and the land titles act. In the case of an equitable
mortgage, the mortgager deposits with the lender (mortgagee) the title deed
of the property as security for the loan. When the loan has been repaid, the
lender returns the title deed to the borrower.
Rights of mortgagees in the two types of mortgages.
a) Foreclosure- under this, the mortgage may obtain a court order
extinguishing the mortgager‟s equitable right to redeem the property. This
can be obtained if the mortgagor fails to pay the sum due for an
unreasonable time. This order is made in two stages;
- The borrower is given time within which to repay the debt so as to redeem
his property.
- If the borrower is unable to repay the mortgage money as ordered then
absolute order of closure is made. In this case, the full estate is vested in the
name of mortgagee. After this order, the card can be offered by the
mortgagee for sale
Sale
This is an alternative remedy to that of foreclosure. In this case, a mortgagee
may sell the mortgaged property upon an order of court. A sale of the
property may also be effected without an order of court, but only when the
mortgagee expressly gives powers to the mortgagee to sell without applying
to court. The sale must take place by public auction.
The proceeds of sale must be applied in the following orders;
- In payment of all expenses property incurred or incidental to the sale.
- In payment of all sums due to the mortgagee and to pay any other
encumbrances
- In payment in the order of priority of any encumbrancers subsequent to the
mortgagee and
- The residue if any, in payment of the mortgagor.
Appointment of a receiver
The appointment of a receiver is one if the ways in which the mortgagee may
realize his security. Such appointment may be made by the mortgagee under
an express power provided in the mortgage in which case it must be done in
writing, or it may be made by the court upon an application by the
mortgagee. A receiver is appointed by the lender in writing, but he is deemed
to be the agent of the borrower. The receiver is responsible to collect rents,
profits and income relating to the property. The money received must be
applied in the following orders;
- In discharge of any prior encumbrance free from which the property was sold
- In paying the receiver‟s own commission insurance premiums and the cost of
repairs (if any)
- In payment of interest accruing in respect of the principal due including the
mortgage.
- In discharge of the mortgage debt if so directed by the lender.
Industrial training
Need of training arises due to improvement in technology, need for getting better
performance or as part of professional development. Benefits of training are
intangible and investing in training benefits both organizations and employees for a
long period. Training enhances a workers‟ level of skill.
Apprenticeship
It is a job with training, been an apprentice means that you have a job that includes
gaining recognized qualifications and essential skills whilst you are working and
earning a wage.
In-house training
This kind of training is offered by national industrial training authority.
Training of employees may also be offered in tertiary institutions e.g. training
institutes, national polytechnics
Assignment
i) List at least 5 training institutions and 5 national polytechnics.
Regulations governing employment in the construction industry
- A contract of service for a period of six months or for a period of working days
which amounts in the aggregate to the equivalent of six months or more shall be
in writing.
- A contract of service for the performance of any specified work which could
not reasonably be expected to be completed within a period or a total of
working days in aggregate amounting to six months shall be in writing.
NB/ It is the employers‟ responsibility to draw up a reasonable contract of
employment. Employee signifies his/her consent to the contract by either:
a) Signing his/her name to the written contract
Or
b) Imprinting their own impressions of thumb or any one of his fingers.
Redundancy
Where employee is to be terminated employment on grounds of redundancy, union
of which employee is a member or labour officer shall be informed of the reason
for or extent of the extended redundancy.
No employee shall be placed at some disadvantage for being or not being a
member of a union. Any leave due to a member being declared redundant shall be
paid in cash. An employee is entitled to one month of notice in lieu of redundancy.
An employee declared redundantly shall be entitled to severance pay at rate of 10
days for each completed year of service.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Specific objectives;
At the end of this topic the trainee should be able to;
g) Explain concepts of accounting
h) Describe types of business organizations
i) Identify book of accounts
j) Describe the final account
k) Describe sources of business capital
l) Explain the methods of determining depreciation
Concept of accounting
- Accounting records
- Annual accounts
- Prepayments
- Accrued expenses
- Stocks
- Working progress
- Money measurement concept
- Business entity concept
- Going concern concept
- Cost concept
- Realization concept
- Accrued concept
- Double entry concept
Types of business organizations
- Sole traders
- Partnership
- Private limited companies
Book of accounts
Ledger
- Sales
- Purchase
- Nominal
- Cashbook
- Sales day book
- Purchase day book
- Return day book
- Journal
Final account
- Trading, profit and loss account
- Balance sheet – assets , liabilities
Business capital
- Capital terminologies
- Authorized/ nominal/ registered capital
- Issued capital
- Subscribed capital
- Called up capital
- Paid up capital
- Uncalled capital
Sources of capital
- Shares and debentures
- Cumulative preference shares
- Preference shares
- Participation preference shares
- Redeemable preference shares
- Ordinary shares
- Preferred ordinary shares
- Deferred/ confounder shares
Methods of depreciation
- Straight line
- Double the rate
- Declining balance
- Approximate diminishing
- Sum of number of years
Concept of accounting; Accounting or accountancy is the measurement,
processing, and communication of financial and non-financial information about
economic entities such as business or corporations.
Financial accounting is the process of identifying, recording, classifying,
summarizing and reporting all the transactions in a business.
Objectives of accounting
- To attain the profit or loss of a business. It helps in identifying the business
profit or losses for the purpose of decision making.
- To ascertain the financial position of a business. This identifies the total assets,
liabilities and capital in a business.
- To keep systematic records. Accounting involves book keeping which records
every business transaction.
- To ascertain the tax liability. It identifies the amount of tax to be paid by the
business to the government
- Providing financial controls. This is the process of proper planning and
budgeting which is done through the accounting process
- Facilitates decision making. The owners of the business are able to make
financial decisions out of the accounting reports.
Qualities of a good accounting information
1. Relevance ; the information should satisfy the needs of the users without
misstatement or omission
2. Reliability ; the information is reliable if it is true, complete and properly
presented
3. Understandable ; the information should be easy to understand and translate
towards the users
4. Comparable; the information is used to compare performance in different
years. This helps in trend analysis
5. Accuracy ; it should be free from errors and any misstatement is enable
accurate decisions.
Xxx
Current assets
Stock xxx
Debtors xxx
Cash in hand xxx
Cash at bank xxx
Xxx
Current liabilities
Creditors xxx
Bank overdraft xxx (xxx)
xxx
xxx
financed by:
capital xxx
less drawings xxx
xxx
long term liabilities
long term loan xxx
debentures xxx
mortgages xxx
ABC has the following assets and liabilities as at 31st dec 2011.
Item Amount
Creditors 15,800
Equipment 46,000
Motor vehicle 25,160
Stock 24,600
Debtors 23,080
Cash at bank 29,120
Cash in hand 160
During the week of Jan 2012, the following transactions took place.
- Bought extra equipment on credit for 5.52m
- Bought extra stock by cheque shs 2,280,000
- Paid creditors by cheque shs 31,060
- Debtors paid 33,060 by cheque and 240,000 by cash
- ABC owner added 1M cash as capital
Required;
a) Determine the capital as at 31st Dec 2011
b) Draw a balance sheet for the business as at 31st Dec 2012
Current liabilities
Liabilities 18,160 (18,160)
56,640
133,320
Financed by
Capital 133320
133,320
Types of business organizations
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
- Sole trader, A sole trader is a person running a business enterprise alone thereby
enjoying all the profits and incurring all the losses of the business.
- Sole proprietorship is a business owned and run by someone for their own
benefit. The business is entirely dependent on the owner‟s decisions so when
the owner dies so does the business.
Advantages of sole proprietorship
- All profits are subject to the owner
- There is very little regulation for proprietorships
- Owners have total flexibility when running the business
- Very few requirements for starting- often only a business license
Disadvantages
- Owner is 100% liable for business debts
- Equity is limited to the owner‟s personal resources
- Ownership of proprietorship is difficult to transfer
- No distinction between personal and business income
PARTNERSHIP
A partnership is a form of business where two or more people share ownership as
well as the responsibility for managing the company and the income or losses the
business generates.
The partners in a business partnership invest in the business and each
investor/partner has a share in the profits and losses.
There are two forms of partnerships;
- General partnership
- Limited partnership
There are three essential elements to a general partnership
- Sharing of profits and losses
- Joint ownership of the business
- Equal right in the management of the business
In a limited partnership, there is one general partner and one or more limited
partners. The general partner assumes the responsibility for the management of the
business and the limited partner contributes only assets to the business, while
having no role in the company‟s management.
Advantages of a partnership
- Two heads (or more) are better than one
- Your business is easy to establish and start- up costs are low
- More capital is available for the business
- You‟ll have greater borrowing capacity
- High caliber employees can be made partners
- There is opportunity for income splitting, an advantage of particular importance
due to resultant tax savings
Disadvantages of a partnership
The liability of the partners for the debts of the business is unlimited
Each partner is „jointly and severally‟ liable for their share of the partnership‟s
debts; that is each partner is liable for their share of the partnership debts as
well as being liable for all the debts
There is a risk of disagreements and friction among partners and management
Each partner is an agent of the partnership and is liable for actions by other
partners
If partners join or leave, you will probably have to value all the partnership
assets and this can be costly
Private limited company
This is a type of privately held small business entity, in which owner liability is
limited to their shares, the firm is limited to having 50 or fewer shareholders, and
shares are prohibited from being publicly traded.
A company becomes an independent legal structure when it incorporates
Advantages of a private limited company
Separate legal entity, an entity means something which has a real existence, a
thing with distinct existence
Uninterrupted existence – a company has „perpetual succession‟ that is
continued or uninterrupted existence until it is legally dissolved. A company
being a separate legal person, is unaffected by the death or other departure of
any member but continues to be in existence irrespective of the changes in
membership.
Limited liability – this is the status of being legally responsible only to a
limited amount for debts of a company. In a limited company the liability
company, the liability of the members in respect of the company‟s debt is
limited only to the extent of the face value of shares taken up by them.
Therefore ehen a company is limited by shares, the liability of the members on
a winding up is limited to the amount unpaid on their shares.
Free and easy transferability of shares – shares of a company limited by shares
are transferable by a shareholder to any other person. The transfer is easy as
compared to the transfer of interest in a business run as a proprietary concern
or a partnership.
Owning property – a company being a juristic person, can acquire, own, enjoy
and alienate property in its own name. no shareholder can make any claim
upon the property of the company so long as the company is a going concern.
Capacity to sue and be sued - a company being an independent legal entity
can sue and also be sued in its own name.
Dual relationship – it is possible for a company to make a valid aand effective
contract with any of its members. It is also possible for a person to be in
control of a company and at the same time be in its employment. Thus a
person can at the same time be a shareholder, creditor, director and also an
employee of the company.
Borrowing capacity – a company enjoys better avenues for borrowing of
funds. It can issue debentures, secured as well as unsecured and also accept
deposits from the public.
Books of accounts
There are two main books of accounts; ie. Journal and ledger. Journals are used to
record the economic transaction chronologically. A ledger is used to classify
economic activities according to nature
Ledger account is a journal in which a company maintains the data of all the
transactions and financial statement.
There are 3 types of ledgers namely;
Sales ledger
Purchase ledger
General ledger
1. Sales ledger
This is a ledger in which the company maintains the transaction of selling the
products, service or cost of goods sold to the customers. This ledger gives the idea
of .sales revenue and income statement.
2. Purchase ledger
This is a ledger in which the company organizes the transaction of purchasing the
services ,products or goods from other businesses. It gives the visibility of how
much amount the company paid to other businesses.
3. General ledger
General ledger is divided into two types; nominal ledger and private ledger.
Nominal ledger gives information on expenses, income, depreciation, insurance etc
A private ledger gives private information like salaries, wages, capitals etc. private
ledger is not accessible to everyone.
- Cash book
This is a financial journal that contains all cash receipts and disbursements,
including bank deposits and withdrawals. Entries in the cash book are then posted
into the general ledger.
- Sales day book
Also known as sales book or sales journal. It is a subsidiary book i.e. a book of
original entry. It is a manually maintained account, with the purpose of recording
all credit sales of the business in one place.
This means all the sales of the firm done on credit are recorded in the sales day
book. No cash sales will be recorded here , they will be recorded in cash book.
- Purchase day book
This is the book of original entry in which all the transactions relating to only
credit purchase are recorded.
Cash purchases are not recorded in the purchase day book but are recorded in the
cash book.
- Return day book
Purchase returns day book
Also referred to as the purchase returns journal or the returns outwards journal is
simply a chronological list of all the purchases returns credit notes and is used to
save time, avoid cluttering the general ledger with too much details.
Sales return day book
Also referred to as the sales return journal or return inwards journal is a special
journal used to record sales returns.
The sales return day book is simply a chronological list of the issued credit notes
and is used to save time, avoid cluttering the general ledger with too much detail.
A journal entry is the act of keeping or making records of any transactions either
economic or non- economic. Transactions are listed in an accounting journal that
shows a company‟s debit and credit balances.
Final account
Financial account gives an idea about the profitability and financial position of a
business to its management, owners and other interested parties. All business
transactions are first recorded in a journal . they are then transferred to a ledger and
balanced.
ABC Ltd
INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31/12/XXXX
SHS SHS
SHS
SALES XXX
Less Return inwards (xx)
XXX
Less COST OF SALES
Opening stock XXX
Add purchases XXX
Add carriage inwards xx
Less return inwards (xx) XXX
Cost of goods available
For sale XXXX
Less closing stock (xx)
(xxx)
Gross profit (loss)
xxx
Particular a/c Dr
Cr
Stock (1st oct 2010) 23,680
Carriage outward 2000
Carriage inward 3100
Return inwards 2050
Return outwards
3220
Purchases 118,740
Sales
186,000
EMBU STATIONARIES
INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30.09.2011
SHS SHS
SHS
Sales 186,000
Less return inwards (2050)
183,950
Less cost of sales
Opening stock 23,680
Add purchases 118,740
Add carriage inwards 3,100
Less return outwards (3,220) 118,620
C.G.A.F.S 142,300
Less closing stock (29,460)
(112,840)
Gross profit
71,110
Less operating expenses
Salaries and wages 38,620
Rent 3040
Insurance 780
Motor vehicle expenses 6640
Office expenses 2160
Lighting and heating 1660
General expenses 3140
Carriage outwards 2000
(58,040)
13,070
Prepare the balance sheet as at 30th sept 2011
EMBU STATIONARIES
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL
POSITION
AS AT 30.09.2011
SHS SHS
SHS
Non-current assets
Premises
50,000
Motor vehicle
18,000
Fixtures and fittings
3500
71,500
Current assets
Stock 29,460
Debtors 38,960
Cash at bank 4820
73,240
Current liabilities
Creditors (17,310)
55,930
127,430
Financed by;
Capital 126,360
Less drawings (12,000)
114,360
NET PROFIT
13,070
127,430
BUSINESS CAPITAL
Capital is wealth in form of money or other assets owned by a person or
organization or available for a purpose such as starting a company or investing .
- Authorized capital/Nominal/Registered capital – this is the maximum amount of
share capital that the company is authorized by its constitutional documents to
issue to shareholders. Part of the authorized capital can remain unissued. The
authorized capital can be changed with shareholder‟s approval.
- Issued capital – this refers to the number of shares issued by the company to the
shareholders. In other words, the shares allotted or subsequently held by the
shareholders is called issued capital.
- Subscribed capital – this is that part of issued share capital which has been
subscribed by investors. When a company issues a part of its authorized share
capital, investors may or may not subscribe for all of its shares.
- Called up capital – this is shares issued to investors, under the understanding
that the shares will be paid for at a later date or in installments. Shares may be
issued in this manner in order to sell shares on relaxed terms to investors which
may increase the total amount of equity that a business can obtain.
- Paid up capital – this is the amount of money a company has been paid from
shareholders in exchange for shares of its stock . paid up capital is created when
a company sells its shares on primary market, directly to investors.
- Uncalled capital-- this is that part of subscribed share capital which has not
been called for payment by a company. A company calls for only a part of
share‟s price at the time of allotment. The remaining part is called up at a later
date. This is called or remained part is known as uncalled share capital.
Sources of capital
- Shares and debentures
Shares is the capital of a company but debenture is the debt of the company.
Shares represent ownership of the shareholders in the company. On the other
hand, debentures represent indebtedness of the company. The income earned
on shares is the dividend but the income earned on debentures is interest.
- Cumulative preference shares
This gives the shareholder a right to dividends that may have been missed in
the past. Dividends are paid by companies to reward shareholders.
- Preference shares
These are shares in a company that are owned by people who have the right
to receive part of the company‟s profit before the holders of ordinary shares
are paid. They also have the right to have their capital repaid if the company
fails and has to close.
- Ordinary shares
These are shares in a company that are owned by people who have a right to
vote at the company‟s meetings and to receive part of the company‟s profits
after the holders of preference shares have been paid.
- Preferred ordinary shares
Are hybrid securities with both equity and fixed income characteristics.
Similar to an equity security, a preferred share represents an ownership
interest, generally does not have a maturity date and is recognized on the
equity side of a company‟s balance sheet.
- Deferred/confounder shares
This is a share that does not have any rights to the assets of a company
undergoing bankruptcy until all common and preferred shares are paid.
Methods of depreciation
-straight line method
This is charging depreciation on an equal depreciation over all the years of
the asset.
It is calculated by getting the cost of the asset minus the residue value over
the useful life.
Depreciation = Cost – Residue value
Useful life
The main disadvantage of this method is charging equal depreciation over all
the years of the asset.
Illustration
A business imported a motor vehicle and incurred the following costs;
Purchases cost 650,000
Importation duty 50,000
Importation insurance cover 75,000
Transport to the business 25,000
The economic life of the motor vehicle was 5years after which it was
disposed at a value of 200,000
Required; calculate depreciation for each of the 5years and the net book
value for each year.
Depreciation = Cost – Residue value
Useful life