23 SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Team 26

Team Reflection

During our first group meeting our team discussed how companies deal with societal challenges, opening our eyes to new ways that businesses tackle sustainable development and how businesses can help make the world a better place. When we look into the stories from companies like PCL Construction in Canada, PT Telkom in Indonesia, and Transnet in South Africa, it became clear to us how different companies can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 9 which focuses on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
Our study started by looking closely at PCL Construction, a Canadian company that allows for environmentally friendly methods in the construction of large building projects. We found that these environmentally friendly methods match up with a wider trend in the building industry leaning towards greener building ways, which can positively improve the goal of lowering the world’s carbon footprint (WorldGBC, 2019). In the same way, PT Telkom is striving to advance Indonesia as a country by expanding internet and phone services. Given how SDG 9 focuses mainly on the building of resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization, it should have come as little surprise to us that both these businesses do act in ways to benefit SDG 9. The final business that was looked at was Transnet, a freight logistic firm that is mainly known for its focus on the improvement of the transportation of goods infrastructure, showcasing how a strong infrastructure is key for both the economy and a green future. With Transnet also focusing on the infrastructure of the transportation industry in South Africa, Transnet actions coincide nicely with SDG 9.
Our team had conflicting thoughts on these stories, as some of us admired how creative and forward-thinking these companies were when it came to sustainability. However, other members also realized that there are many big challenges these businesses have to deal with to remain more sustainable than they have to be. Some of the main barriers are the high costs of using sustainable technology, the rules and regulations they need to follow, and the implementation of these changes to make their operations more eco-friendly are common problems for companies around the world (Soderholm, 2020).
Researching our country-specific businesses and their stories on their use of sustainable operations led us to discuss how these real-life examples connect to what we learned in our respective schools about sustainability and social responsibilities. Using the “triple bottom line” idea, which looks at how a company can be socially, environmentally, and monetarily viable, gives us a better understanding of how these businesses can function the way they do (Maryville, 2019). The ways that these businesses are run have shown us that companies can be a force for good while fitting into the market simultaneously. This idea changed what some of us thought before and connects well with the growing conversation around companies being responsible for their impact on society and creating shared value (Porter & Kramer, 2011).
Following our departure from this coil experience, our team members have changed their beliefs to be more focused on being green and innovative. This activity has not only made us see how much businesses can do for society but also encouraged us to support and use sustainable practices going forward as we embark on our professional careers. The idea that we, the upcoming leaders in business, can help guide businesses to a more sustainable and fair future is daunting, however, at the same time it is something that excites us as we brace for what the future has in store. Going forward, our group promises to remember the important lessons from our COIL experience, looking to take into account what has been learned when making decisions. Together, we aim to better our own work culture, blistering our care for sustainability as a key value, knowing what we do now, we can dream of creating a lasting positive impact on both the environment and society.
Working together with other students from different parts of the world showed us how problems that come from sustainability and the solutions that follow can look very different depending on the country. For example, we talked about projects like PCL Construction’s work on making buildings more sustainable in Canada, PT Telkom upgrading how people communicate in Indonesia, and Transnet making it easier to move goods in South Africa. Each of these projects showcased beautifully how different environments and economic situations can allow for opportunities that may not be available in another part of the world. This diversity in perspectives allowed us to appreciate the importance of local contexts in addressing global challenges, a theme that we found was emphasized throughout the COIL experiment.
In our respective classes, we all learned the basic ideas behind teamwork as well as competing in multiple CORE quizzes ultimately acquiring a certificate giving us the tools to properly work with those from different backgrounds and grasp the big idea of sustainability all over the world. We talked about important concepts like the triple bottom line and the narrative that comes when discussing a business’s responsibility in society. These concepts helped guide our discussions to allow for the different teachings to be heard and relatable. An added benefit to us learning to work in these multicultural groups was that we were able to work through the “growing pains” that come when forming a group rather quickly, resulting in an environment where everyone felt like they were being listened to and appreciated.
We carried out our work by mixing live virtual meetings with working separately at our own pace. We used Zoom to host our weekly meetings and the messaging platform WhatsApp for any questions or concerns following the meeting. We would all assign tasks to each other during those meetings, and then a group Google Docs would be made where the group would all add to it at their own pace. We split the work correlatively evenly, with some having to do more depending on the total amount of work given for that week.
What was probably the best aspect of our group was the diversity of perspectives from everyone involved, resulting in better responses to the questions. However, we hit some speed bumps, especially when trying to work together across various time zones, and it sometimes slowed down when we tried to reach each other. We had one incident with daylight savings that had those from Guelph waiting for a meeting an hour earlier than the rest. When we wanted to make sure our final work was right on point and high-quality, the group reviewed the final product to ensure that our responses were appropriate. Doing this together not just made our work better, but also showed us the differences in writing styles from other parts of the world.
A common area that our collective institutions focused on was ethics, and what it would take to create a sustainable future. Applying what we learned in class to real-life businesses gave us a greater understanding of how we can develop sustainable practices and ideas of our own. Our learnings opened our minds to business’s responsibilities to not just profits, but to the environment and the communities in which they operate in.

Individual Reflections

Derik
Going into this experience, I was dreading the thought of having to arrange meetings with people from drastically different time zones with people from different countries. I was afraid that there would be an accountability issue, however, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of my groupmates, and aside from one hiccup due to daylight savings, group coordination hasn’t been an issue. As for the experience itself, I found myself digging deeper into topics that were previously discussed in class strengthening my understanding of topics such as the SDGs.
Another aspect that I enjoyed about the COIL experience was that I got to read about how the same topics affect businesses from other parts of the world, expanding my understanding of businesses on a global scale.

Nike
I have experienced COIL twice since my first semester and now I’m currently in the fourth semester. The difference between the previous one is the exposure, when the first time COIL I enjoyed it but also felt pressured as a beginner however, this time I already learned from the previous collaboration and meeting new people is always my favorite part because we can learn together about sustainability and innovation business that could build our global mindset. I have not met so many issues in this time but one of the main issues is always the time zone and our schedule to meet. However, we can tackle this by doing effective communication through our group.

Prisilya
Engaging in our group project on the international COIL was truly transformative. Each member’s unique perspective and insights greatly enriched our understanding, especially when it comes to SDG 9 and its global implications. Despite the initial communication challenges we faced, we were able to effectively utilize digital tools to foster cohesion and collaboration. This experience highlighted the importance of cross-cultural teamwork and adaptability in a global context. Through the COIL project, I gained valuable insights into cross-border project management and the power of virtual collaboration. Despite my initial apprehensions about coordinating meetings across diverse time zones, I was pleasantly surprised by the dedication and commitment of my groupmates. Our exploration of sustainability and innovation in global businesses broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of these crucial topics. Overall, this experience has significantly enhanced my skills in teamwork, communication, analysis, and intercultural competence, reaffirming the transformative power of collaborative intelligence.

References
WorldGBC. (2019). New report: The building and construction sector can reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. World Green Building Council.
https://worldgbc.org/article/new-report-the-building-and-construction-sector-can-reach-net-zero- carbon-emissions-by-2050/

Soderholm, P. (2020). The Green Economy Transition: The Challenges of technological change for Sustainability – Sustainable Earth Reviews. BioMed Central. https://sustainableearthreviews.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42055-020-00029-y

Maryville. (2019). The importance of environmental awareness when running a business.
Maryville University Online.
https://online.maryville.edu/blog/importance-of-environmental-awareness-when-running-a-busin ess/

Porter, M, & Kramer, M. (2011), “Creating Shared Value”. Harvard Business Review, January-February, pp. 62-77. Available on courselink. https://hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shared-value