Water Conservation: Proposed Changes and Effective Management

This reflective writing task discusses the importance of water conservation, proposed changes, effective time management, communication skills, collaboration and leadership skills, and commitment to professional development. It also includes an example of engineering ethics.

Student: Phanindra
Writing task Acceptable Comment
1 (a) Yes/No Good
1 (b) Yes/No Sound
1 (c) Yes/No Good
2 Yes/No Sound
3 Yes/No Poor. Needs revising. Discuss your oral, written
communication skills.
4 Yes/No Sound
5 Yes/No Poor. Needs revising
6 Yes/No Good
Note:
 Rewrite that have been commented Poor.
 Improve that have been commented sound.
 Improve English structure, spelling and punctuation.

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ENEG 20003 Sustainable Studio
CQUniversity
Melbourne Term2, 2018.
Reflective writing task 3 on Water conservation
Name of the Student: Phanindra Gundala
Student ID: 12049309
Unit Coordinator: Md Nurun Nabi
Unit Tutor: Nasir

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Contents
Part 1...........................................................................................................................................................2
A brief overview of the problem.................................................................................................................2
Current state and proposed changes..........................................................................................................2
Part 2...........................................................................................................................................................4
Effective time management........................................................................................................................4
Your communication skills...........................................................................................................................4
Your cooperation/collaboration and leadership skills.................................................................................4
Your commitment to professional development.........................................................................................4
Discuss with an example of engineering ethics...........................................................................................4
References...................................................................................................................................................5

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Part 1
A brief overview of the problem
In the modern-day scenario, water conservation is one of the most important things
needed for saving the lives of many. In other words, people must realize that water is one of the
basic necessities of life. At the same time, people must be aware of the fact that water is being
misused in many parts of the country. There are people living in different parts of the world who
crave forever two drops of water. This makes them travel for a long distance for getting even a
small amount of water. It has to be kept in mind that water is needed for agriculture as well
Australia is one of the most important and largest exporters of food items. There has been a lack
of enough rain falls and this has led to draughts. As a result of this, the allocation of water for
irrigational purposes has been uneven. This has resulted in a huge amount of loss. I have been
assigned as a project leader for leading the project that would help solve this problem. However,
during the initial time, I recorded some problems that were taking place. One of the major
problems was a lack of know-how about the impending problem. They were not really capable of
dealing with each and every problem that is associated with the water conservation. One of the
major problems that were associated with this project was the in-depth knowledge and the
communication issue of the employees. As a result of this, I thought that one of the change that
needs to be incorporated in employing people who are experts.
Current state and proposed changes
In other words, I wanted to recruit people who will be having an in-depth knowledge
about the water conservation. One of the major issues that I recorded during the last phase of the
season was not that successful because the employees were not well versed in all the benefits of
water conservation. So, the results or the outcomes were not very successful. So, I also analyzed
the existing system of the project. I realized that there was also a lack of proper training among
the employees. So, I will recruit the employees after passing them through many interviews.
Apart from this, I will also try to provide a training session so that the skills of the employees are
developed properly. The communication skills are one of the most important things that people
need on this kind of conservation prospects. In other words, they have to talk about the benefits
that people will get after developing a proper communication skill and an in-depth know how.
Currently, the employees who are appointed for this project are not that good in communication.
It is for this reason that I will develop a communication training system for all the employees. I
will make sure that the communication training is an all round training that helps the employees
to develop their competency in oral and written communication as well.

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I think that this change is indeed very essential because this will help in bringing the
victims together and make them realize that water conservation is one of the most important
things in the modern day scenario. Proper training also must be given to the employees after they
are recruited. This will help them to deal with all the issues rather than leaving them. If they are
educated properly, they will be able to deal with the issues like health and hygiene, gender and
water conservation, irrigation and water conservation and many other such aspects. For an
instance, if the employees are trained in the health and hygiene part, then they will be able to
convey the benefits of health and its connection with the message to the people of the affected
regions. In other words, people in those affected regions will know that they must construct
proper bathrooms and try to use the water in a proper way. They have to make sure that they are
using the sanitation system and get the proper channels for using water. So, the employees have
to make sure that they are demonstrating all the healthy habits among those people by acting
them out. This is the benefit of being trained in the matter of communication. The employees
have to know that some people understand by seeing the visual things whereas others might
understand the same just by listening to the normal kind of conversation. This has to be instilled
in the minds of the present workers that most of the people who are starving from water belong
to the undeveloped and the rural regions. So it is important for the employees to make sure that
they are making their communication as clear as possible.
This will surely help them to make sure that they have to use different methods of
communication for conveying a different message to different kinds of people. I think that these
training will surely help to improve the current condition of the employees. I feel that as this
effort is basically hinted at promoting the general welfare of the society, they have to be very
social and down to earth. So I will be bringing this change within the project. People who will be
recruited or selected for this project must be experts in all these fields. The existing employees or
the members who are a part of the project must also be given proper training facilities so that
they can develop a good communication system. I will also try to appoint experts in the field of
cultural competence. It will help in the maintenance of the emotions and the sentiments of the
people. As a part of this project, I and my team have to travel to places like some in Africa and
its surrounding regions where water conservation is one of the basic needs. So, I have realized
that I need to train my project members in a way that they do not say anything that would harm
the emotions and the sentiments of the people of the affected regions. I feel that all the protect
members need to remember the fact that many of the people of the affected regions are illiterate
and poor.
So, it must be our duty to support them and not make fun of their illiteracy or their poor
economic condition. It is our duty to teach them the ways of water conservation like harvesting
the rainwater for irrigational purposes, closing the taps after using, providing them medicines
that would kill the suspended impurities and other such means. So, I would suggest that people
with proper water conservation experience have to be assigned for this project. Along with this,
there has to be an overall thorough communication and training for all the members so that they

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can communicate with the victims in a proper and kind manner. I would also bring about the
change of including the cross-cultural training within the curriculum. This would help them to
respect the people of varied cultures and places.

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Part 2
Effective time management
I always try to make a rough plan of the work. This helps me to proceed on a step by step
manner. I always try to do an in-depth study before taking the final work into my hand. Before
taking up this project and initiating the changes I have undergone a thorough study of the
previous performance of this team. After analyzing and deeply studying through all the past
performance, I thought of making some of the changes. I will always make sure that I am making
a rough plan before starting the work. It is only after making the rough plan; I will start with the
fresh work and will try to avoid all sorts of mistakes. I will also set a deadline for myself that
will help me to improve and finish my work within the given amount of time.
Your communication skills
I always make sure that I am keeping a proper control over my body language and my
cross-cultural competency. I try to use many visual demonstrations like power point and slide
shows for making the message much more interesting. I try not to use any words that would
harm the emotions or the sentiments of people belonging to the poor, vulnerable or from the
different other parts of the society. I will try to work over my oral skills by taking part in many
of the on spot speaking competitions. I will also try to take part in many of the written
assignments that will help me in increasing written communication skills.
Your cooperation/collaboration and leadership skills
I always try to follow the transformational leadership system so that I can inspire and
bring about a change in my co-workers or the teammates. I try to support my team at each and
every step. I make sure that they are getting the adequate support from me. I always try to
provide them with both moral and professional support as well. I try to listen to their grievances
and make sure that they are getting the chance to share their opinion and their feedback. I will try
to follow the transformational leadership system where I will no longer try to create a change or
a vision for the followers. I will try to make sure that my followers are getting proper support in
the course of their work. I will try to increase my domain skill so that I can cater to the needs and
demands of my followers. I will take care of all their interests and make sure that they are get a
good, productive and employee friendly ambience.
Your commitment to professional development
I always keep my commitment and dedication before everything. I try to give in my
100percent effort to finish my work with perfection. I always stay honest towards my work and
never hide my drawbacks. I will always be very punctual for all the trainings, sessions,

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workshops or any other activities going on within the organization. I will not take any undue
advantage of my power or position. I will keep an open mind so that I can gather all the
innovative ideas from the colleagues. This will surely help me to focus on my professional
growth.
Discuss with an example of engineering ethics
I have often seen some of our supervisors do not let us share the information with the
clients for their own personal benefit or reputation. For an example, during the construction of
water dams for water conservation facility, the supervisors often ask us to withhold the sensitive
information like weak and loose soil, poor quality water and others. However, I try to come out
from this dilemma thinking that neither can I afford to lose my care nor betray the clients. So, I
try to seek help from some other seniors or some support groups.

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References
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& Water Resources Symposium 2016: Water, Infrastructure and the Environment (p. 74).
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Deardorff, D.K., 2017. Cross‐Cultural Competence. The International Encyclopedia of
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