Ashghal Adopts New Organizational Structure
The new organizational structure for Ashghal approved by the Board of Directors of Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and Urban Planning & Development Authority (UPDA) will come to effect from 1st February 2008. An international company has prepared the new organizational structure after thorough study and discussion with all concerned.
The new organizational structure comes in view of the rapid developments in infrastructure sector, to realise Ashghal’s vision in the development of projects and to improve its performance to provide better service to the public.
The new organizational structure is divided into four major sectors:
- Infrastructure Affairs
- Building Affairs
- Assets Management
- Support Affairs
Infrastructure Affairs: The existing Road Affairs and Drainage Affairs are merged in this with one department each for designs, roads and drainage. This will avoid duplication of work and ensure full coordination between all parties in the implementation of public projects, in addition to the introduction of a new department for Doha Expressway, which is one of the most important projects of Ashghal.
The Building Affairs:
did not undergo any change in the restructuring.
The Assets Management: is the section related to operations and maintenance, which was so far managed by the Road Affairs and Drainage Affairs, and was creating a kind of duplication in the maintenance of projects. Now it has been separated in such a way that the operations and maintenance will be a different entity supervised by a separate section to monitor the performance of projects after completion. The Assets Management comprises of engineering department, and operation & maintenance department of roads and drainage.
The Support Affairs: contains all departments related to provide administrative supports to the Authority including Finance Department, Human Resources Department, Information System and Telecommunications Department, Corporate Development Department and General Services Department with a director or manager for each department.
In the midst of the organizational structure, there are two other sections, namely Engineering Support Services and Contracts Affairs, each managed by a director. The Engineering Support will provide all technical services to the Ashghal’s operation in terms of planning, estimation and documentation of projects. Whereas the Contracts Engineering department is specialized to prepare project contracts, contract control, identify the problems and finding solutions related to the contracts.
The new organizational structure also contains three major departments at the top of the pyramid. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – a replacement of the existing position Managing Director, will directly follow the Public Relations Department, Quality, Safety & Environment Department and Secretariat General for Tender Committees. The department of Quality, Safety & Environment (QSE) is responsible for the quality control of Ashghal projects at sites and offices. The environment section of this department will coordinate with the Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR) to ensure the environment friendliness of Ashghal projects.
The Secretariat General for Tender Committee is divided into three main committees (small, medium and big) followed by the Secretary-General, who follows the CEO, on the basis of neutrality, permanent performance monitoring of the projects, method of forwarding and evaluating the projects. The General-Secretariat will execute and control all the works assigned.
At the top of the organizational structure is Board of Directors to whom the CEO, the Legal Affairs and the Internal Audit will be directly reporting.