Information Communications Technology - Personal Statement Example

Information communications technology The chance to give a helping hand to the disadvantage in the society contributed a lot to my involvement with the engineers without borders organization. The need to facilitate change in the community and utilize my engineering skills was foremost among the reasons for working with this organization. Engineers without borders provided an opportunity to work in diverse fields which presented a chance to get experience in the design and implementation of engineering principles. It presented an access to unlimited engineering knowledge that would be important to my development as an engineer. Working with engineering without borders organization also provides a chance for me to give back to society through the utilization of engineering knowledge to help the disadvantaged in society and hence help them make their lives a little better. The knowledge that engineering without borders is an international organization also provided the extra motivation to work with them because they provide an opportunity for growth and development of an engineer to international standards. They make possible the dream for an engineer to practice on the biggest stage of all: the international stage. As a student majoring in computer system engineering, this particular challenge offered a chance for me to shoehorn my skills in information communications technology. It provides a challenge for a computer systems engineer to put into practice all he has been learned over the school period. It will provide an opportunity for broadening my knowledge of information communications technology. A successful project in information communications technology in the Timor Leste area will provide me with the first challenge in problem solving. Having studied the challenges facing the development in the area, it is my believe that it is the duty of knowledgeable individuals in the field of engineering to pool their knowledge and come up with projects that will benefit the community and put them on par with other developed communities in the country. Motivation for study The development of rural area is an important aspect of national development and Timor Leste is not any less important. The use of information communication technology in fighting poverty and getting rid of human dependency acted as a motivation for the choosing of this project. Rural development is a pressing problem that needs to be addressed nationally and even internationally. Timor Leste could be the first step in the enactment of sweeping changes that could be felt over the whole world. While telecommunication infrastructure in the capital (Dili) is well developed, the rural areas are neglected with no mobile phone coverage. There are also extensive reports on the computer illiteracy prevalent in the region. The schools within Timor Leste have no electricity and by extension no computers. Illiteracy in computer technology in the 21st century can only be likened to an epidemic for which a cure should be developed as first as possible. With the unavailability of computers, the study of essential computer education is not possible. This presents a larger problem, not only to Timor Leste , but also to the nation (EWB, 2013). It poses a serious challenge to the countries’ education and industrial system. How can the education system of a nation be considered successfully when important elements like computer literacy have been excluded? How can the students who graduate from these schools be expected to compete on the same level with students from more affluent areas who have had access to computer technology and education since they were born? With increasing industrial growth, where would the industrial sector find skilled labor to run the complex manufacturing processes and procedure? With lack of electricity, computers and internet, there also raises a question of current affairs to be considered. It is therefore imperative that the people, who have the ability to solve some of the problems afflicting these regions, step in to help. In the first national conference on the future of Australia’s county towns, Keller (2011) argues that the lack of rural amenities and development will continue being the main cause of rural urban migration and the reduction of arable land in these regions. This will eventually put a strain on the country’s economic resources in time and the rural problem that would have been ignored for so long would now be an official national problem (Keller, 2011) Information communication technology can play a significant role in the reversing of this trend. This also acted as a motivating factor in the undertaking of this study. It is important in the health sector, education system and the earning system. Information communication technology can be utilized in the research and development of new better ways of doing things, cultivates local passion, rethink development schemes and help in the implantation of the new ideas. The goal of using Information communication technology in improvement the lives of the people living in Timor Leste does not only aim to bridge the existing social divide but also fostering social inclusion which will be important in the transformation of existing social systems and the environment. These two will then form the base for development. With information communication technology, the people of Timor Leste can be made accessible to information which is the first step n development. Provision of information on a wide range of activities including market prices for the locally produced goods and extension services for the undertaking in the rural area will go a long way in ensuring the areas first step in development (Viitanen, 2005) Another motivating factor for basing the study on information communications technology is the fact that all the other projects would eventually need ICT integration. Most of the projects that would be developed on infrastructure, water supply, sanitation and hygiene, energy and climate change would need integration features of ICT so as to be fully successful. Barriers to success of the study Capital concerns. The study focuses on ICT and like all technological projects; this study will require a substancial amount of capital for research and design to the required levels of perfections. ICT projects need specific variables when compared to other project designs from the competing disciplines. For the study to be all inclusive of all the people of Timor Leste and not only Codo, the research would have to be done conclusively so as to provide the necessary information that will help in designing an ICT feature that is applicable to all areas as per requirements from the engineers without borders. Limited research materials; like all remote rural areas, previous studies done on the same are few in number and those present are not up to date. The trend of having a wealth of information on cities and so little information on our rural areas is going to be a major obstacle. Effort to get better and conclusive research will lead to a rise in capital requirements for the project. Effective team work From the team discussions and meetings, it’s fairly conclusive that teamwork is an important aspect of any study. The conditions necessary for effective communication and hence a working environment include leadership, defined roles, conflict resolution plans, delegation, patience, reinforcement and effective communication. Effective communication is an integral part of teamwork as it defines the interpersonal relationships and interactions within the group. Especially for an intensive subject like ICT that requires constant crosschecking of design futures, the team members require to be able to understand each other’s points of view for effective implementation. Roles of each team member should also be clear cut to discourage laziness and ensure everybody carries out their tasks as efficiently as possible. Responsibility in members is created this way as everyone works to achieve their individual goals and by extension, the goals of the whole team. Conflict resolution also presents itself as an essential component of team coexistence. When handling the project individuals differ over the course of action to be taken in doing things hence the necessity to have conflict resolution methods. Team members should learn that they work in a group hence should be able to effectively communicate without hurting each other’s feelings. Patience is also important for team work and team morale. In a venture which requires constant design and redesign of components and procedures, team members who are able to work faster should bear with the slower members of the group. Everybody should be able live with the weaknesses of others while taking full advantage of the strengths. Reinforcement is the feedback from the group on all fronts. Regular meetings should be held to ensure that members are tackling their sections on time. Individuals who lag behind because of a lack of effort should be reminded that their actions compromise the work of others. Dialogue is employed to prevent occurrence of disputes. References EWB, 2013, engineers without borders: plan Timor Leste EWB challenge, project design brief, Melbourne: EWB institute Keller, J. W., 2011, the importance of rural development in the 21st century: persistence, sustainability and futures, Kansas: Kansas state university Viitanen, A. K., 2005, the role of ICT in governing rural development, IFAD: Rome Read More