Management Thinking - Reasons for Interest in EWB Project - Personal Statement Example

Course reflections Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date Interest in EWB project Based on what I have learnt in this course and the insights I have obtained from the project and application of various theories and frameworks covered in this course, I feel that I have taken a step forward in my professional career. I believe that I am better as a student and as a budding professional in the field of surveying engineering. This paper presents my personal reflection over the project, working in a group and the course as a whole. By working in this project, designing a transport solution required critical reflection where all the available options were assessed and the best practical option taken. This required a lot of deliberation among group members. There was need to design a project within the acceptable parameters such as budget and available resources. Bounded rationality posits that when there are inadequate resources and limited ability to search for comprehensive solutions, decision makers can rely on their rationality to make decisions after agreeably streamlining the available options (Furnham, 2005). In this case, the group sought satisfaction by settling down to a satisfactory solution as opposed to an optimal solution. Other than to take more time consulting, the group opted to ignore minor considerations and make quick and effective decisions. Through the project I learned and practiced a lot of observation which is necessary for surveying engineering. Firstly, through observation, I learned to be able to communicate confidently as well as effectively; which is imperative for working with the public and with colleagues. From creating questions and communicating with stakeholders, I learned the value of observing what people think is practical, and what actually is practical (Furnham, 2005). In designing a solution for the transport problem, it was important to engage the stakeholders. Moreover, I learned a lot from the role-play. For example, what are the appropriate questions that I can ask the stakeholders; being open -minded; able to think critically and how to communicate professionally to the stakeholders (Lawanto, 2008). The project was indeed a great opportunity for me to explore the field of surveying engineering at a practical level. Motivations for course I am not alone in taking this course. I understand that each student has different reasons for taking the course or even being in college at this point in time. Many people attend to college as a means to an end. In this capitalistic world, the quality of life is largely measured by material things. Money has penetrated all areas of life that the more money one has, the happier he or she is perceived to be. It is common for parents and society to perceive success in terms of wealth or job position in the corporate world (Karabenick & Newman, 2006). Children are taught from an early age to emulate CEOs such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs despite the two not being academic models. What parents fail to recognise is that success in life cannot be measured by education alone and or even wealth alone. People such as Dalai Lama have little material wealth though they are admired and termed as successful in their lives in many ways. As opposed to this popular culture, I have chosen to define success in my own terms, attaining the goals have I set forth in my life. One of the goals I have set forth in my life is to become an accomplished professional in surveying and engineering. The leading goal in my life is to be a respected professional in surveying and engineering. This is my ultimate personal achievement and my big dream which will give me the satisfaction of my life and upon which my success in life should be assessed. I have always believed that every individual human being in this world has a purpose to fulfil. As a religious person, I believe that fulfilling my purpose in this life will not only make my creator happy but will also give me inner satisfaction and peace. However, this inner peace and satisfaction with self may not be obvious to other people or what society subscribes to. I choose not to be held hostage by societal values. Nonetheless, society respects and acknowledges any form of achievement in a given field be it for positive and negative reasons (Furnham, 2005). For university graduates, they are keenly viewed as very knowledgeable in their respective fields. Apart from fulfilling their professional roles, they are also supposed to set good examples to other students undertaking various courses. I am also motivated to pursue this course in the knowledge that I will earn a decent livelihood. Money is a key motivator for learning and pursuit of higher education in the modern capitalist world. Our society is structured in such a way that the higher one’s education level is, the higher the rewards in the workplace. This is based on the common understanding in the society that a higher education level equips one with higher performance capabilities in their respective jobs. This improves their productivity which is rightly acknowledged and rewarded with better pay and more added benefits. According to the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and health motivate individuals (Lawanto, 2008). Such needs can only be met if one has the means to them which is money. It is only after fulfilling these basic needs that individuals seek satisfaction in life from other areas. For me therefore, money should not be an end in itself but rather a stepping stone to attaining satisfaction from other areas in life. It is for this reason that better pay plays a peripheral motivational role in my life. There are various challenges that I have in my career some course specific and others general; problems that face the everyday student. One of the major issues that I have faced since I commenced this course has been low motivation. This started after performed poorly in the first semester in one module. I felt so bad about that I even contemplated taking another course. I felt as if the course was too demanding and draining all my energy. It is common for students of higher learning to be overwhelmed by new complex problem in the classroom. However, I took drew encouragement and inspiration from my fellow students and especially foreign students whom English was not their first language. I figured that these students faced more problems than students who were native English speakers. Another problem that I have faced in this course is lack of ample time for discussion purposes. While I have been a member of discussion groups, members have not had enough time to hold discussion groups. I have resulted to reading a book on effective time management which I have not yet started. I am hoping that by employing the tactics suggested by the book, I will be able to plan my time in an orderly manner and accomplish most of my tasks every day. Group work reflection While working with the group, I realized a number of important issues of working in teams. The first one was the need for wide consultations with stakeholders. This requires the group leader to engage and consult all relevant stakeholders such as the employees, top management and the team leaders (Glassman, 2008). This is because consultations generate numerous and diverse ideas of how to improve a project and address all the relevant issues that touch on all stakeholders. Moreover, engaging them and consulting them gives the project the confidence of the community to be affected and other stakeholders. This has a huge impact in the design of a project, as some of the concerns raised by stakeholders through consultations should be addressed. Communication is defined as the procedure by which we assign and transmit meaning in an effort of creating shared understanding. Effective communication is vital and it only occurs when the receiver comprehends the exact idea or information that the sender aimed to transmit. Many predicaments that occur in conceptualizing public projects such as this are a result of ineffective communication, which results to confusion and misunderstandings leading to the failure of achievement of project goals and objectives (Malcolm, 2000). Effective communication ensures cooperation and collaboration. Studies have proven that, communicating effectively and succinctly usually reduce the barriers to effective communication some of which includes culture, ourselves, perception and stress (Malcolm, 2000). Culture; the communication process can be adversely affected by our background, culture and bias. These can change the intended meaning of information thus interfering with communication. Conclusion As I pursue my education, I am fully aware that I will pass through some stages. The first stage that I recognise is that of improving my marketability through excellent academic performance. This is critical in fulfilling my main reason of attending college. The second reason and stage is that of having adequate money as a result of my improved position in the labour market that will enable me meet my basic needs as I pursue my psychological desires of being at peace with myself and fulfilling my big dream of being a professional in surveying engineering. This way, I will make my contribution to the world. I will have improved my marketability, earned a better check and ultimately become a professional which I believe is my purpose in life. It is thus my opinion that my fellow students should always have a clear motivating factor in their education. Providing solutions for everyday problems should not only be a career requirement but also a calling and service to humanity. The transportation problem project was a good starting point to those students with doubts about their careers. Courtesy of the project, I am more than ready and willing to dedicate myself to my career and be of serve to humanity. This should also be the same with other students and especially those from group. References Glassman, U 2008, Group work: a humanistic and skills building approach, New York, SAGE Publications Inc. Karabenick, S & Newman, R 2006, Help seeking in academic settings: goals, groups, and contexts, London, Routledge. Lawanto, O 2008, Self-appraisal and Self-management of Cognition and Problem Difficulty: Relationship and Metacognitive Changes During an Engineering Design Project. Sydney: Proquest Malcolm, W 2000, The handbook of management thinking, Brisbane, Thomson Business Press. Read More