Engineering Management Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary responsibility of first-line managers?

  • Carrying out the plans and objectives of higher management. (correct)
  • Evaluating the performance of major departments.
  • Making intermediate range plans for the organization.
  • Defining the character and mission of the enterprise.
  • Which title is commonly associated with middle managers?

  • Foreman
  • Chief executive officer
  • Chairman of the board
  • Plant manager (correct)
  • What is a key function of top managers?

  • Establishing departmental policies.
  • Evaluating subordinate work units. (correct)
  • Making short-range decisions.
  • Assigning daily tasks to employees.
  • What distinguishes an engineering manager from other types of managers?

    <p>Expertise in applying engineering principles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of first-line managers?

    <p>Making long-range plans for the organization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of plans do middle managers create?

    <p>Intermediate range plans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which skill is essential for engineering management?

    <p>Project management and coordination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do change agents play in the cultural change process?

    <p>They are responsible for communications of new values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a recommended guideline for culture change?

    <p>Reduce training programs for current employees.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the chief executive officer (CEO)?

    <p>Defining the mission and objectives of the organization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of staffing in an organization?

    <p>Selecting and developing personnel for roles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Human resource planning is critical because it involves what key process?

    <p>Forecasting future human resource requirements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which action helps to support the cultural change in an organization?

    <p>Providing extensive training for all employees.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The separation phase in staffing primarily involves what?

    <p>Terminating employees who do not align with values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Identifying obstacles to change is part of developing what key aspect in culture change?

    <p>Ethical and legal sensitivity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a step in the staffing process?

    <p>Providing orientation to new employees.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a disadvantage of a matrix organization?

    <p>High conflict between divisional and functional interests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does span of control refer to?

    <p>The number of subordinates a supervisor manages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is NOT a consideration in determining span of control?

    <p>Employee personal preferences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect does NOT define organizational culture?

    <p>Physical office layout</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first guideline for culture change?

    <p>Formulate a clear strategic vision</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can a matrix organization be improved?

    <p>Providing human relations training</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the phrase 'the way things are done around here'?

    <p>Organizational culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the functions of an engineer?

    <p>Consulting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be an effect of having a wide span of control?

    <p>Increased employee empowerment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is management best described in the context given?

    <p>A creative problem-solving process</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the role of engineering in society?

    <p>It applies science and mathematics to fulfill human dreams.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered a management level mentioned?

    <p>Corporate strategists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an important aspect of management according to the definitions provided?

    <p>Achieving goals efficiently</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following activities is specifically associated with engineering management?

    <p>Organizing engineering teams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the principles of engineering management, what is one key resource for attaining an organization’s goals?

    <p>A combination of various resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception about the role of management?

    <p>Management is solely about planning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of recruitment in an organization?

    <p>Searching for and attracting potential employees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a source of internal recruitment?

    <p>Newspaper advertising</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the selection process?

    <p>To choose the most suitable candidate for current or future positions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which stage of the selection procedure is the candidate's prior work history investigated?

    <p>Checking references</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does training specifically aim to improve?

    <p>Performance on the present job</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about induction and orientation is true?

    <p>They are intended to integrate new employees into the organization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in the selection procedure?

    <p>Receiving and screening the application</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic of external recruitment sources?

    <p>They include methods such as direct recruitment and recruitment agencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Functions of an Engineer

    • Engineers provide solutions to various challenges faced by humanity
    • Engineering roles include:
      • Research
      • Design and Development
      • Testing
      • Manufacturing
      • Construction
      • Sales
      • Consulting
      • Government
      • Teaching
      • Management

    Engineering Management History

    • This section focuses on the history of Engineering Management.

    Engineering Management

    • Engineering involves applying science and mathematics to achieve human aspirations
    • Management is a problem-solving process encompassing planning, organizing, leading, and controlling organizational resources to achieve goals
    • Engineering Management combines technical knowledge with the ability to organize and coordinate resources like people, materials, machinery, and money.
    • Engineering managers possess both technical expertise and organizational skills.

    Management

    • The work of creating and maintaining effective working environments (Albanese)
    • The process of achieving desired outcomes through efficient resource utilization (Bedeian)
    • Reaching organizational goals through collaboration and resource management (Certo)
    • A set of organizational activities directed toward utilizing resources to achieve goals (Griffin)
    • The process of managing organizations through coordinated human efforts (McFarland)
    • Acquiring and combining resources to produce goods or services for society (Pringle, Jennings, and Longnecker)

    Management Levels

    • First-line managers
      • Directly supervise non-managers
      • Titles like foreman, supervisor, or section chief
      • Implement plans and objectives set by higher management
      • Create short-term plans, assign tasks, supervise work, and evaluate individual performance
    • Middle managers
      • Titles such as plant manager, division head, chief engineer, or operations manager
      • Develop intermediate-range plans to achieve long-term goals
      • Establish departmental policies
      • Evaluate subordinate work units and their managers
      • Integrate and coordinate short-term activities to achieve long-term goals
    • Top managers
      • Titles like chairman of the board, president, or executive vice president
      • Define the organization's character, mission, and objectives
      • Establish criteria for and review long-term plans
      • Evaluate departmental and senior management performance

    Skills Required versus Management

    • This section discusses the correlation between skills required of managers and their respective management levels.

    Matrix Organization

    • Disadvantages:
      • Dual chain of command can lead to confusion and frustration
      • Conflict between divisional and functional interests
      • Meetings and discussions often dominate over action
      • Requires extensive human relations training for key employees and managers
      • Tendency for power dominance by one side of the matrix

    Span of Control

    • Refers to the number of subordinates a supervisor is responsible for
    • Also known as span of management
    • Key considerations:
      • Subordinate training
      • Nature of jobs supervised
      • Rate of change in activities and personnel
      • Clarity of instructions and delegation
      • Staff assistance

    Organizational Culture

    • Encompasses an organization's expectations, experiences, philosophy, values, and the guidelines for member behavior
    • Expressed in member self-image, internal operations, external interactions, and future expectations
    • Based on shared attitudes, beliefs, customs, and written and unwritten rules developed over time
    • Includes the organization's vision, values, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, and habits
    • "The way things are done around here" (Deal & Kennedy, 2000)

    Guidelines to Culture Change

    • Formulate a clear strategic vision
    • Display top-management commitment
    • Model desired culture change at the highest level
    • Utilize change agents to communicate new values
    • Modify organizational systems, policies, procedures, and rules to align with new values
    • Select and socialize newcomers and terminate deviants who don't align with the new culture
    • Provide training to help employees understand new processes, expectations, and systems
    • Develop ethical and legal sensitivity to identify obstacles and resistant employees
    • Acknowledge and reward employee progress to encourage continued change and involvement

    Staffing

    • A significant management function involving staffing the organization through effective selection, appraisal, and development of personnel
    • "Putting people to jobs"

    Staffing Process

    • Human Resource Planning
      • Forecasting future human resource needs
      • Determining how existing resources can meet those needs
      • Activities include: analyzing current manpower, creating future manpower forecasts, developing employment programs, conducting training programs, and implementing evaluation and control measures
    • Recruitment
      • Searching for potential employees and encouraging them to apply
    • Selection
      • Choosing the best candidate for a position from within or outside the organization
      • Steps include: receiving and screening applications, conducting preliminary interviews, administering tests, investigating previous history, checking references, and final selection
    • Introduction, Training and Development, Performance Appraisal, Employment Decisions, and Separation

    Induction and Orientation

    • This section provides an overview of induction and orientation processes within organizations.
    • It is important to ensure new employees are properly introduced to the workplace.

    Training and Development

    • Training focuses on improving performance on the current job
    • It also contributes to overall personal development

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    Description

    This quiz explores the various functions of engineers and the historical context of engineering management. It delves into the roles engineers play, from research and design to teaching and management, emphasizing the integration of technical and organizational skills. Gain insights into how engineering management combines these aspects to address challenges faced by humanity.

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