84 ASTAP in Ecuador

Team 8 Poster

Team Reflection

Innovation for the help of our only planet. Businesses should provide value for the planet and create an impact to make the world as sustainable as possible. This story focuses on innovating the design of cameras being used to monitor and clean sewage systems. ASTAP, a company based in Ecuador, has recently focused on improving the quality of certain aspects of these devices, like video quality, durability, mobility, etc. The main innovation made by ASTAP is to improve the camera movement, now through the usage of water which wouldn’t be wasted since it is already being used to clean the sewage systems. The innovators mostly focus on the affordability of these cameras. Since developing countries can’t afford the cameras being sold around the world, and they also don’t need them to be so complex, ASTAP has developed this new camera design to help developing countries, mostly in Latin America. Additionally, the innovation helps with reducing costs, time spent, reduces and allows monitoring of underground sewage systems, reducing damage to infrastructure. The innovators mainly focused on the reality of innovation and sustainability, stating that it only works if they themselves believe in their sustainability, only if they actually believe that they can make change happen. Since some of these companies are rather small, they may have difficulty in believing the impact that they can have, yet ASTAP wants to serve as a global indicator showing that anyone can make a difference, you have to believe in yourself. That is the most important point from this story.

On a deeper level, with an emphasis on ecological, social, and economic advantages, the story of ASTAP’s sewage system camera invention is directly related to ideas of sustainable development, accountability, and the triple bottom line (TBL). By emphasizing local solutions and sustainable materials over financial gain, ASTAP is demonstrating its dedication to environmental stewardship and community support by working to produce cameras that are both inexpensive and effective for developing nations. This strategy differs from criticisms of TBL and the Global Reporting Initiative, which at times fail to adequately address ecological issues since they support “business-as-usual” methods (Milne & Grey, 2013). The notion of “moral imagination,” which holds that companies should act with local needs and capacities in mind rather than just focusing on generating a profit, is further demonstrated by ASTAP’s commitment to make a significant difference (Calton et al., 2013). These viewpoints strengthen our knowledge of sustainability by emphasizing that genuine commitment, instead of superficial reporting, is necessary for worldly impact. This exercise exclaims that accountability in sustainable practices is crucial for long-lasting social and environmental benefits, and it also exposed gaps in our understanding of how businesses evaluate the efficacy of these innovations. The AIM2Flourish story has helped us to be more concerned about the United Nations(UN): Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Highlighting the important one, UN SDG 6, clean water and sanitation, is crucial for everyone and sometimes we do not realize it. The maintenance of sewers is a decisive step for safe drinking water and good hygiene. COVID-19 pandemic made us understand the importance of sanitation of water, making hand hygiene lifesaving.We realized that developing countries may still have difficulties ensuring clean water, and this is something we had to emphasize. It is encouraging that companies like ASTAP are doing their best to improve this situation, and we are all willing to help in the future.

The AIM2Flourish story highlights the need to establish cost-effective solutions for urgent environmental problems and demonstrates a significant change toward self-belief and creativity in developing countries. By emphasizing accessibility and sustainability, ASTAP’s camera invention gives these countries the tools to address sanitation issues while promoting a sense of competence. ASTAP wants to help its stakeholders and hopes to create an environment that supports employee wellness and innovation in developing countries. The framework of stakeholder theory provides insight into how these innovations might be in line with more general social objectives. Stakeholder salience depends on qualities like legitimacy and authority, which ASTAP exhibits by attending to the concerns of marginalized populations(Mitchell et al., 1997). This approach transforms employees into stakeholders, as their well-being and engagement directly influence the company’s ability to impact underserved populations positively. The exercise illustrated that genuine impact arises from a collective belief in the power of innovation, aligning with sustainability principles. By focusing on ethical management and engaging stakeholders, we aim to apply these insights in our future endeavors, ensuring that innovations benefit both the organization and the communities they serve. This supports Burga’s focus on openness and accountability, arguing that businesses should incorporate standards that demonstrate their dedication to corporate social responsibility(CSR)(Burga, 2022). Recognizing that organizations can effect real change can foster the moral imagination necessary for sustainable development.

Throughout our course, we have engaged with concepts that are critical for understanding the intersection of business and sustainability. These learnings provided a solid foundation for our group project, enabling us to approach our AIM2Flourish story with a well-rounded perspective. We covered topics such as the triple bottom line, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable innovation, all of which were directly applicable to the case of ASTAP.One key lesson that resonated with our work was the importance of stakeholder engagement in sustainable practices. Understanding that businesses must consider the interests of various stakeholders—ranging from customers to the environment—helped us appreciate ASTAP’s approach to designing affordable and effective sewage monitoring cameras for developing countries. This perspective enriched our discussions and allowed us to critically assess how ASTAP balances profitability with social impact.

Additionally, our coursework emphasized the role of innovation in driving sustainable change. This framework helped us analyze how ASTAP’s innovative technology not only addresses a pressing environmental issue but also empowers local communities by providing them with the tools they need to manage their infrastructure effectively. The concept of “frugal innovation,” which we studied, was particularly illuminating; it taught us how simplicity and affordability in design can lead to significant social benefits.Throughout our collaboration, we also reflected on the need for accountability in business practices. This principle guided our evaluation of ASTAP’s operations and their commitment to sustainability. We discussed how the company’s transparency about its processes and challenges fosters trust among stakeholders, an essential component for long-term success in any business model. Moreover, our diverse backgrounds brought unique perspectives that enriched our group discussions. Each member contributed insights from their respective cultural frameworks, enhancing our understanding of how business practices are perceived globally. This cross-cultural dynamic was particularly valuable when discussing the implications of ASTAP’s innovations in different regions. The academic knowledge we gained not only informed our analysis of ASTAP’s story but also fostered a collaborative and thoughtful approach to our project. We learned to integrate theoretical concepts with practical applications, reinforcing the idea that sustainable business practices can lead to both economic viability and social good. This experience has undoubtedly equipped us with a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in implementing sustainable innovations in a business context.

Execution of tasks is something that we have stressed as a group since our first meeting. Having had the opportunity to meet every week, we quickly began to become familiar with each other’s work and communication preferences. Before our workload became substantial, we decided that it would be beneficial to pick a group leader. We felt that having a group leader would be valuable if we experienced group conflicts, unexpected obstacles, or had difficulty allocating tasks. Having a group leader would also simplify communication and cohesiveness.  Haris had been taking the lead on organizing our meeting times, therefore he was the natural leader of our group before we had formally discussed it. When it came up in conversation he gladly accepted the responsibility. Throughout the course of our project it proved extremely beneficial to have a group leader. When a group member missed a meeting the group leader was able to assign them a role or give them tasks to complete for the week. It gave us a clear and focused direction in which everyone could feel confident about the task they were performing. Another important factor of our task distribution was communication. During our weekly meetings, we discussed who should complete which tasks. Most of the time there were not many obstacles and people willingly stepped to tasks. If there was a need for followup with communication we would either message each other in our group chat or individually. Using these methods we were able to successfully allocate tasks amongst each other. We allocated Haris, Diego and Felipe to work on the story, we allocated everyone to work on the report, and we allocated Madhawi, Reemaz and Max to work on the poster.

We worked in a team and it was a very unique and new experience. Working with an international group of people is a rich and useful experience. It allows you to get to know diverse cultures, exchange ideas and experiences, and develop communication skills. In addition, it can help you enhance critical thinking and innovation and we worked with passion and enthusiasm, as you interact with multiple points of view. What did not work for us much was the time difference and also challenges such as differences in work methods or working hours, but despite that, we worked to organize time between us and overcome them through good communication and flexibility. We also overcame barriers such as new technologies and systems that may be complex and this may pose a challenge for some people. Moreover, some may feel isolated as a result of working remotely, which makes them lose the team spirit. There are also communication challenges, as relying on communication tools can lead to the loss of non-verbal expressions. Finally, there is concern about the safety of information and the protection of personal data. These challenges can be overcome through effective communication, training, and adopting an inclusive work culture.

Individual Reflections

Madhawi Alhajri 

Participating in the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) project has been an incredibly enriching experience for me. Collaborating with peers from various cultural backgrounds provided a unique opportunity to enhance my skills in cross-cultural communication and teamwork. Through our discussions and collaborative efforts, I learned how to navigate the challenges of working in a distributed team, particularly when addressing global issues related to sustainability and innovation. The project allowed us to engage with an international company, where we explored its innovative practices aimed at advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the difficulties posed by coordinating across different time zones and cultural perspectives, our team successfully produced meaningful deliverables. I take great pride in contributing to a project that not only emphasizes the importance of sustainable business practices but also fosters a sense of global community and shared responsibility. This COIL project experience will undoubtedly be a defining moment in my educational journey, as it has broadened my understanding of how collaborative efforts can lead to impactful solutions in today’s interconnected world. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this initiative, which highlights the potential of global teamwork to drive positive change.

Felipe Rodríguez

Working as a group with people from all over the world was one of the most enriching experiences that I have participated in since starting college. It has helped in developing my skills both professionally and in more casual team working. Meeting people with different backgrounds or cultures of my own. I mostly contributed in the majority of the writing, such as with the story, and thankfully other team members worked on the parts which I struggled with, such as creating the poster. Planning meetings while taking into account the difference in time was definitely complicated, but we managed to work together very efficiently. Relating with my team members was the most fun part. In the first session, we talked about three interesting facts about ourselves, and with that it wasn’t a group project with people I didn’t know, but a collaboration amongst people with their own ideas, backgrounds, and stories. Thankfully, communication in the group was efficient, direct, and very encouraging. We had no problem with any team members not participating or not caring, everyone worked hard to complete the project to the best of their ability. Working on the Aim2Flourish project was also quite interesting. Me and another team member took part in the interview, and although I already knew the interviewee, it was a good and easy way to get a taste of what the professional world is like, yet also being accompanied by an encouraging team. It was definitely new to me to work with people from all around the world, but it really was a unique experience. Having to do everything virtually was difficult, mostly due to the alienation we can feel when only communicating through screens, but thanks to the group that I worked with, it went smoothly. In the first meeting we talked about how to deal with miscommunication, and managed to cover that problem really quickly.

In conclusion, it was a great project, with great people, teaching me about sustainability and professionalism, while taking into account differences in culture and background.

Haris Vekar

Once in a lifetime. These are words to describe the opportunity throughout this semester to work on a business innovation project on sustainability. Throughout this month, I had an informative experiential activity with people from different countries such as Spain and Saudi Arabia. The group worked on writing a technical report on a company that built projects to challenge and support any of the United Nations(UN) Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). In the beginning, the group was in the “forming” stage where everyone was strangers to each other and we had to personalize our meetings to understand every group member. After the first meeting, there was a mechanistic structure for the group where I was made the group leader and took the responsibility for creating a good environment for inclusivity. The participation in this worldwide team was a first time experience, especially since I was working with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I am grateful to have understanding and ambitious group members that were eager to be posted on the COIL perspective.

There are three aspects that highlight managing and handling cross-cultural dynamics. The first aspect was to try and relate with the team members, since the group members were in Spain and Saudi Arabia, I tried to speak their respective languages with words that I memorized. This strategy made the other members believe the group had an inclusive environment and laugh at my pronunciation. Secondly, a big issue I discussed with my team was to stop any form of social loafing. As the leader, I handled the situation by asking every member their strengths and weaknesses and provided tasks based on comfortability and delegation. Finally, communication was the biggest advantage. Since everyone communicated clearly by messaging if feedback was needed or if there was confusion. The problem of dealing with multiple time zones and cultural barriers did not exist as every group member had an idea of becoming an exceptional team member. Overall, this was a once in a lifetime experiential activity with the teamwork skills and sustainability knowledge I captured. If I had one wish, it would be to participate in this experiential activity again.

Reemaz Alrasheed

Working on this project was a great opportunity for new researchers, as I learned a lot of professional and technical skills, and emerged in the field of advanced work in a multicultural environment. This experience was not shared in the work, as it has cultural awareness and enhanced my communication skills, as I collaborated with people from different backgrounds, what are the big differences in my career path and expanded my vision to achieve success in an international environment. Also, working in a team was a unique experience that affected me on several levels. By collaborating with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and cultures, I learned the importance of effective cooperation and clear communication to achieve common goals. This experience contributed to enhancing my teamwork skills, as we worked together as an integrated team, each member supporting the other and working with one spirit to achieve success. This diverse environment added a lot to me, and made me appreciate the value of cooperation, innovation, and the importance of continuous learning in a global work environment. I also enjoyed working with new friends very much also One of the benefits I gained from working in a team is that it includes people from different countries and cultures, which I found useful and stimulating for personal and professional growth. Working in a diverse environment provides us with a tremendous diversity of ideas and perspectives, which helps us find innovative and creative solutions. Each individual brings their own experiences and culture, and this diversity enriches the decision-making process and enhances creativity. Communicating with people from different backgrounds also contributes to developing cross-cultural communication skills, which helps us better understand differences and avoid misunderstandings. In addition, working in an international team allows us to learn new methods and techniques in work, which may expand our experiences and give us unique insights that we may not find in our local environment.

One of the most important benefits is building a network of professional relationships on a global level, which opens up new horizons for future opportunities. This type of work also helps us gain greater flexibility and adaptability to diverse work environments.

In short, working in a team from other countries is a great opportunity for learning and development, and makes us more prepared to work in different environments and diverse teams.

Max de Groot 

The coil project has been a transformative experience for me. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work with other students from other countries, specifically Spain and Saudi Arabia. I was able to get a better understanding of our cultural differences, however, more notably, I was able to experience how much we have in common culturally. In particular, I noticed how across all cultures there was a strong sense of teamwork. Everyone in the group seemed dedicated to not letting each other down.  I also felt lots of similarities recreationally to my other group members. In our first group meeting, we discussed personal notes of what people like as an icebreaker. I found that we had a lot of common interests. My group members mentioned liking tennis and soccer, two sports I have played a lot of growing up. One of my group members mentioned liking music and playing the piano. I also play piano and love music. Another commonality I found with my group mates was stewardship and sustainability. Because of the nature of this project we spent lots of time discussing SDGs and other ways humanity impacts the environment and each other. It’s heartening knowing that cultures all around the world care about humanity, the environment and sustainability.  In addition to learning about other cultures, the COIL project allowed me to learn how businesses and sustainability directly affect each other. I learned about specific areas of sustainability that I have never considered, for example with how waste management when done properly can minimize pollution and when done incorrectly can increase pollution.

Overall the COIL project was an amazing experience. I got to work with people from around the world. I got to learn about sustainability and how everyone is capable of making a change. This experience will shape my life going forward and how I treat strangers and my environment.

Diego Salcedo 

When I was first introduced to the COIL project, I was a bit scared and nervous about how we were going to manage a task like this with people we hadn’t met before and from other countries and cultures. But these emotions disappeared when I met my incredible teammates. Since the first day, they have all shared a friendly but professional environment with the group. The time difference sounded a little challenging but we managed to solve it without any difficulty. We all agreed that communication was crucial and we did our best to read and participate in the group chat. We were distributed in two teams: Felipe, Harris and I took care of the story; Madhawi, Reemaz and Max did the poster. The story concluded great and I was very impressed with the poster, they really did a good job there. I have learned more about the SDGs, innovation and sustainability with this project. This really helps me to my professional career and to my own person. It was a fantastic experience to work with these great people and I have learned a lot not only from the assignment but also from them, their countries and their cultures. I am really grateful and I am willing to help my teammates with their Spanish lessons!