Australian Engineering Practice Reflection Report: Skills Analysis

This report presents a reflection on Australian engineering practice, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving project goals. The author discusses the significance of collaboration in modern engineering, highlighting how technology facilitates communication and resou...Read More

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Australian Engineering Practice Reflection
Name:
Course:
Date:

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Working on a project requires more of teamwork than individual efforts for maximum
benefits. Collaboration is very important for any project or a task which needs to be
undertaken. It is said to occur when a group or two individuals join together and work
towards accomplishing a certain goal through sharing of their skills and ideas. However, I
have come to realize that due to the advancement in technology, it can happen in much more
other diverse ways such as the use for cloud-based programs to communicate or even sharing
files and other materials online (Morgan, 2014, p.100). It has become one of the most
important factors which contribute to the success of any business besides having positive
employees who can perform well. This allows the employees to become more creative,
productive and innovative hence promoting a healthy working relationship and a better
business environment. Having the skill to advise people on the best ways to work for
maximum outputs motivates me. However, the skill to work under pressure is still a
challenge to me hence I still need to work towards perfecting it to become useful in my
engineering career.
Collaboration is of great significance for a team project for various reasons. One of the
most importance of job collaboration is that it creates self-motivation or awareness. It forces
one to express their competencies in an individual field as it manifests whatever one presents
on the table and this can only be possible through collaboration. It challenges a person to
express and extract whatever they are good and talented at and at the same time help they
realize what they are poor at or whatever needs improvement (Amabile & Kramer, 2011, p.
66). This means that it becomes possible to present the weaknesses and strengths that one
possesses honestly so that one can ask for assistance where necessary and also be bold about
how one can be of help to others. The effectiveness in problem-solving was quite

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encouraging such that the output level increased. However, the differences in cultures and
understanding capabilities or simply the quest of each one to be listened to and approved
proved to be frustrating such that making a simple decision became difficult. Collaboration
requires that all team members are working towards one direction, which is achieving the set
goals and targets by the employer. It is therefore important for all employees to collaborate
efficiently with one another and ensure colleagues respect for the better prospect of the set
goals.
I was once the financial manager in a company I was working for, and this necessitated me
to instruct my juniors especially when giving directions. The employees appreciated teamwork a
great scale and thus dealing with them was quite encouraging hence had an easy time. This is
because the process of problem-solving was made easy and arriving at a constructive decision
was quite easy (LCT (Conference), Zaphiris, & Ioannou, 2014, p. 34). However, instructing
some employees was hectic in cases where the level of education involved was of low standard.
This would necessitate a need to take more time elaborating some simple instructions for them to
understand. Nevertheless, I prefer thorough training of the staff, and inclusive coaching to equip
them with the right skills for professional growth and development. In the event that all
employees understand their mandate and roles correctly, there is unity of command and
improved productivity hence profitability of the firm.
I have learned engineering skills and done much of their practices necessary to improve my
skills. This has enabled me to realize my strengths and weakness in the engineering field.
However, as learning is a long-term process I have noticed some areas which I need to perfect so
as to become a competent engineer in my current job place and in my future career which
include the need to learn how to prioritize the duties which need to be handled urgently than the

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others and also to work under pressure so that when there is a lot of work to be done within a
short time, I do not find many challenges (Friedman, 2014, p. 50). The skill of time management
is essential in the engineering career, and I believe I am average in it. I generally keep time in
handling my work although sometimes I fail to meet the expected target within the required time.
I am good at organizing work to be done in given period but I find it difficult prioritizing what
needs to be done first. This has been a challenge to me which hinders me from performing my
duties effectively since some work may require urgency and failure to be delivered on time leads
to a great loss.
I find interest in working in manufacturing industries especially where heavy machinery
is used. Such companies include the vehicle manufacturing sector and electronic companies
which will help me exploit my engineering skills maximally. This will require me to have
time management skills and the skill to work effectively under pressure with no close
supervision. Having these skills will make me an effective engineer who will be reliable both
in my home country and overseas hence enabling me to advance in the career and bring
changes to the companies I work for and the world at large (Lim, 2015, p. 12). In order to
develop more relevant skills, I will consider going for training and also collaborating with
my fellow engineers so as to acquire the skills that I lack. I will also consider consulting
from those who have expertise in the engineering career and also putting more efforts in
exercising the skills that I already have so as to perfect on them. My passion for teamwork is
the key factor contributing to success and meeting of deadlines within my area of
specialization aided by colleagues’ assistance. Teamwork avoids mistakes and contributes to
professionalism hence improved staff morale towards effecting their mandate under their
area of specialization.

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Bibliography
Amabile, T., & Kramer, S. 2011. The progress principle: using small wins to ignite joy,
engagement, and creativity at work.http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=45554.
Friedman, S. D. 2014. Total leadership: be a better leader, have a richer life (with new
preface).http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=828330.
LCT (Conference), Zaphiris, P., & Ioannou, A. 2014. Learning and collaboration
technologies: designing and developing novel learning experiences : first International
Conference, LCT 2014, held as part of HCI International 2014, Heraklion, Crete,
Greece, June 22-27, 2014, Proceedings. Part I Part I.
http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=3092999.
Lim, H. L. (2015). Handbook of research on recent developments in materials science and
corrosion engineering education.
Morgan, N. (2014). Power cues: the subtle science of leading groups, persuading others, and
maximizing your personal impact.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&A
N=675236.