29 SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation – Acciona

Group Reflection

Our article on Acciona is a comprehensive look into their sustainability innovation involving their 100% renewable energy portfolio through an analysis of their innovative solar thermal and hydro energy plants. Interview with industrial engineer Luis Javier Etavo, Hydraulic Operation Manager at Acciona allowed us to gain the necessary knowledge on Accionia’s energy portfolio to write upon their innovative successes. Through this interview we discovered the inception of Accionia, the sustainable innovations that align with 5 of the SDG’s and finally the social, environmental, and business impacts these innovations have had in the world.

While we were aware of sustainable renewable energy, we did not know that the outlets of this energy could have the ability to serve as multi use facilities. It was impressive to see how Acciona could use their platform of renewable energy and take important sustainability issues such as habitat displacement and energy production and combine them. Through this discovery, as a group we now know that in terms of business development we know that you don’t have to sacrifice sustainability for profit within business and that if you have strong innovative solution planning you can have both sustainability and profit. Acciona’s salmon elevator is an example of Acciona’s ability to create these multi use energy production facilities. The dam on the Nansa River developed by Acciona serves as both a energy production source through hydro energy generation and a habitable area for salmon. Due to the rise in urban development and natural resource extraction there has been a loss of many prime salmon spawning habitats. The destruction of rivers and streams due to logging activities and hydropower dams block the salmons’ migratory path (Baker, 2022). Overall, this project by Acciona aimed to combat this rising issue and therefore, showed us Acciona’s initiative for social good.

We were most surprised by the sheer number of solutions that Acciona has in place for sustainable energy around the world. We knew that Acciona was an international company, but before we conducted the interview, we were unsure how viable their solutions were in less developed nations. Through the interview we found that they actually emphasize their work in these developing nations. This surprised our group as a whole and is another reason why we think that Acciona is a pioneer in the energy industry. In addition to Acciona’s ability for social good they also utilize many concepts found in CSR strategy in order to add to their businesses success. They assist in the development of energy infrastructure in more developing nations, guiding these nations to use renewable energy. An example of this can be seen through how they implanted photovoltaic panels for a village in Peru to give the village a sustainable energy plantation.
This in turn, demonstrates Acciona’s philanthropic approach to business. Acciona’s use of philanthropy is an example of differentiation within strategic CSR. By acting philanthropically and focusing on social good compared to other energy companies, it encourages stakeholders to invest in their cause (Chandler, 2020). Another way Acciona differentiates themselves from other companies is by investing their resources on sustainable innovation and through their 100% renewable energy portfolio. From a business standpoint what Acciona is doing could positively contribute to their branding. By focusing on philanthropic projects and coming up with creative, multifaceted solutions to the modern issue that is energy production. Acciona creates an image of a company that is charitable and smart, which greatly contributes to their success with various stakeholders, such as the government and its people.

In terms of thinking for the future, our group had a lot to take away from this experience. We now understand that large international companies not only have the capability to combine business with sustainability but be extremely successful. When thinking of topics for future business-related courses or careers, we will have the knowledge of sustainable practices and have the sustainable development goals as a guideline to complete this objective. As potential businesspersons, this experience gave us a more comprehensive understanding of SDG’s and in the future, we could apply them to our future businesses or companies we work for. When reflecting back at how we conducted work on this case study as a group, the cross-cultural work environment contributed greatly to our success within the creation of the Aim2Flourish article. This was through the practical application of concepts found in CSR (corporate social responsibility). By using our knowledge on sustainability within businesses and what it means for stakeholders, we were able to apply CSR thinking into how we should have conducted the interview and created the article.

When comparing our group’s workflow and concepts present in intercultural management it seems our group chose to practice an individualism framework for our workflow. This type of workflow is when there is a preference for a flexible network of communication and work, where there is an emphasis on tasks over forming relationships (Hong, 2023). This is through low context communication, where much of the communication in question is direct and specific. Our group tended to mainly communicate in the context of the Aim2Flourish submission and about deadlines and tasks. This is likely attributed to the fact that most of the participants in the group come from western societies, where individualism frameworks tend to be more prevalent. This is further proven by the Hofstede country comparison tool, where it was found that the individualism metric is much greater for Canada and Spain (~55 points) compared to Indonesia. Since four out of our six group members come from Canada and Spain, this results in a more individualism dominated workflow.

In terms of the distribution of work we separated into 3 teams for final submission. One team conducted the interview, one team created the poster and one team focused on the article. Our critical reflection was done in collaboration with everyone in the group. Most of our work was done on a collaborative google docs file, allowing us to work together in real time, and edit and critique each other’s work. Our group was effective in creating clear deadlines for tasks that needed to be done, such as when to conduct the interview and collecting resources and creating material in conjunction with our final submission (poster and article content). Our group however often struggled with communication and setting clear expectations for our weekly meetings. There were occasions where, due to the time zone differences, communication was not efficiently and effectively conducted which resulted in a bit of struggle near the deadline of the case study. Overall, it can be said that working within an international-cross cultural setting allows us to get practical experience for future business ventures where there may be international relations involved and prepares us adequately for that.

Individual Reflections

Elliot: As a member of this team, I can confidently say that this experience has been beneficial in the aspect that is a practical example of how working internationally can be for my future career. It was interesting to see how people of different cultures and backgrounds interact in an academic, group work setting. This project required a combination of proactive communication and flexibility. It was important that during meetings we were patient with each other and properly accommodated each other, because as students we lead busy lives not only in an academic context, but also outside of academia. We tried to set clear guidelines and goals in order to meet our project deadlines and goals. Since there was up to a 12-hour time difference between members in our group some of us needed to accommodate each other and find times where everybody could meet. For me personally, the most difficult part of this project was waking up early to make up for the time differences that were present among our group members. At the end of the day, in order for this project to be successful it was imperative that everyone communicates clearly and time efficiently in order to get tasks done on time. When effectively communicating the workflow in our group was constant and efficient. We made sure to schedule weekly meetings through Whatsapp and communicated our thoughts and critiques of each other’s work through this medium. In our weekly meetings we made sure to address key issues within our submission and comment on what we should do as a group when moving forward through the stages of the project. However, occasionally there would be times where some tasks we did not communicate effectively, which can be attributed to the difference in time zones. Oftentimes when someone had a question on something someone else did, that person may have not responded due to it being potentially very late in the night when they asked, or they had other commitments that made it hard to respond to that person’s request. Overall, we worked it out as a group and eventually completed the project, where I can confidently say we were successful.

Guillermo: Participating in an international sustainability initiative has been an incredibly enriching experience, blending the joys of cross-cultural collaboration with the practical challenges of coordinating efforts across different time zones and countries. The most gratifying aspect has been the exposure to diverse cultural perspectives within the team. Working alongside individuals from various corners of the globe has deepened my understanding of sustainability issues. Our discussions have been a melting pot of ideas, drawing on practices and approaches from different cultural contexts. This cross-cultural exchange has not only broadened my outlook on sustainability but has also emphasized the significance of cultural diversity in crafting comprehensive and effective solutions. Collaborating with people from different cultures has also sparked creativity in our problem-solving approaches. Each team member brings a unique set of insights influenced by their cultural background, fostering an environment where innovative solutions can flourish. I believe that this collaborative creativity will serve as a valuable asset in my future endeavors, allowing me to approach sustainability challenges with a more adaptable mindset. Nevertheless, the logistical aspects of working across time zones presented notable challenges. Coordinating schedules and ensuring effective communication required flexibility and understanding from all team members. The need to find suitable meeting times that accommodated everyone’s time constraints demanded creative scheduling solutions. While navigating these challenges, I gained practical experience in adaptability and honed my communication skills, recognizing their essential role in successful international collaborations.

Nathan: Through the AIM2Flourish assignment, I felt the activity was not only beneficial but also unique when compared to other assignments I have done in my academic career. The criteria and requirements for the activity provided insight into various international perspectives of both my group mates but also the proposed businesses and analyzed. Through our virtual teams, the activity allowed me to work with people situated in international locations, something that I had not had the opportunity to do beforehand. The cross-cultural dynamics that it fostered provided me with new perspectives and an understanding of other academic backgrounds. Importantly, working internationally with fellow students highlighted the importance of sustainability and how although there may be differences that could be said about where everyone is located, it emphasized there is a common goal of promoting and working towards sustainability. Communication through the assignment required patience and planning as handling three different time zones has a lot of challenges. Through our WhatsApp group, we were able to communicate to set up weekly Zoom meetings that went smoothly where we addressed key details or completion dates regarding tasks that were upcoming. With the time zones, there were difficulties when communicating in the chat depending on when the messages were sent, as members were at different stages of their day or even sleeping. However, we worked together to navigate the challenges and were able to sort out any issues we had. Mostly, the group effectively communicated and planned to get the tasks completed successfully. Overall, I am pleased with how our group was able to navigate the challenges of the time zones, and I am happy with how we completed the assignment. I really enjoyed hearing everyone’s perspectives and ideas and working together to formulate a final product.

Harits: It is very fun and challenging to work with international students from other countries (Canada and Spain) and see what other countries’ style of work is, how they manage their time, how they communicate with each other, and how they work on their assignments. At first, I thought it would be very hard to communicate, as language becomes a barrier and culture is really different, but everyone gets along quite nicely and polite as we first meet each other via Zoom. In the second meeting, we introduce ourselves and explain the assignment we made before our Zoom meetings, which is to identify a company that meets the requirements of becoming a sustainable company that supports the UNSDGs. It is fascinating to see what other countries have in terms of innovation and companies with unique products and services that work toward sustainability and creating a flourishing business. Aim2Flourish has opened my eyes to ideas and innovation. To work and contribute to society to create a better world through innovation and service for the greater good. With the help of our professors and colleagues, we have been able to shed light on what a good flourishing business is, and with the help of Zoom meetings and WhatsApp groups, we can work seamlessly and effectively to let everybody get on board and share the work they have been assigned to. I am also lucky to have competent teammates, as they allow the process to go very smoothly and always finish on time. Even though we work at different times and it’s a bit tricky to communicate as sometimes when they send messages, we were already asleep, and vice versa. Overall, it was a good experience to work with them. I think the way we managed the assignment as a team has been excellent; we have shared each assignment equally, and no one has a problem with it. Overall, I think it is a good experience to have and a valuable experience. It is a wonderful experience of working with everybody, hearing their thoughts, and ways of thinking. I am very pleased with our performance, and I hope we can get to know each other better in the future and work with one another.

Borja: As a member of this team, I found it enlightening and interesting. I believe that this experience was useful for having a unique opportunity to navigate cross-cultural dynamics. I didn’t have really big problems with the time zone differences because I am a student from the university of Navarra, so I think that my teammates from Indonesia and Canada did a really good job organizing among themselves for having a specific hour for the meetings when they have a 12 hours’ time difference.
Handling cross-cultural dynamics required sensitivity, openness, and a willingness to understand diverse perspectives. It was a learning curve, but it encouraged greater empathy and appreciation for different cultural nuances within our team. Embracing these differences fostered a richer exchange of ideas and creativity, ultimately enhancing our collective output.
This experience was also really useful for developing my skills of teamwork. I believe that all the members of the team were really helpful and that we all were really useful for each other. When someone had questions they would be able to ask in the chat that we made. Moreover we make a really good distribution of the assignments and we were all the time making different tasks for improving the final result.
Overall, this experience was challenging at the same time that it was incredible, I was able to meet really good people who were all the time able to help and it was really interesting to investigate for the assignments that we had.

Brian: By being a part of this international assignment, I can definitely say that it was a first for me, but I had such a great time with my colleagues. Working with international students from all over the world, with a variety of backgrounds, excites and motivates me. In the beginning, I was worried about how the communication was going to be as we would have to plan around 3 different time zones, but in the end it turned out all well as we communicated frequently in order to avoid mishaps. Interacting with people from other cultures helps me to contribute to a global learning community while also broadening my perspective listening to what others had to say and the innovations they brought up in their respective countries. A vibrant and rich learning atmosphere is produced by the sharing of ideas, investigating many points of view, and respecting cultural diversity. I think it was a unique and very critical task to bring all these universities together to do a good cause which was promoting sustainability, because the world needs to be more aware on how we can make the world a better place for the future. Encouraging student collaboration and cross-cultural understanding brings me great satisfaction, as we share knowledge and work together to create a more peaceful and linked world, every interaction becomes a chance for mutual growth. I’m very pleased that our group worked very cohesively in order to complete the assigned tasks on time and overall finish with a complete product.