Survival techniques for the practicing engineer

204 Pages·2016·3.803 MB·English

by  Sofronas, Anthony

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SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES
FOR THE PRACTICING
ENGINEER
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SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES
FOR THE PRACTICING
ENGINEER
ANTHONYSOFRONAS
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Sofronas,Anthony,author.
Title:Survivaltechniquesforthepracticingengineer/AnthonySofronas.
Description:Hoboken,NewJersey:JohnWiley&Sons,2016.|Includes
bibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Identifiers:LCCN2016011022|ISBN9781119250456(cloth)|ISBN9781119250487
(epub)|ISBN9781119250500(epdf)
Subjects:LCSH:Engineering–Vocationalguidance.
Classification:LCCTA157.S631742016|DDC620.0023–dc23LCrecordavailableat
https://lccn.loc.gov/2016011022
CoverimagecourtesyofDr.Sofronas
Typesetin10/12ptTimesLTStdbySPiGlobal,Chennai,India
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
10987654321
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ToMyLordWhoHasMadeThisAllPossible
And
ToMyFamilyAndFriendsWhoHaveContributedToMySuccess
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CONTENTS
AbouttheAuthor xi
Preface xiii
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Acknowledgments xv
1 GettingAhead 1
1.1 FindingyourNiche, 1
1.2 TwentyRulestoRemember, 5
1.3 CalculatedRiskVersusReward, 8
1.4 Advancement, 9
1.5 LearnfromObservingFailures, 10
1.6 KeepGoodRecordsofwhatyouhavedone, 12
1.7 FlexibilityinyourCareer, 17
1.8 You’reKnownforYourWork, 17
1.9 EthicalBehaviorinEngineering, 19
1.10 HumorintheWorkplace, 20
1.11 Self-PreservationwhenDocumentingyourAnalysis, 21
1.12 Don’tbeOverwhelmed, 22
1.13 ProvidingGuidancetoOthers, 23
1.14 TheTechnicalandManagerialLaddertoAdvancement, 24
References, 26
2 ThePoliticsofEngineering 27
2.1 Whattodo, 27
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viii CONTENTS
2.2 Whatnottodo, 28
2.3 DisenchantmentwithyourJob, 30
2.4 ConductingyourselfinaMeeting, 33
2.5 OrganizeandPrioritize, 35
2.6 DoasmuchasyoucanforyourColleagues, 36
2.7 TheCatch22ofEngineeringProjectWork, 37
2.8 Arrogance,Humility,Favors,andCourtesies, 38
2.9 BeCuriousandInquisitive, 40
2.10 StrivingforPerfection, 43
References, 44
3 UtilizingtheInputfromOthers 45
3.1 JustoutofCollege, 45
3.2 MentorsandColleagues, 46
3.3 InteractionBetweenDisciplines, 47
3.4 It’sNicetobeAppreciated, 48
3.5 TheFunnyLookTest, 49
3.6 UnclutteredThinking, 49
3.7 TheArtofVisualization, 51
3.8 TheImportanceofAlliancesandNetworking, 52
References, 53
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4 CommunicatingEffectively 55
4.1 SpeakingEffectivelyatMeetings, 55
4.2 EffectiveWritingSkills, 57
4.3 LearntoListen, 58
5 ProblemSolvingandDecisionMaking 61
5.1 WhyisthisSectionImportant?, 61
5.2 TheSimplestSolutionFirst, 62
5.3 The80–20Relationship, 63
5.4 TheFiveWHY’susedinProblemSolving, 65
5.5 BeingtheDevil’sAdvocate, 66
5.6 AnEngineeringApproach:UsetheScientificMethodforProblem
Solving, 66
5.7 YouNeedtoknowtheWholeStory, 70
5.8 FailureAnalysisandAccidentInvestigationsDiffer, 72
5.9 WhyDecisionMakingisImportantinEngineering, 73
5.10 DecisiononSeveralChoices, 74
5.11 TheImportanceofPersonalChecklists, 76
5.12 ConfirmationalBiasorSelf-fulfillingProphecies, 78
References, 79
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