Sustainable Development and Information Management in Australian Engineering Practice

This article discusses the roles and responsibilities of engineers in sustainable development and the importance of information management in Australian Engineering Practice. It covers the concept of sustainable development, positive and negative impacts, and ways to implement sustainable methods. It also talks about information management, its uses, positive and negative effects, and ways to improve communication among different contexts in an organization.

Australian Engineering Practice
Unit code: ENEG20001
Term 2, 2017
Reflective Writing Task 1
Student Name:
Student ID:
Week of Submission: …………..
Date of Submission: dd/mm/yyyy
School of Engineering and Technology
Central Queensland University

© Dr Kalam Azad
Learning outcome 3: Discuss engineers roles, responsibilities and the need to employ
principles of sustainable development.
What?
Text
Sustainable development refers to the kind of development that involves the capacity to fulfill
the present needs of the world without compromising on the needs of the future generation
(Holden, Linnerud and Banister 2017). The development that encourages the concept of
sustainability plays a major role in the overall environment development of the world in which
we live. The concept of sustainability for the engineering department refers to the equilibrium
state of environment or an environment that encourages little or limited growth which is tolerable
(Haapala et al. 2013). The need for the engineers to employ principles and their roles and
responsibilities in maintaining so for the sustainable development of the environment is being
discussed in the text.
So What?
Around 1.5 million engineers are engaged the service and the base of engineering studies
upholds the notion that engineering practices should bring about changes in the environment that
is related to the sustainable growth and development of the population at large. They are
involved in the construction of projects that cater to the human needs and can be beneficial to the
population in the longer run. They can help in the extraction of natural resources by modifying
and reusing the same (Wheeler 2013). They also help to meet the demands and needs of the
customers by a number of means. Another contribution of engineering department in the field of

sustainable development is the mode of designing and building transportation communication for
the betterment of the people.
Positive Impact
 Help to develop sustainable growth in the environment without damaging the prospects
of the future generation
 Helps to build greener and safer transportation and communication channels that help to
make sure that no pollution and other wastages are done
 Using natural resources in a moderate and conscious manner and intend to reuse the
valuable resource materials available on the Earth for a more balanced approach.
Negative Impact
 This can clash with the self-interest of the engineer as this kind of developmental work
would not be able to fetch him good profit margin.
 Excessive use of natural resources in projects will exhaust the resources in the longer run.
What else?
Other than the remotely implementing the sustainable methods of developments by the
engineers, a detailed course study can be developed for the same at all times. In the world, where
development is a must, it must be in association with growth that caters to the needs and
fulfillment of the population at a larger scale. Engineers involved in chemical engineering can
use the sustainable means of development by indulging in chemical experiments and processes
that use sustainable use of the energies and renewable energy sources (Stigka, Paravantis and
Mihalakakou 2014). The engineers involved in civil manufacture can use lead-free cementing
techniques and less water in the construction to make the product naturally favorable.
What Now?

There are an ample evidence of the implementation of sustainable development in the field of
engineering in Australia. The engineers have tried their best in maintaining a proper growth rate
in their projects along with benefits that can affect the balance of the environment in the longer
run. The invention of projects like hydroponics and Solar Decathlon is beneficial for the
conservation of energy and utilizing it in the future. Another challenge that is faced by engineers
is the way to minimize the pollution emission by the vehicles in cities causing a huge amount of
pollution. Mechanical engineers have developed a cap in order to reduce the level of pollution
and maintain the balance and purity of the air.
Learning outcome 4: Manage information and documentation.
What?

The term Information Management refers to series of activities that involves the procurement of
information from different sources, then keeping the information in a safe custody and finally
distributing the information to the relevant sources and people who need it at different conditions
(Willcocks 2013). The documentation process refers to the way in which information thus
procured has been stored and documented using either electrical or non-electrical means. This
process involves a lot of sourcing and keeping the information in a private place for safety and
then giving it to the relevant people who need it.
So What?
Information Management can be used in a number of ways, which are stated as follows. One of
the most important uses of the concept of Information Management to restore and protect the
quality of data along with its accuracy and consistency. It processes improvements in project
management and can help to improve the knowledge of data supporting business strategies and
other business associated measures. It accesses the business value of information needed across
the enterprise incorporating quality and designs in supporting infrastructures (Laudon and
Laudon 2016).
The positive effects of Information Management helps in the monitoring of periodic key aspects
of KPI. The importance in keeping the information locked and stored in documents is a key
factor that help to make the information usable in terms of need. In addition, managing
information on a regular basis help to make the work better as the required information needed is
stored and supplied only in times of need.
The negative effects of Information Management include the privacy issues that is concerned
with the keep and managing the information and managing the documents required in the longer

period. If the information kept is not secured and is prone to hacking, then all the documents
associated would not be useful for the important work of the organization.
What else?
Information management should be made on a more secure manner with documentations being
done at confidentiality. Better software and imputing techniques should be made viable to the
organization and the people associated with it.
What Now?
Information management is on the priority list of most of the organizations dealing with
information and privacy sector. Documentations are done in a confidential manner and kept at
secrecy (Boemker et al. 2013). The organizations associated with the above cases not only help
in maintaining the privacy of the organization but also help to make the process easier by
applying simple documentation processes in the whole information management. The
information are managed through a string of processes like applying relevant applications and
procedures that help to make the process secured, relevant and user friendly.

Learning outcome 5: Communicate effectively across a range of contexts.
What?
Communication is the transfer of information from the sender to the receiver. The process of
communication can be either verbal or written depending on the situation and the type of
environment the communication is being processed (Broadbent 2013). In a typical engineering
firm, formal and professional mode of communication is being utilized as it helps to understand
the situation better and maintain the dignity of the organization within the minds of the workers
and clients both.
So What?
Communication is an essential part for the working of an organization as without
communication, no work can be done in a consistent and reliable manner. It acts as a problem
solver and helps to solve a number of difficult and complicated problems within a short period.
Communication also eliminates the barriers involved in the process of work and helps to co-
accommodate the various principles and working styles of different workers with different
working styles coming from a variety of backgrounds. Engineering involves a large amount of
communication process both in between clients and employees of a particular organization which
benefits the organization work process substantially (Martin and Nakayama 2013). Due to the
formal and informal modes of communications, the workers as well as the clients get better

interaction with the senior authorities which help in better execution of the work and making the
environment liberal with a levied personal touch.
What else?
There are a number of ways to improve communication among different contexts in an
organization. One of the principle ways is to make the environment less formal by indulging the
employees in recreational activities other than monotonous desk jobs. Implementation of certain
rules and regulations and also adherence to the same make the environment of the organization a
better place to work for. The authorities and lower groups should maintain a cordial relationship
that makes the place less stringent and gives motivation and company loyalty to the employee for
better execution of work (Luria and Berson 2013). Communication among different sectors and
arenas of employees can also be improved by making improved interactions among them by the
conduct of office social gatherings that can help in making interactions with the people of
different sectors. Also, another way that is to be recommended which would help in maintaining
communication among people of different context is to make sure that all the barriers related to
ethnic issues and communication issues should be handled with patience and utmost thought
process. Communication among the different context is the key for solving all general issues in
an organization that should be treated so.
What Now?
Communication issues is all around the globe in different sectors of workplace but at present due
to the intervention of a number of authorities and their trying to reduce the communication gap
among different employees, the concept of communication among different contexts is gaining
popularity and is being successful in the process. A formal and serious tone is maintained in the

communication process of the organizations of different sectors in every field including
engineering.

References (Harvard style referencing is highly recommended for both in-text and list of
the references)
Boemker, T., Keller, M., Schock, C., Kleingers, M.E., Huff, P.E., Gieske, T.P., Gersten, J.D. and
Danner, J.E., ELYNX Ltd, 2013. Electronic document management system. U.S. Patent
8,572,388.
Broadbent, D.E., 2013. Perception and communication. Elsevier.
Haapala, K.R., Zhao, F., Camelio, J., Sutherland, J.W., Skerlos, S.J., Dornfeld, D.A., Jawahir,
I.S., Clarens, A.F. and Rickli, J.L., 2013. A review of engineering research in sustainable
manufacturing. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 135(4), p.041013.
Holden, E., Linnerud, K. and Banister, D., 2017. The imperatives of sustainable
development. Sustainable Development, 25(3), pp.213-226.
Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J.P., 2016. Management information system. Pearson Education
India.
Luria, G. and Berson, Y., 2013. How do leadership motives affect informal and formal
leadership emergence?. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34(7), pp.995-1015.
Martin, J.N. and Nakayama, T.K., 2013. Intercultural communication in contexts. New York:
NY: McGraw-Hill.
Stigka, E.K., Paravantis, J.A. and Mihalakakou, G.K., 2014. Social acceptance of renewable
energy sources: A review of contingent valuation applications. Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews, 32, pp.100-106.
Wheeler, S.M., 2013. Planning for sustainability: creating livable, equitable and ecological
communities. Routledge.

Willcocks, L., 2013. Information management: the evaluation of information systems
investments. Springer.

References (Harvard style referencing is highly recommended for both in-text and list of
the references)