Engineering Management

How much time do you waste online? We've all been there: we have our to-do list all written out and prioritized, a fresh cup of coffee, and maybe even our favorites station playing on Pandora. The recipe for a productive day. But before you get started you think, "Let me just check my favorite engineering forum" (hint hint…CR4) and an hour later (while filled with new knowledge) you realized you have done nothing on your list.

I spend the majority of my day online in some capacity, and I know that it takes real disciple to close my personal email and social media accounts and get down to business. OfficeTime, a time and expense tracker, examines the top 10 ways people kill time every day. This survey found that people were spending between 1 and 2 hours a day on non-productive activity.

The Top Ten Time Killers are:

1. 1. Emails

2. 2. Internet surfing

3. Watching TV

4. 4. Procrastination

5. 5. Meetings

6. 6. Non-business related conversations

7. 7. Travel time / commuting

8. 8. Social networking

9. 9. Cell phone / texting

10. 10. Dealing with red tape

More stats on each of these time killers and how many people they affect can be seen by clicking the picture of the infographic.

The infographic goes on to show that three-fourths of workers attribute time-wasting to stress and boredom. This seems counterintuitive to me since delaying work stresses me out - but I'm a bit Type-A. According to Professor Joseph Ferrari at De Paul University, there are three different types of procrastinators. After taking the flow-chart quiz on the bottom of the inforgraphic, I'm identified as a Thrill Seeker or last-minute procrastinator who enjoys the feelings associated with working against a deadline. I guess it fits me better than the other two options, which include the Avoiders (or fear procrastinators) who procrastinate as a means to avoid being judge due to their success or failure, and the Indecisives (or decisional procrastinators) who are often perfectionists but stall to shift responsibility from themselves. Professor Ferrari offers tips for each of these types including moving deadlines and splitting the task up into manageable parts.

^{Image Credit: xfep.com}

There is help! One of my favorite blogs (ahem…time wasters) is called Zen Habits. They designate every Monday as productivity and organization day, and one article was about staying productive with online work. Another resource provides apps or plug-ins that help students stay more productive online, but I think many of them can apply to business as well.

Other good resources:

How CEOs Stay So Productive

10 Ways to Stay Productive (Online and Offline)

So how do you stay productive while you're working?

An article titled "Should scientists be held accountable if their predictions are wrong?" recently caught my eye. We rely on engineers to design buildings and scientists to produce safe medication.

I'm going to pause here for a minute and say I'm not taking a stance on being for or against lawsuits of this nature - just sharing some information that I found while researching the topic of legal services.

In 2012, the Corps of Engineers was found not liable for Katrina damage caused by levy failure (CNN). This was a reversal of a previous decision.

Still, some of those that followed the Katrina lawsuits were wary of helping Sandy victims (CRAIN'S New York Business). Architects and engineers were hesitant to assess storm-damaged properties because they were afraid of the possibility of litigation. They aren't protected under Good Samaritan laws (like doctors who aren't usually attacked if someone dies under their care in an emergency situation).

It doesn't stop there - we rely on developers to create safe, secure software. Remember that loooooong list of jargon you scan over in a hurry to click the 'Accept' button and install your software? According to TechRepublic, by clicking that button you might be signing away your right to sue the developer.

It's good for engineers to know what they could be liable for and how to protect themselves and their businesses.

Types of Law

Two types of law are commonly seen in the engineering world: corporate law and intellectual property law. A third type, criminal law, is one that most of us don't wish to encounter! (Admiralty/maritime law, environmental law, and health care law might also come into play in some engineering settings.)

Corporate Law

The work of a corporate lawyer is related to the formation, operation, and dissolution of corporations. A corporate lawyer is responsible for helping to protect industry and commerce. Areas related to corporate law include:

• Articles of incorporation
• Contracts
• Taxes
• Securities and antitrust
• Licensing
• Zoning
• Intellectual property
• Labor, employment, and immigration
• Bankruptcy

Intellectual Property Law

Intangible assets such as discoveries, inventions, words, phrases, symbols, designs, and literary, musical, and artistic works can be protected by obtaining exclusive rights. Intellectual property lawyers acquire and enforce such protection. Intellectual property can be protected with patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

• A patent gives exclusive rights to an inventor or assignee for a limited time period after details about the object are publicly filed. The term "patent pending" warns potential infringers that an application is in process. In the United States patents are issued by the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which issued its 8,000,000th patent in 2011.
• A trademark is a brand name and may consist of a word, name, symbol, or device used to distinguish an organization's products or services. It is indicated by the use of one of three symbols: TM or ®.
• Copyright gives a creator the exclusive right to limit others from copying the work for a limited period of time. A copyright t is a personal property that can be willingly passed, bought, or sold by the owner. The copyright notice may be indicated by a symbol ©, the word "Copyright" or the abbreviation "Copr."

Criminal Law

A criminal lawyer defends or prosecutes those who have committed crimes. There are serious potential consequences for a person accused of committing a crime.

Read more about legal services on IHS GlobalSpec.

References:

Santa Clara University - Who Should Pay? The Product Liability Debate

TechRepublic - Should developers be sued for security holes?

USPTO

Project management begins with planning to achieve a goal. Many questions about a project must be considered before the project even begins.

Why is the project being initiated?

It's important to know who gave the directive to begin the project. It's even more important to understand why the project is being considered, which leads us to…

What problem is being solved?

When a project centers on a solution it's difficult to tell if that idea is the best or if it will even be helpful. "We need new software to perform this task" is an example of a solution-driven project. It isn't possible to design effective software without knowing what's wrong with the old version.

Using the 5 Whys is a method of root cause analysis. Getting to the root of the problem can prevent frustration and unnecessary work. If the true reason for new software is because someone doesn't know how to use the original version effectively, there's a simpler and much less expensive fix: training.

Who are the project's stakeholders?

The stakeholders are the "customers" of the project as well as anyone else that may be impacted. In the case of a software redesign, stakeholders might include:

• Programmers
• IT
• End users of the software
• Recipients of the software's output (external customers and/or internal customers)

Stakeholders should be informed at key phases in the project. Their input could help identify details that might otherwise go undiscovered. Getting the buy-in of stakeholders can also help make sure that implementation goes smoothly.

How does the project fit in with the organization's goals and priorities?

When resources are limited it's good to understand how the project fits in with the company's current objectives. It can be difficult for some to strike a balance between essential operations and pet projects. In the end, valuable resources should be applied to working on projects that help an organization achieve its goals.

When is the target date of completion for the project?

Every project should have an achievable end date. If the project's objective is a "permanent" one, like implementing quality control, there should be a date when it turns into a process rather than a project. The process should be documented and its procedures should be followed going forward.

What do you think is the most important factor to consider in project planning?

Learn more about project management on IHS GlobalSpec. Read more about lean manufacturing on CR4.

Image Credit: Ceptara

Most of the "hot news" in computer security involves huge data leaks initiated by professional hackers. Yet many breaches result from accidental or deliberate acts by company insiders. A disgruntled employee or the careless disclosure of a password in the wrong place can cause a lot of damage. One well-documented lapse involved an important patent application inadvertently faxed to a CEO traveling in Europe after he had already left the country. How well do you know the people who handle sensitive information? How careful are they in conforming to your standard security practices? How completely can you trust them? Have you experienced a breach? What happened? How did you recover?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Engineering Management, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Engineering Management today.

One app developer plans to take advantage of the GPS on your smartphone, the locators on public transportation vehicles, closed-circuit cameras, and other resources to send information to your phone about the best way to drive from point A to point B. To do so, however, requires knowing where you are at all times. How do you react? How much are you willing to surrender your privacy to get you to your destination faster? If the traffic monitor is not sufficient incentive, what kind of benefit would convince you to surrender your personal data?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Engineering Management, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Engineering Management today.

You've had your computers for a number of years. They run on Windows XP — a stable, friendly operating system. You didn't migrate to Vista. You heard too many horror stories about companies that tried to do so. Reviewers and users seem to like Windows 7. Is it time to make your move? You don't have much choice. In a little over a year, Microsoft will stop supporting XP. Are you prepared? Have you started planning? Will you attempt to go without the support? How will you ease the transition? What critical software do you have that may not run in the new environment?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Engineering Management, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Engineering Management today.