My initial reaction to the DSF Construction interview, and its owner David S. Franciosi, was that it seems to be a hard field to go into. With this type of career, numerous stressors and challenges are apparent. For example, David listed dealing with the weather, finding job opportunities, and scheduling workload and staffing all as challenges that this company has to deal with. For most other businesses, weather is not a problem but for construction companies, it can be a constant hindrance. Job opportunities can be really hard to find especially in this economy right now so, even though there might be a demand for construction workers and businesses to step forth, everyone is competing so intensely with one another that it is really hard to actually get the job. Scheduling though is the most difficult part to deal with. As David mentioned, this is because the workers bid for numerous jobs and when they get them, they need to manage the workload in the best and most efficient manner. All of this is possible for David though because he has qualities of a true entrepreneur, the most prevalent quality being action-oriented. As the book states, the most important characteristic of an entrepreneur is to have “a burning desire to realize, actualize, and build you dream into reality”(pg. 148). David certainly does have the will to succeed and is still sticking to his dream. He states that ‘he had a desire and passion for building and to become independent and self-employed’. One thing that interested me was how David only went to school for two years to get his degree for Architecture and Construction Technology. Two years was all that it took for him to learn the basics and concepts of the trade and then have the opportunity to start his job quicker than most who go to college. I thought this was very interesting seeing how I will be in college for at least three more years before I start my career and start to pay off my huge college debt. A second piece of information that really caught my attention was within certain businesses, like DSF Construction, they could receive a 2% discount for paying all of their debtors on time each month. This motivational technique for paying people on time is new to me. I had no clue that you could get discounts for doing something as simple as making sure all of your payments are due on time each month. If this was the case for everything in the world, I would never be late on anything. What I have learned from this interview is that construction is a very difficult field to work for. This does not just include the physical toll that it takes on these workers, but also the mental toll. Owners, like David, have to constantly be on the ball looking for job opportunities and then trying to convince the employers or homeowners to take them for the job. Once given the opportunity, David then has to select certain workers for the job who he thinks are liable and who will mimic the good reputation qualities that DSF Construction wants displayed in its workforce. I also learned that interestingly enough, to be a legal construction worker all one has to do is go to college for two years before they can start their career. This will save the future construction worker a lot of money in comparison with a four-year college student.
Guy DePlacido November 20, 2011 Business and Society Professor Fleury- Lawson Comment This presentation caught my eye because I went to a Technical High School. I went for Carpentry and over the last few years, I have had several jobs as a carpenter. I have done numerous tasks relating to all types construction. I have built additions, vinyl siding, cathedral ceilings, porches, decks, skylights, etc… I am young but going to my high school for four years really helped me attain knowledge on all of these things. As a senior, you were allowed to go out on co-op which means that if you can obtain a job in your field, you are allowed to go to that job and work during the regular school hours. This is a great time for students to really grow and learn a lot more. The employers really take you under their wing and help you out and you learn a lot more here than during the actual program at your school. It is a tremendous learning chance and it is a good chance to earn some serious money during your usual school hours. I like this presentation a lot because I know some of what this owner went through. I agree that scheduling is the biggest challenge. Getting your name around to people in the community can sometimes be easy but drawing in business can be very difficult. What I find interesting is the quote he said during the interview, “You have to have a passion for what you are doing, and the mentality that you will not fail. Whether you’re a risk taker or conservative individual the ones who succeed are the ones that are willing to stop at nothing to achieve their goal.” This really speaks for the drive of an individual. You have to be well driven and motivated to own your own business. I also like that he mentioned getting a college degree. A lot of construction owners do not go to college to get a degree but it is a very good idea to get a degree because you will gain a lot of knowledge on how to keep your books and you will be more likely to succeed in your finances.
DSF Construction Company seems to be on its feet with all the challenges it must face. The most interesting fact I found from this power point is that scheduling is the biggest challenge. I did not think of it until now, but it must be difficult to give a customer a time frame on when it is going to be done. When you give the time frame, you give yourself a challenge every time to get it done in between that time. You cannot tell a customer that their house is going to be done in 4 months and you finish in 5 months. That means failure to the construction company because it did not meet the goal. Another interesting fact I found in the power point is the weather. I never actually thought of the challenge that weather could play a factor. I realized in the winter that must be the slow season for DSF Company. Or even on a rainy day you have to restrict some of the work you could have done on a nice day. “Productivity is the amount of output you generate give the amount of input, such as the number of hours you work.” (14) As David said, he spends about 10 hours of his day doing construction. I find that very impressive seeing an average work week for everyone is 40 hours but his is 50 plus. That shows two things; dedication to his customers and it means he loves what he is doing. How could someone put up 50 plus hours of work and not like what they are doing every day. Good luck to Dave and the rest of the DSF Construction Company.
3 comments:
My initial reaction to the DSF Construction interview, and its owner David S. Franciosi, was that it seems to be a hard field to go into. With this type of career, numerous stressors and challenges are apparent. For example, David listed dealing with the weather, finding job opportunities, and scheduling workload and staffing all as challenges that this company has to deal with. For most other businesses, weather is not a problem but for construction companies, it can be a constant hindrance. Job opportunities can be really hard to find especially in this economy right now so, even though there might be a demand for construction workers and businesses to step forth, everyone is competing so intensely with one another that it is really hard to actually get the job. Scheduling though is the most difficult part to deal with. As David mentioned, this is because the workers bid for numerous jobs and when they get them, they need to manage the workload in the best and most efficient manner. All of this is possible for David though because he has qualities of a true entrepreneur, the most prevalent quality being action-oriented. As the book states, the most important characteristic of an entrepreneur is to have “a burning desire to realize, actualize, and build you dream into reality”(pg. 148). David certainly does have the will to succeed and is still sticking to his dream. He states that ‘he had a desire and passion for building and to become independent and self-employed’. One thing that interested me was how David only went to school for two years to get his degree for Architecture and Construction Technology. Two years was all that it took for him to learn the basics and concepts of the trade and then have the opportunity to start his job quicker than most who go to college. I thought this was very interesting seeing how I will be in college for at least three more years before I start my career and start to pay off my huge college debt. A second piece of information that really caught my attention was within certain businesses, like DSF Construction, they could receive a 2% discount for paying all of their debtors on time each month. This motivational technique for paying people on time is new to me. I had no clue that you could get discounts for doing something as simple as making sure all of your payments are due on time each month. If this was the case for everything in the world, I would never be late on anything. What I have learned from this interview is that construction is a very difficult field to work for. This does not just include the physical toll that it takes on these workers, but also the mental toll. Owners, like David, have to constantly be on the ball looking for job opportunities and then trying to convince the employers or homeowners to take them for the job. Once given the opportunity, David then has to select certain workers for the job who he thinks are liable and who will mimic the good reputation qualities that DSF Construction wants displayed in its workforce. I also learned that interestingly enough, to be a legal construction worker all one has to do is go to college for two years before they can start their career. This will save the future construction worker a lot of money in comparison with a four-year college student.
Guy DePlacido
November 20, 2011
Business and Society
Professor Fleury- Lawson
Comment
This presentation caught my eye because I went to a Technical High School. I went for Carpentry and over the last few years, I have had several jobs as a carpenter. I have done numerous tasks relating to all types construction. I have built additions, vinyl siding, cathedral ceilings, porches, decks, skylights, etc… I am young but going to my high school for four years really helped me attain knowledge on all of these things. As a senior, you were allowed to go out on co-op which means that if you can obtain a job in your field, you are allowed to go to that job and work during the regular school hours. This is a great time for students to really grow and learn a lot more. The employers really take you under their wing and help you out and you learn a lot more here than during the actual program at your school. It is a tremendous learning chance and it is a good chance to earn some serious money during your usual school hours. I like this presentation a lot because I know some of what this owner went through. I agree that scheduling is the biggest challenge. Getting your name around to people in the community can sometimes be easy but drawing in business can be very difficult. What I find interesting is the quote he said during the interview, “You have to have a passion for what you are doing, and the mentality that you will not fail. Whether you’re a risk taker or conservative individual the ones who succeed are the ones that are willing to stop at nothing to achieve their goal.” This really speaks for the drive of an individual. You have to be well driven and motivated to own your own business. I also like that he mentioned getting a college degree. A lot of construction owners do not go to college to get a degree but it is a very good idea to get a degree because you will gain a lot of knowledge on how to keep your books and you will be more likely to succeed in your finances.
DSF Construction Company seems to be on its feet with all the challenges it must face. The most interesting fact I found from this power point is that scheduling is the biggest challenge. I did not think of it until now, but it must be difficult to give a customer a time frame on when it is going to be done. When you give the time frame, you give yourself a challenge every time to get it done in between that time. You cannot tell a customer that their house is going to be done in 4 months and you finish in 5 months. That means failure to the construction company because it did not meet the goal. Another interesting fact I found in the power point is the weather. I never actually thought of the challenge that weather could play a factor. I realized in the winter that must be the slow season for DSF Company. Or even on a rainy day you have to restrict some of the work you could have done on a nice day. “Productivity is the amount of output you generate give the amount of input, such as the number of hours you work.” (14) As David said, he spends about 10 hours of his day doing construction. I find that very impressive seeing an average work week for everyone is 40 hours but his is 50 plus. That shows two things; dedication to his customers and it means he loves what he is doing. How could someone put up 50 plus hours of work and not like what they are doing every day. Good luck to Dave and the rest of the DSF Construction Company.
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