1. The Business Climate for Engineering Communication The Cain Project in Engineering and Professional Communication ENGINEERING SERIES

2. Introduction to Module One This module explains what is distinctive about today’s work climate. Modules two and three describe communication in routine and non-routine situations. Productivity is a measure of a professional’s value to a firm or organization. To be productive, one must understand the situation the company faces, the appropriate way to apply one’s technical or engineering knowledge, and how to interact with others efficiently.

3. Today’s Business Climate Shrinking cycle time for – innovation – delivery Downsized workforce / clients Shorter “value chains” –Fewer people responsible for results

4. Business Climate Is Complex New, more, and different competitors Increasingly sophisticated clients Increasingly global scope of business

5. Intense Work Environment “Get more stuff done, faster, with fewer resources over greater distances and multiple time zones... Yesterday!” Engineering Manager

6. Must Create Value Faster Fewer human resources are available Teaming and collaboration are common Technology enables global teams, mobile workforce, home offices Technologies are replacing physical interaction

7. Colleagues, Clients Are Diverse Factors converge in new ways Projects’ country of origin varies Multiple company histories collide Engineers’ educational backgrounds vary Personalities and cultural orientation affect relationships and processes

8. Impact on Communication “Net It Out!” Shorter documents - to the point More visuals used Data transformed to information Documents designed to promote action

9. What to Expect Responsible use of others’ time –You ask for only what you truly need –Your communication supplies what enables others to act Collaborative composing Adaptation to diverse audiences Changing forms of communication Many technologies

10. Changing Forms of Communication WRITTEN letters memos proposals e-mails post-its Team-Room (software) HYBRID multimedia “white board” facilitated planning meetings Voice software SPOKEN conversations conference calls presentations voice-mails video videoconferences

11. Delegating by Coaching Share expectations with colleagues Offer information; allow observation Create opportunities Emphasize process feedback, not ranking or summative feedback Process : “I’d like more detail here” Ranking: “This is the worst memo I’ve seen”

12. Draft Less; Delegate and Edit More Build a communication plan jointly Use story boards, mind maps, or other methods Authorize drafting Allow time for review and revision Give process feedback

13. In Conclusion Expect high demands for productivity Adapt to audiences to increase your value to company Distinguish between routine and non-routine situations Involve others in drafting so you can edit

14. More resources are available for you under “Engineering Communication” at Connexions at http://cnx.orghttp://cnx.org at the Cain Project site at http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj in your course Communication Folder in OWLSPACE. Lead through Excellence in Engineering Communication