What Is Engineering, Learning to Be an Engineer - Coursework Example

Page Topic: Journal and Summary Topic What is Engineering? Summary: The objective of this part of the is to portray Engineering as defined by Engineering Australia, while identifying the basic concepts and laws involved in engineering as a science. It further identifies the Engineer’s social responsibility in relation to positive impact on access to life’s basics in the developing world, and the creation of appropriate technology- economically and in terms of environmental functionality. Journal: I would love this to be a programme that integrates the concept of industrial engineering into its approach to Engineering discipline. This, in essence, because it would provide the tool to design efficient and effective processes, as well as enabling the mathematical and statistical analysis of problems, to design a problem-solving methodology. This aspect also helped me understand that, as an engineer, I need a mindset that applies fundamentals to produce solutions. Topic 2: The Engineering Method Summary: This course aspect has the objective of outlining the steps and requirements involved in the engineering process, such as: (a) systems thinking, which identifies problem elements through attention to their components and boundaries, and an understanding of cross-boundary interactions, (b) reporting, which involves (courtesy of a final report, recommendation of requirements to customers, (c) writing skills, i.e. ability to write clearly and concisely, (d) reflective practice, i.e. journal-keeping while learning in stages through the project. Journal: Through this course, I want to be able to solve engineering problems such that the solution addresses a need. Defining such a problem, however, was a difficulty faced by my project team on this course. The problem is the need to be addressed, and not the solution itself. I’m therefore looking for an engineering method that provides a structured approach which ensures that needs are met, while generating the necessary information. I’m also interested in being enabled, through engineering training, to handle the challenge of effective problem management along with resources such as time, money, equipment and people. I plan to consolidate on skills and knowledge by recording immediately after a project, ideas and knowledge gained, while still fresh in memory. Toward developing my desired skills, this course has helped me understand and appreciate the importance of communication skills. Topic 4: Learning To Be An Engineer Summary: The objective of this part of the course is to present the attributes that contribute to an individual’s employability as an engineer, given the evolution of the profession. Attributes encapsulate the combination of integrity, commitment and reliability, interwoven with motivation, enthusiasm, and common sense. These are, in addition, incorporated with positive self-esteem, adaptability, personal presentation and ability to deal with pressure. An engineer must be able to strategise his learning procedure by reason of sight, sound and action. He must further be able to improve through study habits and the environment, manage time and aim high. He must celebrate, and improve on his strengths and weaknesses. His experience, knowledge and understanding must be brought to bear, relating these to his learning style- which also must incorporate elements of spatial ability, surface and deep learning, and reflective ness. Journal: I want to emerge from this programme as a professional who can use my skills productively. Being mathematically and scientifically inclined, my earlier background was in industrial engineering, as it encapsulates a wide range of disciplines. Sequel to graduation, my most enjoyable jobs have involved usage of analysis to create a determined outcome, such as software programme or budget. I have, however, desired to focus on a project-based industry, be it in the context of involvement in innovative projects, project development, or even consulting. I’m hoping my present studies will help me achieve this. Topic 4: Understanding Communication Summary: This course aspect has the objective of elucidating recognised competencies required for successful performance as an engineer. These include: (a) effective use of verbal communication, (b) fluency in written and spoken English, (c) clarity and conciseness in communication, (d) self-management, (e) interaction with persons in various fields of expertise, (f) commitment to doing one’s best, (g) honesty, and (h) problem solving. This section further makes clear the importance of the fact that contextual factors impact communication, which in turn impacts the design, transmission and interpretation of a message. Journal: I have realised experientially that communication is vital in teamwork. Engineering, not just a matter of technical work, entails how to listen, persuade, negotiate and cooperate with information flow at all levels. It also involves ability to exhibit your work, and the manner in which it adds value to an establishment. This is important because at managerial level, it is vital that we can convey to other experts the goal of an engineering project, so as to make them work towards that objective. I believe that today’s employers need the following qualities in their engineering personnel: (10) team players, (2) adaptability, (3) practicality, (4) integrity, (5) enthusiasm, (6) leadership potential, (7) verbal and written communication & interpersonal skills, (8) innovativeness & results, (9) responsibility. These, respectively and in order of desirability, are scored excellent for (1) – (4), fair for (5) – (7), and good for (8) – (9). I believe it will enhance the richness, as well as ability to develop skills and knowledge on this programme, if special attention is paid to this inclination that present-day employers have. The activities of this part of the programme have helped me further develop the understanding that client and project team must communicate effectively from a project’s earliest stage. Topic 5: Enabling Skills for Engineers Summary: This section has the objective of laying out the framework that incorporates the various elements that comprise an engineer’s enabling skill. Simultaneously, it points out the negative elements within the framework namely (in the context of communication), presumption, lack of communication, prejudiced or selective hearing, and aversion to dialogue. Active listening, also a vital part of this (communication competence) scheme, while professionalism, time management, ability to reflect, prioritise, identify success barriers, are encapsulated in the achievement requirement structure of an engineer’s enabling skill. This, in addition to the engineer being responsible, and able to apply timesheets in his scheduling. Teamwork is yet another dimension of this framework, multi-dimensional in its elements, such as negotiation ability through conflict or dispute resolution, proper leadership style as an inspirational/transformational model. High performance through good communication, time efficiency, accountability, and defined member roles, all harmonised with procedures, purpose, participants, style and timing, are another essential branch of this engineering competence structure. Again, issues worth recognising as negative features (and hence to be avoided) are highlighted – such as free-ride and know-it-all attitudes, mismatched expectations, and responsibility-shirking through task allocation. Journal: I really want this to be a programme that develops me through participatory involvement of colleagues, in a manner similar to the attitude of professionals in the office, where people don’t just come to be allocated a task, but rather, actively incline themselves towards figuring out solutions to engineering problems. I have also, through this course, become aware of the delicate distinction in terminologies referring to teams or groups, in an engineering context. Topic 6: Information Skills Summary: This part of the course espouses the goal of instilling the ability to properly define the needed information for an engineering project. This, through the recognition of various categories of information sources. In this context, the latter have been functionally recognised as management-related, courtesy of: (a) relevant records, (b) indexing/cataloguing, (c) referencing and citing. Colleagues, stakeholders, tutors and peers, are further harmonised with this structure, while clients, documents and GIS systems are also interwoven with the framework- which in addition entails evaluation of sources for accuracy, relevance, date, source, and credibility. Journal: I desire to be able to manage huge amounts of information in complex projects. Developing this ability is even more imperative in the present (internet) age, where application and sourcing of appropriate information towards a project’s desired objective, without derailing the project’s goal, is an increasing challenge. The use and acknowledgement of sources has been very helpful to me towards realising this aspect of my aim regarding the course. Topic 7: Problem-solving Tools The objective of this aspect of the subject is a concise expression of the key aspects of problem solving tools in engineering. These include generation of alternative solutions, stakeholder opinion and involvement, interdisciplinary approach on complex problems, socio-ecological and systems-thinking. Journal: I have been afforded opportunity by this programme to have more practice at doing presentations- which has hitherto been a weakness of mine. I have been able to recognise various elements of my inadequacy in this area. This programme has also thrown up the challenge of bringing structure to a project. Topic 8: Sustainable Engineering This course aspect’s objective aims to facilitate an understanding of the elements of an engineer’s practice which promote social, economic and environmental sustainability. Parameters of assessment of the latter are briefly elucidated and explained, as part of the objective. Examples include ecological rucksack/footprint, resource intensity, EIA and lifecycle assessment. Cost-benefit analysis, as an aspect of economically sustainable engineering is explained, essentially as the assignment of values to project costs and benefits, to determine project viability. Socially sustainable engineering is explained as organisational involvement in the health and wellbeing of the community, consumers and staff. Journal: Sustainability engineering, as an area of study interest to me (in a previous academic programme), has been further illuminated in my understanding through this part of the course. I now appreciate more, that every effort regarding sustainability is relevant, however little. Further, that a product’s value is determined not only by its cost, but by its benefit to society and environment. Topic 9: Ethics in Engineering This course aspect has the object of asserting that there is a responsibility, owed by the professional engineer, to his community, institution, colleagues, and his own conscience. This objective itemises ethical points which more or less overlap across professional bodies used as illustration, such as Engineers Australia, IPENZ and IEEE. There are the recurring themes of honesty, integrity, conscience, community and environmental interest, professionalism and competence. Fairness, professional improvement and cooperation, are also mentioned as vital elements of the ethics. The engineer’s international effectiveness is impacted by an understanding of these elements especially in a cultural context. Journal: I am conscious of the engineering challenges which affect my work as a professional engineer. Further, that my working conditions are likely to be such that decisions are beyond my control, which may affect the quality of results. I now realise that an understanding of ethics (courtesy of this subject) will help me under such circumstances, where decision-making may be difficult. Topic 10: Managing Engineering Projects Summary: This course aspect’s objective acquaints one with the main stages of an engineering project, namely, feasibility, conceptual design, detailed design, and implementation. It also explains environmental, construction and design risks (along with project activity interdependency), as elements of risk management in engineering projects. Knowledge-sharing and management also feature, whereby the former involves manuals, workshops and seminars, while management controls potential loss of information. Email, text messaging and networking sites, among others, constitute the learning community environment in this concept. Quality Management elements include process and systems approach, leadership, customer focus, supplier relationships, and continual improvement. Purpose, procedures, people process, improvement plans, comprise other management elements- including performance indicators. Journal: Engineering work takes place in technical and social systems, whose interaction is necessary for the success of engineering projects. I have found knowledge-management plan useful, particularly regarding information preservation, in the face of staff departure from organisations. Topic 11: Communicating Information Summary: The objective of this aspect lays out the integration of approach and context as the main channels of information communication. The essential ramifications of these, such as conventions and mechanisms, goals, jargon and information exchange, were identified as elements of professional context. In the same vein, approach incorporates professional opinion and factual communication- ramified under accuracy, accessibility, focus and target and completeness- and these are also vital aspects. Elements of visual, written and oral communication are exhaustively elucidated, while planning of presentations is also noted as comprising elements identifiable and linkable to the above-described framework. Journal: Engineering, particularly at management level, demands ability to communicate formally, in an official manner. The presentation involved can sometimes be comprehensive in its requirement structure, and this I find challenging. Topic 12: Your Engineering Future Summary: This course aspect’s objetive portrays engineering future as a function of relationship between globalisation and emerging engineering fields such as animatronics, sustainable engineering, materials science( to name a few), in an interplay with skill shortage acting as a pull factor to skilled migration. Career management (as impacted by elements of management approach), career plan, initiative and professional development, are also put in perspective, especially in relation to ensuring better service to the community, enhancement of effectiveness, and maintenance of technical competence. Development practices are noted as inclusive of private study, service to the profession, presentation and teaching. Journal: I expect, through this programme, to be able to re-evaluate my engineering career to give me the opportunity to find new ways of developing my career. I am able to consolidate through the knowledge gained in this course, by offering a more complete engineering approach to the engineering labour market. This, particularly in the context of project development. Read More