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Introduction and Methodology

Field Experience/Internship

Introduction

The modern era is coupled with the increased technologies which have continuously emerged to cater for the high demands of the customers and organizations. Innovations in the technological sector have since been the order of the day for many companies and individual scientists. However, these new technologies are greatly influenced by the various security threats which have impacted on their performance and led to the great losses to the troubled companies. Although the human race has progressed by the use of the modern technologies such as personal computers and smartphones, their performances have also been compromised by the increased vulnerabilities to cyber threat issues (Vesalainen et al., 2017). (Incorrect format for a citation.)

There various types of networks which the organization needs the required skills and competencies to manage. These types of systems may include the LANs which links a limited area to a network such as the homes, offices or few groups of buildings, MANS which connects a larger area such as a university or a city, WANs which links nationally or internationally, GANs, SAN, CAN, PAN among others. All these types of networks require the necessary skills and competencies for effective management in the organization. (Need a citation here.)

This project entails a job search process as a Network Engineer in a reputable company. The primary reason for this area of specialization is because of the recent cyber security issues which have indeed limited the performance of several computer network infrastructures. Therefore I wanted to minimize the many losses the company faces in case there are interferences of the company’s systems. I graduated with the undergraduate degree in computer systems engineering, and I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience in network security management upon the completion of my master degree in information systems. From my previous internship as a network administration assistant, I gained valuable skills needed for a network engineer. Some of the valuable skills required for the network engineer include the analytical skills, teamwork, organizational skills, communication skills, leadership skills and the attention to detail.

A network engineer is sometimes known as the network architect, typically designs and implements computer systems in the organization (Karris, 2009). Different from network administrators, who carry out the day-to-day support, the network engineer regularly emphasizes on the high-tech design and planning of the company’s networks. Similarly, network engineers chose the appropriate data communications elements and configured them so as to meet both the user and the corporate requirements. The development or construction of a consistent, reliable, and high-performing network integrating LAN, WAN, PAN, Internet and intranet components includes the network modeling and investigation.

As a network engineer, I will be designing, maintaining and managing the computer networks of the company. I will be seeking to work in offices particularly with organizations that have large enterprise-wide networks. I will also be responsible for troubleshooting both the operations and security issues of the company. Besides, as a network engineer, I will deal with firewalls, DNS servers and or DHCP servers. All these responsibilities are indeed linked to the various experiences and skills I received all through my career and academic path (Karris, 2009).

My interest to become a network engineer is also associated with the job market and the industry which is favorable for every aspiring network engineer. It is notable that the increased threats to the security networks have led to increased demand for the network engineers. ((Need a citation here.)

Methodology

Action Research

Kurt Lewin is one of the celebrated founder or father of action research. A German social psychologist at the Gestalt School also had much concern on the social issues in the society and highly put much focus on the participative group procedures n handling conflicts and the various transformations existing in an organizational setting. Kurt Lewin first came up with the term action research in his 1946 paper which was named, ‘’Action Research and Minority Problems.'' He termed action research as a comparative research on the situations and impacts of different forms of social measures and study resulting social actions through the use of a process of spiral procedures each of which is a collection of a cycle of planning action, and fact-finding concerning the outcome of the measure. Eric Trist is also anther leading contributor of the term ‘’Action Research’’ and together with Kurt Lewin, they applied their various research to the systematic change in and between organizations. They both focused on the right professional which entailed the customer collaboration and acknowledged the significance of group relations as a ground for solving problems. ((Need a citation here.)

Many names such as the participatory research, collaborative inquiry, emancipatory research among others can be used to refer to Action research. Specifically, action research always entails learning through action or doing in which a particular group of people determines, examines and evaluate a particular issue, view how effective their various efforts were to identify if they were successful. According to Koshy (2005), Action research aims to make a contribution to both the practical concerns of individuals in an instant challenging situation and also to further the objectives of social science concurrently. Therefore, there is a double obligation in action research to examine a system and simultaneously to cooperate with other members of the system in developing or changing it to what can be harmoniously regarded as a required direction. The accomplishments of these dual goals need the active partnership of a researcher and the customer, and thus it focuses on the significance of the co-learning as a primary feature of the research process.

What makes this particular type of research from the general professional practices, consultancy services, and or problem-solving is the focus of the scientific study (no meaning,rewrite sentence). This implies that the researcher will examine the problem systematically and also ensures that the theoretical considerations inform the intervention. Another difference between action research and other kinds of scientific research is that during the procedure of the action research, the researchers will require developing and also use a scope of capabilities or abilities to achieve their various points. An example is careful planning process, sharpened perception as well as listening skills, assessment together with the critical reflection. However, the traditional research is always conducted to give a report and publish the different conclusions that can be comprehensive to the greater populations, while the action research is usually carried out to take immediate actions and impact positive change in the current environment that was initially identified by the researcher. Similarly, the traditional research can be conducted in the environment where one can easily be controlled or managed, whereas the action research should always be carried out in schools, classrooms or academic settings or environment (Tripp, 2005).

Purpose and Justification

The action research is typically utilized in the real life situation as opposed to the experimental examinations. This is because it aims at solving the real life challenges which may be existing. Similarly, it can also be used by the social scientists for preliminary or pilot examination, especially in case the situation is too challenging to frame up a precise research question of the study. In most occasions, the action research is chosen in situations when circumstances need a lot of flexibility, the people involvement or in a condition when there is urgent of change within a given group or society. Moreover, the action research is used by practitioners who anticipate improving the proper understanding and knowledge of their practice. Others who needs action research include the social change activists attempting to support an action campaign, or, more probably, academics who are invited into an organizational or other significant domain by the decision makers who are aware of the problem which requires action research. These people may lack the necessary methodological know how to handle the situation (O'Brien, 2001).

The Process of Action Research

Stephen Kemmis developed a simple model or approach of the cynical nature of the action research process. He categorized the cycle into four initial steps including planning, acting, observing and reflecting (O'Brien, 2001). However, Gerald Susman also provided a simpler and elaborating listing of the various five stages of the action research which can be carried out within every research cycle. The first phase is the identification or definition of the problem followed by the action planning which will entail the possible solutions or alternatives out of which a single course of action is taken and implemented. The data portraying the results of the intervention are gathered and assessed, and the relevant outcomes are then interpreted at the same time considering the effectiveness of the action plan. At this specific point, the issue is evaluated again, and the process can be repeated. The process will carry on until the solution is found.

The following is the detailed action research model that describes the above description of the various stages of the process. (O'Brien, 2001).

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References

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Karris, S. T. (2009). Networks: Design and management. Fremont, Calif: Orchard Publications.

Koshy, V. (2005). Action research for improving practice: A practical guide. Sage.(incomplete reference, missing state and city)

O'Brien, R. (2001). An Overview of the Methodological Approach of Action Research Retrieved from, http://www.web.ca/~robrien/papers/arfinal.html

Tripp, D. (2005). Action research: a methodological introduction.Educacao e pesquisa, 31(3), 443-466.

Vesalainen, J., Valkokari, K., & Hellström, M. (2017). Practices for Network Management: In Search of Collaborative Advantage. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

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