You be the judge!

(supplementary information to the opening question of this blog and addressed to all associated with Gammon Construction)

Maybe I am wrong.

Maybe I have committed a sin totally unacceptable for people living/working in Hong Kong.

According to the HR director, this email (of mine) following the ambush-meeting (by the two directors noted below) and their subsequent email was the cardinal sin that made me get fired on the spot.

(he quoted a paragraph from a HK law for it too)

I’ve asked Swire to tell me if they condone Gammon’s behavior.

I’ll keep asking them and all the others that claim to be closely associated to Gammon.

Here is the opportunity for anyone (absolutely anyone) to comment though;

Be my guest! Be my judge!

(MESSAGES 1 and 2 from the Directors)

From: Derek Kwok Leung So
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 3:26 PM
To: Zolna Murray
Cc: Sai Yen Yu; Rachel Wei Lee; Edmond Wing Kok Lai
Subject: RE: BIM Development in Gammon
Sensitivity: Confidential

Zolna,

Further to Edmond’s email as below, please prepare the necessary information as stated in the email for my review early next week. For the implementation plan for SCL1111, please prepare this based on the outcome of the discussion between you and the site team and SY and discuss on Monday.

For the six project, I would expect a comprehensive table for these 6 projects the contractual risk or other risk and the possible mitigation measures for my review on or before next Friday.

Regards

Derek

From: Edmond Wing Kok Lai
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 12:08 PM
To: Zolna Murray
Cc: Derek Kwok Leung So; Sai Yen Yu; Rachel Wei Lee
Subject: BIM Development in Gammon
Sensitivity: Confidential

Zolna,

Many thanks for your input in the open discussion on BIM development in Gammon this morning. I sincerely hope that we can move things forward in a constructive manner.

As a priority, please review with Derek your BIM implementation plans for SCL 1111 and TM-CLK Viaduct, which contain solid actions, resources and milestone dates.

In addition, please identify the key risks facing the six projects you mentioned (SCL 1111, 810A, TM CLK Viaduct, Lei Yue Mun, Lower Ngau Tau Kok and Mt Nicholson) and propose mitigating actions for onward review with Derek, SY and the Unit Directors / Project Leaders.

Your suggestion on performing a follow-up audit for these projects will be reviewed accordingly.

Any questions, please feel free to discuss with Derek, SY and me.

Regards,

Edmond

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MESSAGE 3 from me to the Directors

From: Zolna Murray
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 9:25 AM
To: Derek Kwok Leung So

Cc: Sai Yen Yu; Rachel Wei Lee; Edmond Wing Kok Lai
Subject: RE: BIM Development in Gammon

Importance: High
Sensitivity: Confidential

Dear Edmond and Derek,

 In response to the meeting held yesterday morning at Edmond’s office and the subsequent email messages originated by Derek and Edmond, I wish to make the following points:

1.     Due to the present structure of the BIM/Innovation team and the activities of its two key members (Derek and Welie) I am unable to perform my professional duties related to the implementation of BIM on the currently running projects

the 6 you mentioned plus any others that I am not yet aware of), nor report to Derek, without putting the company under significant risks and compromising my personal and professional integrity.

 2.       At the heart of this situation is, I believe is me recognizing early after joining the company just how frightfully high the level of incompetence, negligence and damaging activity were within this department and quickly and persistently voice my concerns.

An aggressive campaign built on a mix of intimidation, manipulation and other types of unprofessional behavior was then employed against me, first to make me support the unsupportable behaviors, then to pressure me into absconding.

 3.       A company of Gammon’s statute I believe should have proper processes in place to handle the current situation in a way that will not increase the damage to those already impacted by it. ‘The Zero Harm’ policy must apply to all, including the company itself.

 4.       Therefore, until the matters are investigated and properly resolved I will focus my activities on the other half of my portfolio:

a.       of innovation, where I set up a number of highly promising projects for the company and am assisted by the dedicated team of Vincent and Stella. We also have a number of ongoing tasks that we manage, including preparations for the annual competition gala.

b.      I will also carry on investigating possible uses of BIM on projects uncompromised by the vindictive activities of Derek, such as 704 where we will are looking at the use of BIM for visually tracking and representing hot-work permits.

c.       I will also continue to visit my team members based on construction sites, to get to know them and ensure they are adequately supported without personally getting involved in the BIM implementation on the same and such prevent my staff being used in manipulative games.

d.      The above workload permitting I intend to initiate the use of BIM forensics in escalating our success in claiming for work done, something I have a lot of experience in and can be very useful at times when the company’s stable cash flow is under threat.

e.      I believe it to be unprofessional to take part in activities related to the hiring of new staff into the team until I can confidently undertake to provide them safe working conditions, free of bullying.

f.        I will report on my and the innovation trio’s activities fortnightly, direct to SY.

Please do the needful to address my concerns.

Should the company choose to undertake an investigation in the past conduct of the BIM department, I’d prioritize the following projects for that exercise:

1111; 810A; Housing Corp projects; TM CLK; Nicholson road; in-house development with IMS; external representation of the company; reporting to top management;

I look forward to a mutually satisfying resolution to the current situation and the establishing of an environment where Gammon can truly benefit from my experience, knowledge, skills and enthusiasm.

Regards,

Zolna Murray