Engineering Success in the 21st Century

What is the deck of a story?

The narrative hook. Makes you want to read further... usually.

I am still wrestling with it... "It was once both necessary and sufficient to be technically competent. Now it is only necessary." seem sort of like "Is it farther to Chicago, or by train?"

I read that column and wondered who is supposed to be editing the content posted on that website. That's one of the worst pieces of 'professional' writing I've seen. The writer kept switching between 2nd person and third person point of view, and between active and passive voice. This guy is a 'professional engineer'? (He had 'PE' after his name.)

Well, he is a P.E., not a B.A.J.

As you say, the story is difficult to follow.

"Tonstant Weader fwowed up"

--Dorothy Parker

It has never been "sufficient". The author is referring to specific programs that can be helpful today. A good engineer has always used many of the concepts in these programs, even if they weren't defined formally.

In many cases "good connections" or "political influence" or "cheapness" outweighs "technical competence".