Australian Engineering Practice: Roles, Responsibilities and Sustainable Development

This article discusses the roles and responsibilities of engineers in Australia, the need to employ principles of sustainable development, managing information and documentation, and effective communication across a range of contexts. It also highlights the challenges faced by engineers due to recent economic issues and changes in the world economy.

Running head: AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERING PRACTICE
AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERING PRACTICE
Name of the University
Name of the student
Author Note

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Learning outcome 3: Discuss engineer’s roles, responsibilities and the need to employ
principles of sustainable development.
What
After conducting some research on Australian engineering and sustainable
development, I came to understand the critical role that engineers play in innovating life in
Australia. Their innovation is the reason why we can enjoy prosperity, wellbeing and good
health in this dynamic world. Another topic which caught my attention was on sustainable
development. I was fascinated to know the reasoning behind employing sustainable
development in the world today. It deeply concerned me that why was the need for
sustainable development not raised in the previous decade.
So what
Engineers not only work with electronics, designs and machines. They employ maths
and science to create inventions and innovations to make our life a better place to live in
(Mello, Strandhagen and Alfnes 2015). From this research experience, I learned that the
engineers are necessary for adding high value , high tech activities in the society helping it to
get more globally connected with the emerging technologies.
After reviewing some recent statistics, I found out that the engineers in Australia are facing a
lot of difficulties due to the recent economic issues and changes in the world economy.
What else
According to me, it is the inherent right of every individual to preserve the
environment in a sustainable manner so that our future generations can enjoy the benefits of

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the innovations that the engineers and other professionals are investing in. In my experience,
it is our responsibility to develop without harming the environment.
What now
In my experience, the engineers should commit their job roles in the risk assessment
of their innovations with respect to the environment. They should voluntarily educate the
people about the consequences of scientific developments on the environment (Holden,
Linnerud, and Banister 2017). Moreover, I think they should explicitly take care of the
impact of technology on the environment and nature for future sustainable development.
Learning outcome 4: Manage information and documentation.
What
After reviewing some articles and journals, in my experience managing and documentation of
information in engineering is critical. I totally feel that proper management of information
helps for multiple revision support and accurate data representation. Proper documentation is
also essential as per my knowledge for assuring compliance with regulations, improving
operational excellence, increased efficiency and proper data quality.
So what
In my experience, engineering projects nowadays in Australia and around the world
are conducted with the new trend of outsourcing. Such a group effort requires through
processing of information for minimizing downtime and increasing productivity (Schwalbe
2015)

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Poor management and documentation of information result in inefficiency in the
engineering process which results in increased project time for the company as well as the
client, variations and reworks and direct delays.
What else
This is a real problem according to me, as proper documentation of information is
necessary for conducting business critical decisions in engineering. In my experience, the
management and documentation of information helps to retain clients and potential
stakeholders by maintaining a relevant and reliable source of information.
What now
From this experience, I have learnt the value of conducting precise control of
managing and documenting relevant information. It will enable me to understand the
importance of ensuring that the client as well as the project databases are effectively collected
and validated to provide the deployed system with the maximum benefits and provide
maximum confidence to the potential stakeholders of the project. This experience will also
help me to understand the value of engineering tools and the need for proper decision support
with valid documented information in the future.
Learning outcome 5: Communicate effectively across a range of contexts.
What
Effective communication is necessary for any businesses and context subject. In my
experience, I have seen engineers communicate with their prospective clients, people from
different departments and people. I can assess that effective communication is necessary for

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engineers because of the technical and complex nature of the engineering. I believe that to
communicating effectively ensures that all the participants are on the same page.
So what
With proper foundational skills in communication, engineers can thrive to become the
leaders they aspire to be someday. According to my analysis, a single project may contain
public health officials, psychologists, business specialists and several managers. I can deduce
that the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with and each and every member
of the diverse team can have a positive impact on the team reducing the risks associated with
it (Kokhan 2016).
Without effective communication, an individual cannot pass his own opinions to the
rest of the team increasing the chances of the task failing (Hiltz, Van de Walle and Turoff
2014).
What else
After researching some journals and websites, I came to the conclusion that in the
engineering as well as other sectors, proper communication skills are important so that the
engineer can pass his idea to the representatives and management (Broadbent 2013).
What now
From this experience, I have learnt that effective communication is necessary for
adequately passing of information in a channelized proper manner. It has also helped me to
understand why people in the engineering sector hire candidates with good communication
skills rather than experienced individuals with bad communication skills.

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References
Broadbent, D.E., 2013. Perception and communication. Elsevier.
Hiltz, S.R., Van de Walle, B. and Turoff, M., 2014. The domain of emergency management
information. In Information systems for emergency management (pp. 15-32). Routledge.
Holden, E., Linnerud, K. and Banister, D., 2017. The imperatives of sustainable
development. Sustainable Development, 25(3), pp.213-226.
Kokhan, O., 2016. Importance of communication.
Mello, M.H., Strandhagen, J.O. and Alfnes, E., 2015. The role of coordination in avoiding
project delays in an engineer-to-order supply chain. Journal of Manufacturing Technology
Management, 26(3), pp.429-454.
Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.