Construction Leadership Construction Leadership

Team LeadershipTeam LeadershipPart VIII – The Engineer WorkerPart VIII – The Engineer Worker

Class notes:Class notes:

I need I need copiescopies of all PPT presentations of all PPT presentations

Turn in Turn in written book reports written book reports after after ASCE tripASCE trip

4 book reports covered on Test 24 book reports covered on Test 2

Test 2 study guide on web & ANGELTest 2 study guide on web & ANGEL

I’m out of town Wed thru SundayI’m out of town Wed thru Sunday

What makes engineers tick?What makes engineers tick?Stereotypes of engineersStereotypes of engineers

Class research resultsClass research results

Technical OrientationTechnical Orientation

Engineering education processEngineering education process

Problem solving methodsProblem solving methods

Work environmentWork environment

Profile of the Engineer*Profile of the Engineer*

“ “ Constricted interests are apparent in their Constricted interests are apparent in their relative indifference to human relationsrelative indifference to human relations, to , to psychology and the social sciences, to public psychology and the social sciences, to public affairs and social amelioration, to the fine arts affairs and social amelioration, to the fine arts and cultural subjects and even to those and cultural subjects and even to those aspects of physical science which do not aspects of physical science which do not immediately relate to engineering.”immediately relate to engineering.”

* Industrial Relations * Industrial Relations NewsNews

Engineers’ SpellingEngineers’ Spelling I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorant!  

Design EngineersDesign Engineers

““You can distinguish them by their appearance:You can distinguish them by their appearance: dress up constantly, neatness is their deal, have a trousers & dress up constantly, neatness is their deal, have a trousers &

shirts wordrobe, dress for successshirts wordrobe, dress for success stick pens in pocketsstick pens in pockets like soft, instrumental music, not a party or social animal, like soft, instrumental music, not a party or social animal,

prefer more conservative social settings; play with LEGOs, prefer more conservative social settings; play with LEGOs, shy, but also organized, curious, obsessive, talk in technical shy, but also organized, curious, obsessive, talk in technical

or “robotic” terms, or “robotic” terms, communication skills not well developed, they are communication skills not well developed, they are

“quiet”… “quiet”… but in the end they find the right answers and solve the but in the end they find the right answers and solve the

puzzle… “make it work” is their motto.puzzle… “make it work” is their motto.

Construction ManagersConstruction Managers““You can distinguish them by their appearance: You can distinguish them by their appearance: dress up rarely, usually wear jeans & shirts, wears a team shirt dress up rarely, usually wear jeans & shirts, wears a team shirt

& hard hat; neatness is & hard hat; neatness is notnot their deal, their deal, like loud, rock music, are party or social animals, prefer like loud, rock music, are party or social animals, prefer

outdoor to social settings; play video games outdoor to social settings; play video games self possessed & outgoing, organized, focused, short self possessed & outgoing, organized, focused, short

tempered, talk abruptly or use “sports” termstempered, talk abruptly or use “sports” terms communication skills very well developed, they are “noisy” communication skills very well developed, they are “noisy”

workers… workers… but in the end they find the right answers and complete the but in the end they find the right answers and complete the

project or task… “get er done” is their motto.project or task… “get er done” is their motto.

ACEC*: What our clients look for...ACEC*: What our clients look for...People skillsPeople skills - 34% - responsive, motivated, excited - 34% - responsive, motivated, excited

Communication skillsCommunication skills - 23% - issues, alternatives, involved - 23% - issues, alternatives, involved

Ethical considerationsEthical considerations - 15% - mutual respect, trust, honesty - 15% - mutual respect, trust, honesty

Project specific skillsProject specific skills - 17% - scope, scheduling, costing, etc. - 17% - scope, scheduling, costing, etc.

Knowledge/experienceKnowledge/experience - 6% - expertise - 6% - expertise

Budget experienceBudget experience - 5% - 5%

*ACEC - Peer review committee*ACEC - Peer review committeeAmerican Consulting Engineers CouncilAmerican Consulting Engineers Council

Design Engineers…Design Engineers…Typical jobsTypical jobs: calculations, drawing, analyses, : calculations, drawing, analyses, specification writing, knowledge workerspecification writing, knowledge workerPersonalityPersonality: curious, detail-oriented, creative, like : curious, detail-oriented, creative, like challenges, organized, logical, practical, confident, challenges, organized, logical, practical, confident, independent, creative, systematic, dedicatedindependent, creative, systematic, dedicatedEducationEducation: HS, BSCE, MSCE, PE, OJT, seminars, : HS, BSCE, MSCE, PE, OJT, seminars, CEUsCEUs

SkillsSkills:: technically proficient in one area, problem technically proficient in one area, problem solver, tenacious, conservative, good math & solver, tenacious, conservative, good math & science, poor communicator, narrowly focused science, poor communicator, narrowly focused interests, good ethics, concern for safety & costinterests, good ethics, concern for safety & costMBTI typesMBTI types: ISTJ: ISTJ

Construction Managers…Construction Managers…Typical jobsTypical jobs: PM, Estimator, Scheduler, Office : PM, Estimator, Scheduler, Office Engineer, Resident EngineerEngineer, Resident Engineer

PersonalityPersonality: logical, organized, methodical, : logical, organized, methodical, dependable, fact oriented, action orienteddependable, fact oriented, action oriented

EducationEducation: HS, BSCE, OJT, GC license, seminars, : HS, BSCE, OJT, GC license, seminars, PE(?) & MS or MBA…. Prof CM (pending)PE(?) & MS or MBA…. Prof CM (pending)

SkillsSkills:: flexible, resourceful, analytical, organized, flexible, resourceful, analytical, organized, business skills, decisive, impatient, good oral business skills, decisive, impatient, good oral skills, team player, tactful, leader, sensible, skills, team player, tactful, leader, sensible, organized & structuredorganized & structured

MBTI typesMBTI types: ESTJ, ESFJ, ISTJ, ENTJ: ESTJ, ESFJ, ISTJ, ENTJ

Construction Workers-skilled…Construction Workers-skilled…Typical jobsTypical jobs: whole body, physical, machinery, : whole body, physical, machinery, inspection, hazardous, repetitive tasksinspection, hazardous, repetitive tasks

PersonalityPersonality: conscientious, energetic, productive, : conscientious, energetic, productive, broad interests, team worker, like recognition, broad interests, team worker, like recognition, proud, like challenges, competitive, like clear proud, like challenges, competitive, like clear instructionsinstructions

EducationEducation: : HS, apprentice, OJT, experienceHS, apprentice, OJT, experience

SkillsSkills: expert in “one” skill, good hand & eye : expert in “one” skill, good hand & eye coordination, strong w/endurance, good with details, coordination, strong w/endurance, good with details, good communicators, problem solver, decisive good communicators, problem solver, decisive

MBTI typesMBTI types: ESTJ, ENFJ: ESTJ, ENFJ

Construction Workers-unskilled…Construction Workers-unskilled…Typical jobsTypical jobs: whole body, physical, repetitive : whole body, physical, repetitive taskstasks

PersonalityPersonality: need supervision, clear : need supervision, clear instructions, oversight, many have instructions, oversight, many have personal/social problemspersonal/social problems

EducationEducation: : HS, dropout, foreign nationalHS, dropout, foreign national

SkillsSkills:: hardworking, good physical shape, learn hardworking, good physical shape, learn easily, reliable, lack technical skilleasily, reliable, lack technical skill

MBTI typesMBTI types: unknown: unknown

Engineer Problem Solving Methods…Engineer Problem Solving Methods…

Scientific method Scientific method – Cause and effect thinkingCause and effect thinking– Facts and assumptionsFacts and assumptions– Safety and cost drive judgmentsSafety and cost drive judgments

Structured analysis processStructured analysis process– Ability to check workAbility to check work– Safety of the process; reduce riskSafety of the process; reduce risk

Reliance on fact vs. feelReliance on fact vs. feel– Left brain vs. right brainLeft brain vs. right brain– Impact on people not a factorImpact on people not a factor– Numerical/objective vs. subjective evaluation Numerical/objective vs. subjective evaluation

Construction Problem Solving Methods…Construction Problem Solving Methods…

Business Management MethodsBusiness Management Methods– Time sequenced thinkingTime sequenced thinking– Facts only based on plans & specsFacts only based on plans & specs– Safety and cost drive judgmentsSafety and cost drive judgments

Process analysis approachProcess analysis approach– Need to make all parts come together in timeNeed to make all parts come together in time– Stress on cost & productivityStress on cost & productivity– Stress on reducing time & riskStress on reducing time & risk

Reliance on practicalityReliance on practicality– Right brain vs. left brainRight brain vs. left brain– Impact on people is a factor; esp the ownerImpact on people is a factor; esp the owner– Subjective/evaluation vs. numerical objective Subjective/evaluation vs. numerical objective

Engineering Work Environment (1)…Engineering Work Environment (1)…

Typically Typically not group orientednot group oriented– Problem centered; beam, joint, foundationProblem centered; beam, joint, foundation– Work breakdown structure; tasks dividedWork breakdown structure; tasks divided

IsolatedIsolated work stations work stations– Office broken downOffice broken down– Projects widely separatedProjects widely separated– Typically few interactionsTypically few interactions– Problems solved "individually"Problems solved "individually"

Work Environment (2)…Work Environment (2)…

Projects isolated Projects isolated from each otherfrom each other– Project extracted from surroundingsProject extracted from surroundings– Ease of analysisEase of analysis– Cost considerationsCost considerations– Projects not related to each otherProjects not related to each other– Lessons learned difficult to relate Lessons learned difficult to relate – New project: clean sheet approachNew project: clean sheet approach

Comparison to other professionsComparison to other professions– Legal - case lawLegal - case law– Environment - ecosystems Environment - ecosystems

Construction Work Environment (1)…Construction Work Environment (1)…

Typically group orientedTypically group oriented– ProjectProject centered; site, timing, interactions centered; site, timing, interactions– Work breakdown structure; tasks Work breakdown structure; tasks

integratedintegrated

IntegratedIntegrated work station work station– One site; one projectOne site; one project– Projects widely separatedProjects widely separated– Typically Typically many, many many, many interactionsinteractions– Problems Problems cannot be solved "individually"cannot be solved "individually"

Work Environment (2)…Work Environment (2)…

One projectOne project at a time… at a time…– Project Project integratedintegrated with surroundings with surroundings– Ease of analysisEase of analysis– Cost considerations Cost considerations dominatedominate– Projects not related to each otherProjects not related to each other– Lessons learned Lessons learned appliedapplied to future to future

projects projects – New projects: New projects: related to lower riskrelated to lower risk

The Enlightened EngineerThe Enlightened Engineeroror

Construction Manager*Construction Manager*

1. The "engineering elite" of the future will most 1. The "engineering elite" of the future will most likely be graduates of likely be graduates of liberallyliberally enriched five- or enriched five- or six-year programs.six-year programs.

2. Engineers & Managers are "intelligent, energetic, 2. Engineers & Managers are "intelligent, energetic, unassuming people who seek interesting work... unassuming people who seek interesting work... they have they have enormous potential for growthenormous potential for growth..

* The Civilized Engineer, Samuel C. Florman* The Civilized Engineer, Samuel C. Florman

Student PresentationsStudent Presentations

AMA Study of Leadership*AMA Study of Leadership*““Leadership is a practical skill that can be learned Leadership is a practical skill that can be learned

only through actual experience, preferably prior only through actual experience, preferably prior to the age of thirty.”to the age of thirty.”

* Survey of 700 CEOs* Survey of 700 CEOs

The Engineer in Training…The Engineer in Training…Technical orientationTechnical orientation– Need for technical competenceNeed for technical competence– Difficulty of technical problemsDifficulty of technical problems– Propensity for specialization; narrow viewPropensity for specialization; narrow view– Time in curriculum for humanitiesTime in curriculum for humanities

Compare engineering vs. business Compare engineering vs. business curriculacurricula

Discuss the effect of a lack of humanitiesDiscuss the effect of a lack of humanities

Engineering EducationEngineering EducationEngineering Education TodayEngineering Education Today

EngrEngr BusBus LibLib

MathMath 1212 1515 66SciSci 3232 1515 1515EngrEngr 4949 00 00TechTech 18 (111)18 (111) 0 (30)0 (30) 0 0

(21)(21)BusBus 00 1212 00MgtMgt 00 3737 00HumHum 2727 30 30 33Major*Major* 00 00 6565ComCom 00 33 00LawLaw 00 3 (85)3 (85) 00LangLang 00 00 6 6

(74)(74)OtherOther 00 1212 00

Total Total 138138 127127 122122

Major = Art, Science, English, Lang, Sociology, Psych, Theater, Major = Art, Science, English, Lang, Sociology, Psych, Theater, etc. etc. ABET requirement for humanities in engineering education is 12 ABET requirement for humanities in engineering education is 12 1/2%1/2%