Engineering Professionalism Nathan Delson January 2010

Engineering Professionalism Engineering Ethics is just one component of being a Professional Engineer. Many items that do not violate ethics standards can still lead to pitfalls. How one relates to their subordinates, superiors, peers, and customers will have a long-term impact on one’s career There is a reason that Gracious Professionalism is regarded so high in the FIRST robotics Competition.Gracious Professionalism

Professional Communications and the Perils of It has been estimated that 80% of communication is based on non-textual cues (tone, expressions, etc.) All lost in , which can lead to misunderstandings The 2 most important parts of an message: Subject line (don’t perpetuate out of context reply lines) The To and cc list (almost never use bcc) Starting an stream Introduce yourself and context of message Include complete team on cc list When addressing a delicate or difficult subject Don’t write an ; instead pick up the phone.

Handling Conflict Handling conflict is a skill that we develop over our lifetime. Don’t underestimate the importance of developing good relationships early on. When a conflict arises it can then be solved easily. Generally raise conflict issues privately, and try to resolve issues directly between parties. Be very sensitive about raising issues with superiors, but do follow through if necessary. Do address a problem; they rarely go away by themselves. Be sensitive about over-claiming credit for oneself in a team project.

The Art of the Technical Phone Call Review material on the web first so you sound knowledgeable Ask to speak to an application engineer (otherwise you will be directed by default to sales) Introduce yourself as a University of California at San Diego engineering student working on an Industry or research project (whichever is appropriate) Get pricing and availability on all parts in question (ask if they have samples or educational discounts) Ask about pros and cons of the various options. Ask about the strength of the company compared to their competitors. Always get the name, phone number, and address of the person you spoke to. Remember that establishing a relationship on the phone is an art and requires good interpersonal skills. However, the reward for of a good phone call may save you months of research time.