Unit 1 - Task 3: The Importance of communication skills for engineers
“Communication skills are an essential component in the education of engineering students to facilitate not just students’ education but also to prepare them for their future careers.”
Marc Riemer, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University (2007)
Communication plays an important role in understanding one another, without communication, it would be almost impossible to decipher various things. For example, you were instructed to purchase apples from the supermarket. However, you are not sure as to what type, colour or quantity to purchase. Hence everything is under the impression of assumptions, leading to miscommunication and possibly argument.
In this case, communication is important in students' future careers because it enables a group of people to work efficiently as a team. No matter the career, as a baker, doctor, accountant, interior designer, etc., communication plays a huge role in our lives. A baker could have mistaken salt as sugar, and put the equivalent amount into a cake. An interior designer would not be able to know the "perfect home" for their client without having communicated their thoughts and specific requests.
In the engineering industry, it is vital to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Especially when it has to do with manufacturing or operating complex machinery, drawing diagrams or even in construction sites. It is exceptionally crucial in high-risk jobs that are dealing with complex machinery or high voltage areas. If there is no communication, the team of workers will end up assuming many things. This is also why there are schematic diagram drawings or rather, manuals to read and study on the specific machinery part. With the help of these blueprints, it makes it easier for the workers to work together while being "on the same page" and referring the the exact same materials.
Another example that can be found during students' education is in school, where a student did not show up for class one day, the lecturer would assume that the student had overslept or played truant. However in reality, the student might have faced some difficulty such as a family emergency. Without communication, the lecturer would not be able to understand the reason why the student did not show up for class as they were under the assumption that the student chose not to attend.
It is evident that communication is important to everyone, even in the little things that happen in our daily lives. Communication enables us to work in peace and better understand one another without any or much dispute.
Marc Riemer, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University (2007)
Communication plays an important role in understanding one another, without communication, it would be almost impossible to decipher various things. For example, you were instructed to purchase apples from the supermarket. However, you are not sure as to what type, colour or quantity to purchase. Hence everything is under the impression of assumptions, leading to miscommunication and possibly argument.
In this case, communication is important in students' future careers because it enables a group of people to work efficiently as a team. No matter the career, as a baker, doctor, accountant, interior designer, etc., communication plays a huge role in our lives. A baker could have mistaken salt as sugar, and put the equivalent amount into a cake. An interior designer would not be able to know the "perfect home" for their client without having communicated their thoughts and specific requests.
In the engineering industry, it is vital to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Especially when it has to do with manufacturing or operating complex machinery, drawing diagrams or even in construction sites. It is exceptionally crucial in high-risk jobs that are dealing with complex machinery or high voltage areas. If there is no communication, the team of workers will end up assuming many things. This is also why there are schematic diagram drawings or rather, manuals to read and study on the specific machinery part. With the help of these blueprints, it makes it easier for the workers to work together while being "on the same page" and referring the the exact same materials.
Another example that can be found during students' education is in school, where a student did not show up for class one day, the lecturer would assume that the student had overslept or played truant. However in reality, the student might have faced some difficulty such as a family emergency. Without communication, the lecturer would not be able to understand the reason why the student did not show up for class as they were under the assumption that the student chose not to attend.
It is evident that communication is important to everyone, even in the little things that happen in our daily lives. Communication enables us to work in peace and better understand one another without any or much dispute.
Thanks very much, Ash, for all the detail in this explanation!
ReplyDeleteHi Professor Blackstone,
DeleteThank you for reading my post and for your comment!
Warmest regards,
Ash