The Softer Side of Engineering

1
The Softer Side of Engineering

• Whats up with that?

Doug Tougaw Gellersen Center, Valparaiso
University Valparaiso, IN 46383 Tel
219-464-5027, Fax [phone] Email
Doug.Tougaw_at_valpo.edu
College of Engineering
2
ENGINEERING CRITERIA 2000

• An ability to function on multi-disciplinary
  teams.
• An understanding of professional and ethical
  responsibility.
• An ability to communicate effectively.
• The broad education necessary to understand the
  impact of engineering solutions in a global and
  societal context.
• A recognition of the need for, and an ability to,
  engage in life-long learning.
• A knowledge of contemporary issues.

3
OTHER VIEW POINTS

• Broad social goal of engineering education,
  includes development of leadership,
• Understanding of the evolution of society and the
  input of technology on it,
• Acquaintance with and appreciation of the
  heritage of other cultural fields,
• Development of a personal philosophy leading to a
  productive life, and
• Sense of moral and ethical values consistent with
  a professional career.
• 
  Grinter

4
OTHER VIEW POINTS

• However, many of these engineers will admit that
  much of what they got from their liberal arts
  courses has been the most practical training that
  they have had in engineering.
• Hardy Cross- Engineers in Ivory
  Towers

5
OTHER VIEW POINTS

• It seems to me that anyone who would call
  himself college-educated -particularly anyone who
  would call himself a professional- should spend
  some time in close communications with the great
  souls, the great thinkers, the great artists, of
  our civilization. Most particularly, those
  engineers who would be leaders, those who would
  participate in the important communal debates,
  should be acquainted with the thoughts, theories
  and philosophies that constitute the foundations
  of our culture.
• Samuel Florman- The
  Civilized Engineer

6
OTHER VIEW POINTS

• The curriculum of the future should include
  courses that among other things,
• Enhance graduates ability to communicate,
• Give a student a better understanding of
  individual and group psychology, and
• Enhance the students understanding of social,
  political, and environmental considerations.
• Gerald
  Seeley Rudolph Stoechel Humanities -
  Technology Revisited The Past and the Future.

7
OTHER VIEW POINTS

• People who excel in careers and in life are
  those who continually get out of their comfort
  zones which means learning something new and not
  always being the expert.
• Janet Aston (CE
  88) - Asset Manager,
• Tricon Global
  Restaurants, Inc.

8
IMPORTANCE OF LIBERAL ARTS

• Liberal Arts courses are excellent preparation
  for Engineering Design Courses.
• Liberal Arts concepts are not so easy that we can
  pick them up on our own.
• Employment in a Global Environment

9
USEFUL INFORMATION

• What Makes An Effective Listener?
• Choose to find the speakers subject useful
• Concentrate on the speakers words and message
• Counter emotions and withhold evaluation until
• comprehension is complete
• Concentrate on grasping the fundamentals
• Adjust note taking to the pattern of the speaker

10
USEFUL INFORMATION

• What Makes An Effective Listener?
• Be attentive- dont let your mind wonder
• Tackle different material
• Dont be blocked by emotion-laden words (trigger
  words)
• Process
• Anticipate the speakers next point
• identify what the speaker uses as supportive
  evidence
• periodically summarize the speakers remarks

11
HOW TO BE A STAR ENGINEER

• Star-quality initiative.
• Seeking out responsibility above and beyond job
  descriptions.
• Sticking tenaciously to an idea or project.
• Stepping willingly into gaps between job
  descriptions grabbing your share of it, and
  doing a bang-up job of it.
• Undertaking extra efforts for the benefit of
  co-workers or the larger group.

12
HOW TO BE A STAR ENGINEER

• Knowing who knows.
• Develop ahead of time dependable two-way streets
  to experts.
• Proactive self-management.
• Work strategy helps create opportunities, direct
  work choices, perform extra well, carve out a
  career path.

13
HOW TO BE A STAR ENGINEER

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Step outside their own viewpoint and adopt a
  variety of perspectives (no tunnel vision).
• Right kind of Fellowship
• It is ok to be No. 2 sometimes (assists are
  good).
• Actively engage in helping the organization
  (usually the leader) succeed.
• Work cooperatively with leader to accomplish the
  organization goals even when there are
  personality differences.

14
HOW TO BE A STAR ENGINEER

• Teamwork as joint ownership of a project
• Taking joint ownership of goal-setting, group
  commitments, work activities, schedules and group
  accomplishments.
• Positive contributions to the group dynamics.
• Street Smarts
• Know that any organization has legitimate
  competing interests.

15
HOW TO BE A STAR ENGINEER

• Show and Tell
• Develop skills that will allow information to be
  passed to the right individuals in
• An effective,
• User-friendly format,
• That is persuasive.

16
HOW TO BE A STAR ENGINEER

• Small-L Leadership
• Take into account the needs, skills, aspirations,
  and power of their coworkers on a project or
  team.
• Four kinds of leaders
• Those who are laughed at,
• Those who are feared,
• Those who are loved, and
• Those who lead without anyones knowing
  they have led.
• Chinese Proverb