Reflective Report: ENEG20001 Australian Engineering Practice, T3 2019

This reflective report analyzes a student's learning experiences in the ENEG20001 Australian Engineering Practice module. The report explores the roles and responsibilities of engineers, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development and its principles. It discusses how teamwork and leadership skills, as learned from the Trevelyan textbook, contribute to better engineering solutions, and how personal values influence ethical decision-making. The report also reflects on information management, particularly version control of documents and drawings within a team setting, highlighting the use of effective communication and cloud storage. Furthermore, it examines effective communication across various contexts, including professional and informal settings, and the importance of email etiquette. The student outlines future action plans to enhance skills in sustainability, information management, and communication for professional growth.

Running Head: REFLECTION
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Reflective Journal
ENEG20001 AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERING PRACTICE
(Student Details: )
12/30/2019

Reflection
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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Reflection...................................................................................................................................2
Task 3.....................................................................................................................................2
Task 4.....................................................................................................................................3
Task 5.....................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................8

Reflection
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Introduction
The reflective report is based on integrating learning acquired from module ENEG20001
Australian engineering practice. With the help of this report, I am going to discuss engineers'
roles, responsibilities as well as the requirement to employ principles of sustainable
development. Apart from this, knowledge regarding managing information and thereby
documentation will also be demonstrated. In addition, I will narrate learning regarding
effective communication all across a wide range of contexts in this modern era.
Reflection
Task 3
This section is dedicated to discussing engineers’ roles, responsibilities as well as the
requirement of employing principles of sustainable development (SD).
What?
In the context of the principles of SD, I have found that the Trevelyan textbook was very
helpful for the entire team working during the module. I played a key role as a leader while
working in my team and learning acquired from the textbook helped me to manage my team
effectively (Moldan, 2012). From the definition perspective, sustainability in engineering is
the subject or area where people or humans learn how to exist constantly. In this century,
sustainability in engineering refers to the capacity for the biosphere as well as a human
civilization to coexist constantly in the long future. In this context, I believe that ‘better’ is
the stage that is improved from the current one so that the future can be made bright and
sustainable. There are so many ways with which SD can lead to better engineering solutions.
In addition, studying into this module made me realize that personal values play an important
role in finding solutions to situations of ethical conflicts. The module also helped me to
realize the impacts of such personal values on my life and workplace (Malekpour et al.,
2015).
So what?
While studying the principles of SD, I felt that three major principles include environmental,
social and economic, which are useful for realizing the importance of sustainability in

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engineering (Wiesner et al., 2015). In this context, these three principles of sustainability are
the main foundations as engineering sustainability is usually made up of 3 major pillars
include the environment, social and economic pillars. In other words, it can be said that these
principles are typically used as the planet, people and profit respectively. Moreover, one way
with which sustainability may lead to better solutions in engineering is exploring renewable
energy resources (Pohl, 2016). It is because, by using renewable energy resources, we can
conserve traditional energy resources which directly promote sustainability in the three areas.
Besides, I have found that my personal values like conflict management and positive
leadership allow me to solve issues and situations of ethical conflicts (Ash & Clayton, 2014).
With the help of positive leadership, I always manage any kind of situation effectively
whereas conflict management values made me see both sides while solving ethical conflicts
in an effective manner.
What now?
Based on reflection and learning throughout this module, I have realized the importance and
role of engineers hence I will employ my skills, knowledge for employing principles of
sustainable development. In the near future, my actions will be based on learning and lessons
acquired from this module, as follows:
 Based on team-work and responsibilities while studying into this module, I will
nurture my team-working skills according to the lessons in the Trevelyan textbook.
 I will explore the ways into which I can contribute towards sustainability while
leading to better engineering solutions. For example, I will work on projects like
Smart windows so that dynamic glass can save energy as well as harmful emissions.
 I will contribute my efforts for motivating people for not using plastics so that
greenhouse gases can be minimized (Moon, 2013).
 I will contribute myself to foster different sustainability practices like forestation,
green cars, green homes, eco-friendly vehicles so that future generations can live their
life happily and safely.
 I will further study and explore the field of sustainability in the context of engineering
solutions and desired practices
 I will encourage community people for adopting SD practices for future enhancement.

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Task 4
This section is dedicated to reflecting upon information management and well-structured
documentation. I will talk about version control of drawings and reports while referring to the
teamwork on a project (Ones, 2012).
What?
In this context, while I was working with different team members during a project together I
realized that it is a great way to enhance overall efficiency and efficacy of the project
completion. It is because I personally felt that one can achieve a better deal more than if he or
she was working by themselves (Moldan, 2012). The main reason behind this is that skills
and knowledge can be managed in a well way while a team works on a single project. Apart
from this, I also felt that people face some challenges while ensuring version control of
drawings as well as daily or monthly reports. For this, we all team members shared
information with each other while updating the information with the latest facts and data so
that everyone works on the most recent version of any selected document (Dresner, 2012).
Moreover, this module working made me learn and develop my understanding of effective
documentation and information management. I observed that managing information during
regular documentation needs effective teamwork and skills management as well.
So what?
In this context, learning about managing information and documentation made me realize the
significance of version control of documents. As per my evolved opinion, version control
refers to the management of so many versions of the single document while working on a
single project in a team (Pohl, 2016). In addition to that, I found that version control always
allows one to tell the sole version of any document from the other. I learned that version
control can be seen as a system that typically records changes to a set of files across time so
that the whole team can recall and use specific versions of a file in the future. Furthermore,
we as a team used so many processes for sharing reliable and correct information so as to
ensure that all of the team members are working on the current version of a document.
Moreover, being an active team member I realized that version control is easy with effective
communication and cloud storage. With the technology used, we all could share information
with each other effectively and hence obsolete documents use could be avoided easily. Based
on learning, I can now say that a team can use few popular version control systems like

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subversion (centralized), mercurial (distributed) and GIT (distributed) which can be used for
better information management (Moldan, 2012). I have also found the difference between
distributed and centralized version control of documents while working on my team project
in the engineering module.
What now?
Now that I have learned a lot about version control of drawings as well as reports, I will be
able to manage information in future projects effectively (Moon, 2013). As we know, when
documentation is done properly in an engineering project then the whole process of the
project completion gets smooth and fruitful for the entire team as well as people associated
(Modarres, 2016). In addition to that, I will use this learning in future project development
and teamwork as well. My future action plan based on this analysis will be as follows:
 I will update my skills in the fields of open-source version control of documents while
learning useful tools like SVN, GIT, CVS, and Mercurial (Malekpour et al., 2015).
 I will learn how to do redrafting and revision of the created documents at a large level
so that teamwork can be implemented in a more effective way (Dresner, 2012).
Task 5
This section is dedicated to reflecting on effective communication all across a wide range of
contexts (Di Foggia, 2018). As we know, learning effective communication as a professional
with diverse mediums and stakeholders. In general, email is the medium which is typically
utilised within current practice (Boud et al., 2013).
What?
I have learned that email is a great way to communicate in professional life so that
communication can take place in an effective manner across all types of contexts (Ash &
Clayton, 2014). Learning into this module made me realize the importance of email
communication. For example, for team-meeting, I have sent an email to my team members so
that we can meet at the right time and right place (De Gea et al., 2012). I observed that
sending an email to my team members regarding project team-meeting demonstrated an
ability to communicate professionally and effectively. Apart from this, I successfully

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demonstrated an ability to communicate effectively into different scenarios (Aragon-Correa
et al., 2015).
So what?
In this context, I felt that distinguishing among professional and casual communication is
very important for a professional. It is because mistakes may occur when one is not aware of
unprofessional communication practices (CSR Hub, 2018). Moreover, I have realized the
importance of knowing unprofessional communication practices. Apart from this, I would
like to mention one of the experiences where I was not required to send a genuine email but
unintentionally I did that. Here, I wanted to talk about the availability of my team members
for an informal coffee meeting at the weekend (Ones, 2012). In this way, I was supposed to
do a mock email to all of the team members however I did a genuine email to all of the team
while asking whether they are available to meet for a cup of coffee or not. At that time, I
realized that I should have written a mock email rather than a formal email to all (Wiesner et
al., 2015).
What now?
In this way, based on reflection and feelings I have gained while doing this group project
during the module, I have made a future action plan, as follows:
 I will always update my knowledge regarding formal and informal communication
mediums so that I can never lag into this area which can ultimately affect my career
growth
 I will grab and extract learning from my mistakes in a way that I can evolve my
personality in a positive way
 In addition, I will upgrade my knowledge regarding email communication so that I
can always be the leader while communicating effectively all across a wide range of
scenarios.
 I will always look for opportunities to learn about many things like professional
communication, writing skills, sustainability, academic skills, technical skills as well
as personal skills (Buyukozkan et al., 2018).
 I will work upon my weaknesses and leadership skills as weaknesses can be converted
into strengths with the hard work and efforts. Here, my weaknesses like time

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management, emotional nature and balance between professional and personal life,
will be addressed by me (Adams et al., 2016).
Conclusion
In whole, this reflective writing on the ‘ENEG20001 Australian engineering practice’
allowed me to integrate and document all of the lessons and learning for my future
professional and personal life. In addition to that, I have identified the role of a professional
engineer while discussing the three pillars of sustainability in the context of engineering.
Furthermore, this reflective writing has successfully explained the responsibilities of the
engineers for adopting and encouraging engineering solutions in the context of sustainability.
In this way, being a professional engineer in this era, I have identified my duties as ensuring
the safety and protection of our community as well as the surrounding environment while
doing the project.

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References
Adams, R., Jeanrenaud, S., Bessant, J. & Denyer, D., 2016. Sustainability‐oriented
innovation: A systematic review.. International Journal of Management Reviews, 18(2),
pp.180-205.
Aragon-Correa, J.A., Martin-Tapia, I. & de la Torre-Ruiz, J., 2015. Sustainability issues and
hospitality and tourism firms’ strategies: Analytical review and future directions.
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 27(3), pp.498-522.
Ash, S.L. & Clayton, P.H., 2014. The articulated learning: An approach to guided reflection
and assessment. Innovative Higher Education, pp.137-54.
Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker, D., 2013. Reflection: Turning experience into learning. UK:
Routledge.
Buyukozkan, G., Karabulut, Y. & Mukul, E., 2018. A novel renewable energy selection
model for United Nations' sustainable development goals. Energy, 165(PA), pp.290-302.
CSR Hub, 2018. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Environment, Social, Governance
(ESG) Metrics. [Online] Available at:
https://www.csrhub.com/CSR_and_sustainability_information/Coca-Cola-Amatil-Limited
[Accessed 2019].
De Gea, J., Nicolas, J., Aleman, J. & Toval, A., 2012. Requirements engineering tools:
Capabilities, survey and assessment. Information and Software Technology, 54(10), pp.1142-
57.
Di Foggia, G., 2018. Energy efficiency measures in buildings for achieving sustainable
development goals. Heliyon, 4(11), p.e00953.
Dresner, S., 2012. The principles of sustainability. London: The principles of sustainability.
Malekpour, S., Brown, R.R. & de Haan, F.J., 2015. Strategic planning of urban infrastructure
for environmental sustainability: Understanding the past to intervene for the future. Cities,
46(1), pp.67-75.

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Modarres, M.., 2016. Risk analysis in engineering: techniques, tools, and trends. 1st ed.
United States: CRC press.
Moldan, B..J.S..&.H.T., 2012. How to understand and measure environmental sustainability:
Indicators and targets. Ecological Indicators, 17, pp.4-13.
Moon, J.A., 2013. Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice.
London: Routledge.
Ones, D.S..&.D.S., 2012. Environmental sustainability at work: A call to action. Industrial
and Organizational Psychology, pp. 444-466.
Pohl, K., 2016. Requirements engineering fundamentals: a study guide for the certified
professional for requirements engineering exam-foundation level-IREB compliant. New
York: Rocky Nook Inc.
Wiesner, S., Peruzzini, M. & Hauge, J., 2015. Concurrent Engineering in the 21st Century.
Cham: Springer.