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Do engineers make good managers?

I can understand the disconnect between the role of management and engineer at times. Some aren't destined for both and yet may excel at one or the other. My problem is when dealing with the former, as the mantra of cost efficiencies and bottom lines tend to supersede the well functioning of an established process or design. The horror of business people making certain engineering decisions explains much of the disarray of the current state of affairs, both economic and environmental. The power of uninformed decision. On the other hand I've worked with an industrial engineer as project management for R&D and is well equipped with the skill sets necessary to understand work requirements, expectations, manpower, projections and throughput. That and all of the extra operations management training they receive compared to other engineering disciplines (mine included) gives them an edge in this arena. And they usually have a sufficiently strong technical grasp to understand the greater agenda as an engineer. Personally I'm just a research scientist, nothing more... nothing less. Perhaps with time, wisdom and training I could evolve in to a proficient CSO. Until then I'm a proud lab monkey. Cheers ^_^

16 Apr 2012

5:32 pm