Transcript From Engineer to Manager: A Roadmap for a Successful

A Successful Transition from
Engineer to Manager
ASME Early Career Forum
Toronto, Ontario
10 June 2007
John T. Bozewicz
ASME Engineering & Technology
Management Group Leader
Traditional Career Model
Sr.
Mgt.
Middle
Management
1st Line Management
Staff Engineering
The Career “Pyramid”
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Which Career Path Should I Follow?
Technical
Other
Management
3
Why Management?
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Setting the Course…..
From Engineer to
Engineering Manager
Do not be too timid and
squeamish about your
actions. All life is an
experiment. The more
experiments you make
the better.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Each Organization Selects Its Engineering
Managers Based on a Complex Set of Factors
Business
Competence
Relationships
Capability
Leadership
Each organization has its
own unique equation … that
may change over time
Seniority or
Experience
Technical
Competence
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Challenges to Becoming a Successful
Engineering Manager
Technical Competence
Communications
Business Skills
Management Skills
Motivation
Performance Evaluation
People (or Interpersonal) Skills – A Special Challenge
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Management Levels & Skills Mix
Administrative
and
Conceptual
Skills
Interpersonal
Skills
3rd Level
(Senior Managers)
2nd Level
(Middle Managers)
1st Level
(Supervisors)
Technical
Skills
As organizations evolve to reflect their
business environment -- the skills mix is also
changing for the organization’s managers
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Cornerstones to Developing Managers
Opportunity
Mgmt
Career Path
Preparation
Sponsor
(Mentor)
The secret of success is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.
-Benjamin Disreali, British Novelist and Debater (1804-1881)
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Engineering Management:
An Organizational Development Approach
Executives
Managers
Supervisors
Team Leader
Project Leader
POA&Ms
Project Tracking
Resource Expenditures
Customer Orientation
Quality Focus
Consensus
Myers-Briggs Analysis
Innovative Thinking
Program Development
Situational Leadership Planning & Evaluation
Demonstrate Core
Model/Reinforce Core
Values
Values
Managing Diverse
Workforce
Resource Management
Coaching/Counseling
Technology
Management
Conflict Management
Change Management
Process Oversight
Management
Team Building
Mentoring
Influencing/Negotiating Presentation/ Marketing
Skills
Human Resources
Risk Management
Mgmt
Branch Head (Middle
Mgr)
Division Head (Senior
Mgr)
Asst. Program Mgr
Program Manager
Strategic Vision
External Awareness
Organizational
Representation &
Liaison
Directorate Head
(Senior Mgr)
Knowledge
and
Skills
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First Things First: “Manage” Yourself
 Know Your Personality
 Personality/Behavior Tests
 Work Within Yourself
 Know Your Constraints and Limitations
 Don’t Become Something You’re Not!
 Take Care of Yourself Physically and Mentally
 “Management” Will Require Much of Your Energy
 Strive for Balance - Don’t Become a Workaholic!
Manage Yourself before Managing Others
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“Extra-curricular” Preparation (Part 1)
 Look for and take advantage of opportunities to get involved
with corporate or organization-level teams/projects - get
exposure at the corporate-level
 There’s more than just the focused technical area you
work in!
Look at organization’s internal website or other sources of
corporate information, policies and strategic planning –
“good stuff” from an organizational perspective – get
familiar with how your organization does business (e.g.,
budget development, marketing, etc.) and strategic planning
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“Extra-curricular” Preparation (Part 2)
Professional Society involvement – good for exposure –
become an “active” member not just an attendee – offers
great early “management” opportunities
 Make the investment in yourself (time and $$$) – not
everything will be provided to you – you must take the
initiative – treat yourself as a small business (YOU, Inc.)
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Key Focus Areas: My Experience
 Continuously improve your Communication skills – written
and oral
New Focus Area: International Communications
 Negotiating – key skill to your future success
Understand that there is a “political landscape”
 Financial Management/Budget Development – general
theory and your organization’s accounting and budgeting
practices
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Pathways to Development
 On the job experience
 Engineering Management degree programs at the
University Graduate level
 Engineering Management courses at the University
Undergraduate or Graduate level (non-degree
programs)
 “Piecemeal” Approach – Education (formal or
informal) focused on specific knowledge areas (for
example: Financial, Communications, or Negotiating
skills as well as numerous others)
 Certification Programs
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Certification: EMCI is a Tool to Measure
Engineering Management Competency
Engineer
EMCF
Engineering Manager
EMCP
EMCI: Engineering Management Certification International
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What I Hope You Take Away from Today
 “Soft skills” will play a significant part in successfully
transitioning from Engineer to Manager
 A strong desire to want to continue to develop yourself
AND more importantly a desire to develop others
 Become a Decision Maker – Managers have to make
the “Tough Choices”
 Take Charge: Initiate development of your Personal
Strategic Plan for You, Inc.!
Set an Active Course for Yourself…Don’t Coast…
If You’re Coasting, You’re Going Downhill!
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Contact Info
John Bozewicz
Email: [email protected]
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