A study of Water Services Corporation physical resources : the issue of investing in heavy machinery versus contracting out

Abstract

This study reflects how the Water Services Corporation will benefit by contracting out certain services and by investing in more machinery concurrently. The author first related to significant text on the resource-based theory of a firm and various Policies that firms adapt regarding good utilization of resources. The strategy formation of the WSC is discovered through the literature and discussed in the second chapter. The results found in the literature were then compared to the present situation of the WSC resources by collaborating double mode of research findings. The author chose to research information from the firm's data and took the opinion of the personnel who are in direct contact with machinery by preparing questionnaires so they could be matched to the literature findings. Further information was gathered from contractors and agencies regarding machinery and their related prices and performance. The author gave exceptional attention to the right choice of methodological research to avoid any bias and to get the best results out of this study. The author discussed the reasons why certain methods were chosen and why certain methods were omitted from the research. The way each research was to be performed was deliberated and implemented into practice by the author. From the methodological research findings, it was discovered that the Corporation will be better off to contract out than invest in certain heavy machinery such as Tarmac Plant, trencher, ready-mix and JCB, as that service is too expensive and is not required on a daily basis. On the other hand, it was discovered that it will be to an advantage for the WSC to invest in other machinery and services it implies for their repair which are used on a daily basis. The advantages and disadvantages of both settings are discovered by performing research and discussed in the long essay. Related issues, such as contracting out hire of equipment, efficiency and sufficiency of WSC vehicles are compared and discussed in the fourth chapter. These findings were analyzed and correlated with each other and also compared with the documentary research. These findings were then compared to the literature finding. After finding the pros and cons of the issue the author concluded the WSC should make certain investment in machinery. These findings helped the author to conclude and propose various ways on how to improve the WSC resources. It was concluded that the WSC financial resources could be utilized better if invested on certain machinery rather than draining them in enormous monthly rent payments.