Introduction to EMGT 4110:
Engineering Professionalism
and Practice
JOSE CARRILLO, CMFGE
INSTRUCTOR: MIE
Class Introduction
 Instructor Information
 Student Information
 Class Syllabus/Schedule
Class Syllabus/Schedule
 Required Texts for this Class
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The Unwritten Laws of Engineering
Intellectual Property: A Guide for Engineers
 Recommended Reading
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Memory Jogger II
Project Management Memory Jogger
 Grading
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Homework/Participation (18%)
Project /Presentation (12%)
Exams (2 @ 20%)
Final Exam (20%)
Out of class requirements (10%)
 Policies
 Schedule (Tentative)
Introduction to EMGT 4110 Lab
 Not your typical “lab”
 Will include…
 Activities
 Some lecture material
 Guest speakers
 Quizzes/exams
 Lab assignments due as specified; typically,
 At the end of the lab time
 At the beginning of next week’s class (lab)
Goals for This Course
 Course objectives as stated in the syllabus, i.e.:
 Engineering professionalism
 Project management
 Ethics and law
 Design
 Problem solving and decision making
 In doing so, we will achieve these broad goals:
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Recognize our individual strengths and weaknesses, and build
on them
Become acquainted with what to expect in the “real world”
Be more effective and happier in work and life
What is Professionalism?
 First answer… “What is meant by Profession?”
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A profession has a body of knowledge that must be acquired and maintained, and
also:
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Skill
Authority
Compensation /recognition
A society to promote and support the practice
A “Code of Ethics”
A strong sense of public service
 A Professional is one who is engaged in a profession
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A professional has, among other things, high academic standards, self-confidence,
personal responsibility for work, authority to make decisions, and service for society
A professional continually renews his/her knowledge
 Professionalism is the conduct that characterizes or marks a profession
or professional person.
http://ewh.ieee.org/cmte/pa/Status/Professional.html
Engineering Professionalism
 According to IEEE, engineering professionalism has to do with how
engineers practice and conduct themselves in their work and as
individuals in society, including
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Relationship with their clients/employers
Recognition bestowed upon them by society as a result of their contributions
 Buried somewhere in the notion of professionalism are “ethics” and/or
“honest practice.”
http://ewh.ieee.org/cmte/pa/Status/Professional.html
Why Engineering Professionalism?
 The technical
aspects of
engineering will
only get you so
far…
From: http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/dcr0254l.jpg
The Unwritten Laws of Engineering
 Publication by American Society of Mechanical
Engineers
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Originally written in 1944, as 3 articles in Mechanical
Engineering
Last updated in 2001, to account for shifting societal values,
changing employment laws, and evolved corporate structures
 Three parts:
 What the Beginner Needs to Learn at Once
 Relating Chiefly to Engineering Managers
 Professional and Personal Considerations
The Unwritten Laws of Engineering
Part 1: What the Beginner Needs to Learn at Once
 What the Beginner Needs to Learn at Once, in
Relation To:
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The Work
Your Supervisor
Relations with Colleagues & Outsiders
 Applies to internships and jobs you have while in
school, in addition to your career
The Unwritten Laws of Engineering
Part 2: Relating Chiefly to Engineering Managers
 Behavior and Technique (wks 3, 8-9)
 Delegating, put first things first, managing crises, scheduling
meetings, decision making
 Managing Design and Development Projects (wk 4)
 Organization Structures (wk 7)
 What Managers Owe Their Employees (wks 6,7)
The Unwritten Laws of Engineering
Part 3: Professional and Personal Considerations
 Laws of Character and Personality
(wk 1)
 Regarding Behavior in the Workplace
(wks 3, 6, 7)
 Regarding Career and Personal
Development (wks 2, 3)
The Laws of Character and Personality
 A valuable personal trait: the ability to get along with all
kinds of people. Do this by…
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Appreciate a person’s good qualities
Don’t vent impatience and annoyance on the slight provocation
Don’t harbor grudges
Consider feelings & interests of others
Don’t be preoccupied with our own selfish interests
Help others when an opportunities arises
Be fair and objective
Don’t take yourself too seriously
Be genuinely cordial
Give people the benefit of a doubt
The Laws of Character and Personality, continued
 Don’t be a pushover (as a caveat to the advice given on the
last slide… )
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Do your best to be friendly and get along with everyone, but still stand
your ground
 Regard your personal integrity as one of your most
important assets (wks 13-14)
 Let ethical behavior govern your actions and those of your
company (wks 13-14)
 Never underestimate the extent of your professional
responsibility, or personal liability (wks 13, 14)
Introduction to Career Services
 Contains many resources geared toward professional
development, including
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Information regarding different majors and careers, including
assessments of interests, personality, and skills (wk 1-2)
Services, such as career information, resume & cover letter
critique, practice interviewing (wk 2)
Tools to connect with potential employers (wk 3)
Resources for exploring graduate school (wk 3)
 http://careers.d.umn.edu/
Week One: Wrap Up
 Introduction to Engineering Professionalism
 Goals and Objectives for this Course
 The Unwritten Laws of Engineering, with regard to
 What you should know right away
 What you should know when you have some level of authority
 Professional and personal considerations
 Introduction to Career Services
 Lab 1: Personal Style Inventory and Skills Assessment
(next slide…)
Lab #1 Assignment #1
(due by the end of lab class time)
 Complete the following:
 Interests Inventory
 Personal Style Inventory
 Skills Assessment
 They are found at the Career Services website, by
following the link:
http://www.d.umn.edu/careers/services/assessments.html
 Email the results FIRST to yourself, then forward it
to me by the end of lab time Jan 19th.
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You can simply copy and paste the results of the skills
assessment into email if you wish.
 NOTE: Lab #2 is due at the end of class time if you want to
get started… (see next page)
Lab#2/Homework #2
 Find a job or internship you might be interested in.
 Briefly describe the job/internship (i.e., the company name, the
nature of the work, etc.). Include the source of the information (web
link, news ad, etc.)
 Prepare a résumé to send to the company
 Prepare a cover letter to accompany the resume