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Applying management theories in the workplace

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
As a professional skills trainer for the IET, I’m interested to know more about how beneficial engineers and technicians find management theories and how useful they are when put into practice.

 

Have you ever come across or been introduced to a Management or Leadership theory that you have successfully applied to the workplace?

 

What was the theory and how was it applied? 
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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I haven't found management theories of any use.



    I have used methodologies to manage the likes of Design for Reliability and Six Sigma, but I wouldn't say that there is a hard an fast way of managing these.



    The problem with management theories etc. (and I haven't even read one book!), is they are aimed at people who are managers and who are, perhaps, indoctrinated, with 'isms', 'models' and tend to stick to their own 'roadmap'.



    In the likes of Design for Reliability and Six Sigma, the Engineer needs many skills and he/she needs to used expert judgement to get the best result.



    I recently attended an interview and I could tell that the two interviewers loved the idea of SMED, (single minute exchange of die). They asked me about it on at least three occasions! When I mentioned that I had used something similar, such as Poka Yoke, they didn't want to know! Poka Yoke takes in SMED and more, but they so set in their ways, SMED was the only answer.



    Needless to say I told them I was interested in the role.



    Monkey see, monkey do. And the Brits are exceptionally talented at it.
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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I haven't found management theories of any use.



    I have used methodologies to manage the likes of Design for Reliability and Six Sigma, but I wouldn't say that there is a hard an fast way of managing these.



    The problem with management theories etc. (and I haven't even read one book!), is they are aimed at people who are managers and who are, perhaps, indoctrinated, with 'isms', 'models' and tend to stick to their own 'roadmap'.



    In the likes of Design for Reliability and Six Sigma, the Engineer needs many skills and he/she needs to used expert judgement to get the best result.



    I recently attended an interview and I could tell that the two interviewers loved the idea of SMED, (single minute exchange of die). They asked me about it on at least three occasions! When I mentioned that I had used something similar, such as Poka Yoke, they didn't want to know! Poka Yoke takes in SMED and more, but they so set in their ways, SMED was the only answer.



    Needless to say I told them I was interested in the role.



    Monkey see, monkey do. And the Brits are exceptionally talented at it.
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