Items of Interest from the Disk of Knowledge
posted by Larry J Smith on 05/20/06
Leading vs. Managing: Rebuttal
The May 2006 PE Magazine Letters to the Editor addresses some key attributes about leaders and managers. The following quotes were offered by Dawn M. Thomas, P.E.:
"Management is a combination of leadership and command. Part of commanding is leadership - causing people to be willing to perform their assigned duties."
"Management and leadership are not mutually exclusive. Management is associated with a role, a position in an organization. Leadership is a personality trait. People iwth strong leadership characteristics can be great managers if they have the skills to manage. A manager without leadership skills can get the job done, but who wants to work for them."
"A leader doesn't necessarlily have to define the goals and mission of an organization in order to be effective. Leaders do, however, need to recognize the goals and mission to inspire those around them to aid in the pursuit of the organizational goals and mission."
"Part of the function of a manager is to recognize the purpose of the organization and, if the organization is not performing appropriately, it is then the manager's job to align the organization with that purpose."
"A leader doesn't have to be a manger (a subordinate can lead), but to be an effective manager when the organization isn't performing up to par, the manager must be a leader. In this sense, the leader is performing a management function."
"Managers have vision and foresight, they can define an organization's goals, and they can ensure those goals are obtained, even without exercising leadership, using using extrinsic motivators (like cash bonsues or punishment) to push thier subordinates to perform or by not empowering their subordinates to perform to thier potential, hence the term micromanagement."
Please share your thoughts or provide feedback on leadership vs. managment.
Are Construction Engineers Orphans in the Engineering Profession?
The May 2006 PE Magazine features an article on the importance of construction engineers in the Engineering Profession. Many young engineers avoid serving in field engineering or inspection jobs because they see it as a needless delay in meeting the qualifications for taking the PE exam.
Once construction is recognized as a necessary part of the engineering process, experience credit shoud and will be allowed for professional engineering experience. More importantly the Corps of Engineers requires Resident Engineers and Chiefs of Construction to be Professional Engineers. These individuals provide direct supervision of a well coordinated team effort. Quality Assurance Representatives and Inspectors are recognized as vital memers of that professional team. Quality Assurance Representatives are the eyes and ears of the engineer.
Bechtel Corporation has an excellent approach of requiring design engineers to be transferred to the construction division shortly after they become registered.
For ENGINEERS IN CONSTRUCTION, licensure has become more important. With the growing complexity and the increasing diversity of modern construction processes and techniques, the engineer in construction must be able to readily communicate and exchange ideas and views with licensed engineers employed by consultants, owners, and others in order to ensure that the construction process will proceed in a manner which satisfies all parties. In addition, while state engineering licensure boards differ in their interpretation of what constitutes valid qualifiying experience, adequately described and documented construction-related experience will be treated by many state licensure boards as acceptable experience for purposes of licensure.
Obtaining full credit for your Construction Experience toward licensure as a Professional Engineer is possible if you follow the steps recommended by NSPE Professional Engineers in Consruction "Get Full Credit For Your Construction Experience Toward Licensure as a Professional Engineer" .
One of the least understood areas of engineering licensure process relates to the question of what constitutes acceptable qualifying engineering experience for purposes of licensure.
NSPE offers the following clarification "Demonstrating Qualifying Engineering Experience for Licensure"
Please share your thoughts or provide feedback on the importance of professional registration in Construction.