Network Design Project Task 6b & 6c - Documentation & Reflection

Network communication is a course that exposed the students on the set of protocols such as rules and standards that allows application programs to talk with each other without regard to the hardware and operating systems where they are run. Network communication allows application programs to communicate independently of their physical network connections. Through this course, I gained various knowledge on the mentioned as well as the skills obtained from the project.

Along the project progress, I have contributed a lot in making the tasks done in a proper way as per required in the criteria. For task 1, we begin with creating the group for this course and give it a name Skynet. Then we started to discuss about the content of the task which is floor planning. Here, I gave some initial planning and sketches on the building layout by referring to some places I been as the idea of the layout. Next, in task 2 I contribute to determining the feasibility studies regarding the project. Then, the project proceeds with choosing the devices to be used in the building in task 3. Thus, here I did the searching on price lists of certain devices and compute some calculations on the actual price. Once done, we then develop the network  connections diagram throughout the building. I did network distribution for every work area in the building. Nevertheless, in task 5 I did not put so much effort as I have some issues to solve during the project progress. But I still managed to join the discussion of Skynet before they proceed with the tasks and checked the document before submission. Finally, in task 6 I contribute to compile the solutions of the tasks and completing team members and responsibilities.

Although we are currently living and learning in a new norm, a group work still a group work. A lot of meetings and discussions was held to achieve the vision in the tasks done. Therefore, I am thankful and feel lucky as I got to be in a very supportive group with cool members here. In every task, we managed to come out for a consensus so that everyone agrees with the points elaborated in each task. Plus, all my team members are graduate from Diploma certification which means they already have experience and knowledge about projects like this. So, it was easier for us to collaborate and brainstorming during the project progress as everyone know what to aspect in a group project. They contribute their efforts on assigned task successfully as stated in the team members and responsibilities and be able to commit in every task even there are some unavoidable circumstances yet still follow up the final output for current progress.

For me, to be honest I am not a person who really enjoyed being in a group task due to time management and availability. Every time when wanted to begin new work, discussion must be held to ensure everyone agree with our own opinions. Even so, my team and me had such a nice semester as we can easily accept each other views. This somehow mold the way how I worked as a group. I always initiate the task because sometimes, they forgot that the next submission was on the next two days and yet still we do not start anything. I understand that they have other academic stuffs to do, so in some case I ease their work by outlining the subtopics and assigned to them. This way somehow put their focus directly to given topics. The team that was easily to discuss brought me to a situation where I want to give the best during progressing the tasks and feel happy to work with them.

Accordingly, I learned many things from working as a group. Even working in a group seemed sucks for me, I managed to give out the best effort throughout the project because the members itself are nice. First, I learned to digest and accept other opinions. Although it might oppose our stand, we should comprehend it first. Maybe their ideas were better than us. Second, I learned to respect others time and availability. Not every time they were free to discuss the project as everyone got other things to work on. Lastly, I learned that an individual work was not good enough compared to teamwork. The combination of great ideas was the key of establishing extravagant results.

As for the project itself, it exposed me regarding the steps that were needed to be taken while working on a project to build a network design to be installed in a new built building. It began with the floor planning and ended with IP addressing. I was attracted a lot in task 4, where we defined the connections of devices within a network. This task gave me a gist on how difficult for the actual contractor who will get the job on doing the installation. All connections needed to be considered in term of their cabling, distance, power source and many more factors. Hence, this project offered the overall development of making new building.

In conclusion, it is hoped that this kind of project is continued to other students on upcoming semester as it implies many important parts in networking with some architecture elements like the floor planning. The  deliverables are very decent in producing students with great minds and brilliant idea upon working on the  project.