Design Challenge 2
The second design challenge of the January session was more challenge than design. Our task was to create a disaster recovery plan in case of a terrorist attack on Boston. It is a purposefully ambiguous topic meant to stimulate creativity and teamwork in a setting that is outside our expertise and comfort zone. To mix it up even more, we were assigned to different groups. Perhaps it was the difficult task at hand or the different personalities involved, but our team didn't gel as quickly as the team in design challenge 1. Still, by the end of the assignment we were able to form a choesive team. Neither of us had strong opinions about things, we reached consensus quickly and made major decisions easily. We were ruthlessly efficient.
For our assigned topic we chose the scenario of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker explosion in Boston Harbor. Imagine what would happen if a tanker (like the one below) is attacked en route through Boston Harbor where it passes within 1/4 to 1/2 mile of residential areas. It could be worse than 9/11.
An LNG tanker passed by condominiums in Charlestown on its way out of Boston Harbor. (Globe Staff Photo / David L. Ryan)
Of course, we're not the only ones thinking about this possible scenario and there are plenty of safety measures to make sure this doesn't happen. Our task was to come up with our own disaster recovery plan, study the existing plans and then make a gap analysis followed by recommendations for improvements.
I learned quite a few things during this exercise, most of them having to do with teamwork. Whereas in DC1 I was the project manager setting the schedule, priorities etc., this time I decided to take a step back and let others take charge. The funny thing is that everyone must've thought the same thing: let someone else take charge. So we ended up with a team that had no one-upmanship, ran well on consensus, and was very efficient at getting the assignments done. Something to keep in mind for someone like me who likes to be in charge all the time...
For our assigned topic we chose the scenario of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker explosion in Boston Harbor. Imagine what would happen if a tanker (like the one below) is attacked en route through Boston Harbor where it passes within 1/4 to 1/2 mile of residential areas. It could be worse than 9/11.
An LNG tanker passed by condominiums in Charlestown on its way out of Boston Harbor. (Globe Staff Photo / David L. Ryan)
Of course, we're not the only ones thinking about this possible scenario and there are plenty of safety measures to make sure this doesn't happen. Our task was to come up with our own disaster recovery plan, study the existing plans and then make a gap analysis followed by recommendations for improvements.
I learned quite a few things during this exercise, most of them having to do with teamwork. Whereas in DC1 I was the project manager setting the schedule, priorities etc., this time I decided to take a step back and let others take charge. The funny thing is that everyone must've thought the same thing: let someone else take charge. So we ended up with a team that had no one-upmanship, ran well on consensus, and was very efficient at getting the assignments done. Something to keep in mind for someone like me who likes to be in charge all the time...
posted by sorinescu at 1:09 PM
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