Module: PRINCIPLES OF

Management
Code: PCPM101

By
Ms. Nomthandazo Sibiya-
Dlomo
 SCHEME OF WORK
• THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ENGINEERS WORK
• PRINCIPLES OF GENERAL MANAGEMENT
• HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• IMPACT OF EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AND LABOUR
LEGISLATION ON AN ORGANISATION
• MANAGING PEOPLE AND TEAMS
• LAW OF CONTRACTS
• MANAGING TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
 Management for Engineers,
Technologists and Scientists
3rd Edition
Wilhelm P. Nel
Editor
ISBN: 978 0 7021 8688 2

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Chapter 1: The environment in
which technical Engineers work
Learning Outcomes
a)Define the terms technology, technologist, scientist and
engineer
b)Describe the role of engineers in the modern society
c)List the different skills required by a successful engineer
d)Explain why engineers have to appreciate the needs of
business
e)Explain why engineers need to have management skills
f) Discuss the life cycle of an organisation and a facility
g)Engineers as (project) managers, executives and
supervisors
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 Technology, Technologist, Scientist and Engineer
Defined
➢ It is not easy to define or explain an engineer’s role in an organisation or in
society in general. This task is complicated by the broad use of the word
‘engineering’- e.g.: consider its use in the terms social engineering, genetic
engineering, business process-engineering, software engineering and all other
types of engineering.
➢ Defining an engineer is further complicated by terms technician, technologist
and scientist.
➢ One method of defining an engineer is to define what a person does, how s/he
does it, where s/he works and to explain his/her contribution to society.
➢ The Engineering Council of the United Kingdom (UK) defines an engineer as:
‘one who has and uses scientific, technical and pertinent knowledge,
understanding and skills to create, enhance, operate or maintain safe, efficient
systems, structures, plant, processes or devices of practical and economic
values.
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Technology, Technologist, Scientist and Engineer
Defined
➢ Dillon (1998) says that engineering is directed to developing and
providing infrastructure, goods or services for industry and
community.
➢ De Camp (1963) defines an engineer as somebody who designs
some structure or machine, or who directs the building of it, or who
operates and maintains.
➢ Many different types of engineers exist today. Examples are civil,
mechanical, electrical, computer, chemical, aerospace, nuclear,
mining, biochemical, agricultural, biomedical, materials, metallurgical,
petroleum, marine and industrial engineers.
➢ A technologist can be described as somebody who uses or applies
technology. Technology is needs driven, whereas curiosity and
speculation about natural world usually drive science.

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Technology, Technologist, Scientist and Engineer
Defined cont’d
➢ Technology refers to the theoretical and practical knowledge,
skills and artefacts that can be used to develop products and
services as well as their production and delivery systems.
➢ Technology can therefore be embedded in people, materials,
cognitive and physical processes, plant, equipment and tools
(Burgelman et al., 2004).
➢ The aim of technology is to create and improve artefacts and
systems that satisfy human needs or aspirations.
➢ Success is judged in terms of efficiency, performance,
reliability, durability, cost of production, ecological impacts,
safety and end-of-life disposability. Whereas the output from
science may be published paper, that from technology may be
a patent.
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 The Role of Engineers in Society
Engineers play many roles such as:
• They are guardians of the new, the innovators and the creative
bringers of technological change.
• Some describe engineering as the driving force behind the
prosperity of the nations.
• Engineers raise living standards and bring benefits to society as
a whole (Dillon, 1998).
➢ They are in mining activities expanded the range of metals and
natural products for manufacturing of products
➢ Military, they prepare topographical maps, construct roads, bridges
➢ They are entrusted with difficult projects
➢ Make ethical decisions
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 Engineering Skills and Knowledge

➢ Engineers have to combine technical skills with non-technical skills and knowledge.
➢ Engineer or engineering team has to consider many factors and variables when
designing a new product, plant, shaft system and factory including:
✓ Easy of maintenance
✓ Quality
✓ Aesthetics (appearance)
✓ Environmental concerns
✓ Production/construction method(s)
✓ Cost and economic viability
✓ Safety
✓ Materials used
✓ Moral and ethical concerns

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 Engineering Skills and Knowledge cont’d
➢ Industry and society require engineers to possess knowledge, skills and aptitudes for various
activities such as research, design, testing, operations, production, development of a new
product, etc.,
➢ The correct mix of skills, knowledge and aptitudes that engineers require depends on the
company, industry and business ecosystem in which they will apply their knowledge. These
skills and knowledge include:
✓ Communication, Information
✓ Systems thinking
✓ Finances, Economics
✓ Environment
✓ Teamwork
✓ Law/contract
✓ Marketing, Quality control
✓ Problem defining and solving
✓ Entrepreneurial, Project Management, People issues
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 Management for Engineers, Technologists
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Engineers as (Project) Managers, Executive and
Supervisors
➢ There is no hard-and fast division between the skills
required by an engineer and an engineering manager.
➢ Engineers not only generate ideas and design objects,
they plan projects, administer budgets and direct others
to implement their ideas.
➢ It is especially for the execution aspect of their ideas
that engineers need management knowledge and skills.
➢ Many engineers spend much of their working lives
managing rather than practising.
➢ Within ten years of starting their careers, many
engineers take on leadership and management roles
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 Engineers as (Project) Managers, Executive and
Supervisors cont’d

➢ Engineering managers involve in the manufacturing of

products face six main challenges:
1. Getting the right people,
2. aiming at the right targets,
3. continuing action (monitoring, checking quality, etc.,),
4. creating a climate that motivate innovation,
5. dealing with increasing international competition,
6. developing awareness of the social and other
consequences of a new technology.

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 Engineers as (Project) Managers, Executive and
Supervisors cont’d
➢ It is important to indicate that some managers should have a
technical background to succeed in certain business
environments.
➢ Good engineering managers are distinguished from other good
managers by the fact that they simultaneously use their abilities to
apply engineering principles together with their skills in organising
and directing resources, people and projects.
➢ Thus they are qualified equally for two types of roles:
• The management of functions such as research, design,
production and operations in a very technical environment
• The management of broader functions such as marketing, project
management or top management in the high technology
enterprise that is usually subject to rapid technological change.
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 Organisational and Other Cycles

➢ All successful Organisations are started at some point and tend to become
larger and more complex over time.
➢ Changes take place during the life of an organisation follow a certain pattern,
called organisational life cycle.

➢ Stages in the organisational life cycle are:

1. The inception (birth) stage: activities at this stage maybe the development of a
business plan.
2. High-growth stage
3. Maturity stage
4. Decline stage
➢ We may also have the product life cycle (from marketing management
perspective).

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 Organisational and Other Cycles cont’d
➢ This states how the sales and profits made from the product at different stages such as:
1. Introductory stage
2. Growth stage
3. Maturity stage
4. Decline stage

In terms of project life cycle, the stages are as follows:

1. Concept phase
2. Definition phase
3. Implementation phase
4. Close-out phase

➢ Operational life cycle may include:

1. Maintenance projects
2. Upgrade project(s)
3. Expansion project(s)
4. Disposal project

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 Management for Engineers, Technologists
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 Characteristics of the Environment in which
Engineers Work
▪ Micro-environment (internal environment)
▪ Market environment (external environment)
▪ Macro-environment (external environment)
– Refer to Figure 1.3

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 Conclusion

➢ Engineers and engineering managers need both technical and non-

technical skills. Technical skills are self-evident and ( some of) these
technical skills were discussed
➢ Engineering is a holistic discipline that does not focus on a single
objective, as such technical and non technical skills are required.
Therefore, holistic approach should be followed in the education of
engineers.
➢ Engineers were empowered by governments, kings and the wealthy,
engineers today are employed by a variety of businesses. Many
engineers are self employed as consultants, contractors and
business owners.
➢ Difference between engineers, technologist and scientist was
discussed in this chapters
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