Business View Caribbean - Apr 2024

Issa explains the recent strategic changes within the company. “We’ve brought on David Steele as COO, and the whole goal of the company now is to go after a lot more jobs and be able to manage a lot more jobs than we were before,” he states. This shift is part of a broader vision to expand the firm’s footprint in the industry, striving to secure a spot among Jamaica’s top three most prominent construction companies. According to Issa, the defining characteristic of ISSA Construction is its unparalleled dedication to client service.This ethos is not just a corporate philosophy but a practiced reality that significantly contributes to the firm’s high rate of repeat business. “We’re way more outgoing, and we make ourselves very available to our clients,” Issa explains. “From our communication standpoint to our transparency standpoint, from pretty much every standpoint there is.” He continues, “That’s one of the main reasons our business comes mainly from repeat clients. We’ve done a lot of developments for developers who continue to use us.” This repeat business, Issa argues, stems from a foundation of honesty and openness, which has fostered deep trust between the company and its clients.“We’re readily available to them whenever they need. And we have a quick turnaround when they ask us to make adjustments to the drawings, on-site, or whatever it may be.” THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS IN CONSTRUCTION In construction, where multiple disciplines intersect and timelines are often as tight as budgets, robust relationships become beneficial and essential. ISSA Construction recognizes this intricate dance of coordination and cooperation, strongly emphasizing relationship management as a core pillar of its operational strategy. Issa articulates the critical nature of these relationships, framing construction as a discipline of project management intertwined deeply with interpersonal relations.“Construction boils down to project management and relationships with every single person involved in the project,” he explains. Clients’ emotional and financial investment in construction projects makes managing expectations and interactions crucial. “It’s very emotional,” Issa continues,“and that’s why it’s very critical to maintain the relationships with everybody involved. It’s people management.” The complexity extends beyond just the client- contractor dynamic. Each subcontractor brings a unique set of challenges and styles to the project, necessitating a flexible and understanding approach from the main contractor. “We deal with a lot of different subcontractors daily. Each of them is 27 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 04 ISSA CONSTRUCT ION LTD