Team B Personal Development Summary
As is the norm. these days we felt that we should summarise our feelings on what we have
gained and learned from this project. The concept of Continuous Personal Development (CPD)
and Life Long Learning and numerous other terms, while considered by some to be cliché, do
have an important precept : Learn or Get Left Behind.
For some of us this was the first time for in a very long time that we have had to work as
a team. The changing dynamics of "control" within the group as the project shifted between
each persons specialist area proved a constant fascination. Even though we are all from
technical backgrounds and can be assertive when required there did not appear to be any
power struggles, quite a democracy really.
Perhaps the most useful aspect of team work was intra-group information dissemination and
learning. This allowed a far greater workload to be engaged, to a greater depth than either
all repeating the same thing or allowing one or two individuals to get swamped.
Personal Comments
Edward
What the team says :
Edward (alias D-base) is an IT master and therefore as well as being chief web-site builder,
worked hard at creating heat demand profiles via innovative methods, when conventional data
wasn’t forthcoming ! As the elder statesman of the team Edward acted as spokesman when
necessary which gave him full opportunity to indulge in his first love - Communication !
What he says :
As my undergraduate degree did not include any team work this was extremely
useful. My previous experience at group working, at work that is, was some 7 years ago and
I found that the project helped my ability to delegate and trust(sic).
Rita
What the team says :
Rita also has a technical background and as well as partnering João with the computer
analysis, she spent hours on spreadsheets processing and creating the demand profiles.
Even though she’s about 4 foot nothing, she takes on Himalayan proportions when a good point
needs to be raised, and she remains the only person in the group who can stop Edward talking.
What she says :
Twelve weeks is a long time for a project on CHP. Altough by the end nobody can think straight
anymore, I am proud of the group’s work and has therefore allowed Edward to include my picture
in the website.
João
What the team says :
His technical background means he is a stickler for details, which meant he was assigned
most of the analysis work on the computer. João and promptness are but passing acquaintances,
however he makes up for it by working hard, fueled by triple-decker sandwiches and Mars bars.
What he says :
Apart from the difficulties in defining our project topic and the
exhausting process of collecting data, part B of the course was “Dead
Good”. I’m confident that my understanding on CHP was significantly
improved, but I also realise that I still have many things to learn about
it.
Nigel
What the team says :
Nigel’s main role in the team was as principal data-collector - as a working man in the field
of energy he often had needed information at hand, or had the contacts to gain data that would
have been denied to mere students ! A view from ‘the real world’ could shed light on certain
matters and prevent the project from sliding down into the quagmire of academia.
What he says :
Trying to combine the day job with a project took some doing, but it has been a real benefit to me.
The exposure to academic work will be good preparation for doing Part A of the course next
October.
Dan
What the team says :
Dan is the group "consensus" man. He always has the ability to put some sense into group
arguments, especially when it comes to cooling off Rita and João. Because of his objectiveness
he was elected as our public relations man. He also worked hard on ERGON and contributed
greatly to the literature style of the website.
Playing cricket with Shazz after lunchtime and thoroughly reading the newspaper whenever
he wants to switch off from the group discussions make the highlights of his day.
What he says :
The project has taught me the importance of adopting a plan and sticking to the schedule as
close as possible. I believe the option of not appointing a leader was a good one, as with
regular meetings and task affiliation by democracy, the team worked well. The literature
review was the part I found the most difficult, but now I have a far better understanding
of where to find up-to-date related works and know what the state of the art of a topic is.
