14 SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy – Nordex

Group Reflection

From this interview, we learned about the profound impact of wind energy and Nordex’s journey from a local company to a global force. Their focus on sustainability and purpose-driven work stands out, shaping technology advancements and a global strategy. Nordex’s commitment to reducing carbon footprints, using renewable resources, and exploring innovative solutions reflects a dedication beyond profit. Their approach to wind energy’s adaptability, integration of hydrogen, and comprehensive maintenance illustrates a long-term commitment to reliability and efficiency. This conversation highlights Nordex’s pivotal role in advancing renewable energy and emphasizes the crucial shift toward sustainable practices in the sector.

In our project we conducted an in depth interview of our chosen company Nordex. Prior to the interview, each group member was responsible for coming up with two questions we wanted to ask the company. Our interview questions were constructed to understand how the company started and the role they played in the SDG goals. One of our team members went on to interview the founders in Spanish and went on to translate the interview script for the rest of our team. To begin working on the story and the poster, we divided the tasks in order to effectively collaborate. Three of our team members focused on creating the report while the other three who were interested in the creative process focused on the poster. Each team worked separately and collaboratively to get their parts done. Ultimately, through our weekly group meetings we were able to navigate through the different time zones which highlighted the effectiveness of international team work in this modern era.

Fortunately we were able to accomplish all of our work with minimal challenges. The AIM2Flourish story and the poster were made simply with the division of topics and speciality. During our zoom meetings, we united as one even if we all have different schedules, different time zones, and different continents. The only time something didn’t work was the one time we could not meet during our usual time. When this occurred, we tried our best to give alternatives to ensure we could still have a weekly meeting with everyone present. When making decisions for the poster, we were faced with decisions that we disagreed on. When this occurred, we used the voting method to agree on a decision. This was something that worked really well for us. In between meetings, everyone got their part of the work done for deadlines. In general, everything worked well in our group as we focus on what we all focus on and do things on time.

Individual Reflections

Amanda: I thought that our cross-cultural-related course learnings were crucial in helping us be successful in this assignment. What our professors had previously taught us on “Understanding Intercultural Management” was applicable, and helped us navigate the project with an open perspective, which maintained professionalism and understanding. We observed the Hofstede Model, (Hofstede, G., 2011), which can be used to highlight cultural differences concerning various factors. What I thought was particularly interesting was examining the Power Distance Index (PDI) variations in different cultures. Our interviewee was from Spain, and held a very affluent position in their company, but was so open with us and willing to aid us and showed us respect. This felt a bit foreign to me, being from Canada, where there is a higher PDI and I would not expect that kind of close relationship between a student and a large company executive. We learned so much from our interviewee and this helped show me how Canada could benefit from having a lower PDI. I experienced that this could encourage a more collaborative, transparent and respectful society, as company executives would seem less untouchable, and more keen on serving the public. I also found that the firm we investigated had a Long-Term Normative Orientation (LTO). They were very forward-thinking, and their virtues were rooted in making improvements for their customers, firm, and society for the future. This was demonstrated through their constant improvements in product design, and regular meetings to brainstorm sustainable practices. This is also unique to the culture of the company, as this has been a trend in Europe for companies to become more future careful and disciplined in their sustainable actions. It was refreshing to see this sort of perspective in contrast to the disposable Short-term Normative Orientation present in North America, where efforts are concentrated on making a profit rather than focusing on how over-consumerism may affect future generations. As we can see through Nordex’s success, this LTO mentality is beneficial to the firm and should be more adopted in North America.Rosalie: Being a member of this team during this experiential activity was an enjoyable experience. Participating as a virtual team was simple as each week we were able to meet at the same time that the introductory meeting occurred. As each member was committed to going to each meeting, we were able to accomplish a lot through virtual face to face communication. In between meetings, we had a group chat that was also beneficial.

Edmund: Our team has been solid enough in terms of the online meeting schedule. We usually refer to our first coil meeting time. Although there are times where we change things and some members are unable to turn on their cameras or unable to come, we still communicate well with each other by giving out the topics they should do.

Belen: Being part of this group was an amazing experience as each one of us were fully engaged in the project. It was nice working with people from around the world as we learned from each other. I think that one of the things that I liked the most was being able to interview the employee from Nordex. As a group, we met the week before the interview to carefully prepare the questions we wanted to ask him, therefore, the day of the interview we were 100% prepared to have a nice talk. It was a nice experience to hear what a Nordex employee has to say from the perspective of an insider and not as a customer perspective. Finally, I think the only small challenge we presented was translating the interview to English as it was long and we needed to be careful that during the translation we didn’t misunderstand any comment the interviewer said.

Ming: Engaging in this global collaboration was a fascinating venture, brimming with diverse perspectives and occasional language nuances. Working with teammates from varied cultural backgrounds enriched our project discussions, although at times, comprehension gaps emerged. Balancing multiple viewpoints within tasks often required negotiation, yet our team’s willingness to embrace differing ideas fostered a robust collaborative environment. While not without its challenges, managing various communication styles proved a learning curve, eventually leading to clearer interactions. Through it all, I thoroughly enjoyed this international experience, appreciating the opportunity to immerse myself in such a dynamic and culturally diverse setting.