Deck 1: Introduction to Engineering Management

Question 1

What changes in an organization structure might you expect as a result of the information revolution?

Answer 1

Answer depends on the student and their experience.
Flatter - The organizational structure will not have as many layers as previously needed. The layers of management who were necessary to compile the number and provide to upper management are no longer needed because much of that process is automated.
Wider (geographically) - Because of the internet, video conferencing, low cost teleconferencing, and email, a manager can now remotely manage an entire team of people who may be on the other side of the globe. I have managed personnel from Germany for two years. With the use of video conferencing, I felt as if we worked in the same facility.
Fewer - The structure of the organization as a whole will be composed of fewer personnel. This will be driven by the previous change (flatter) and also by the fact that even fewer unskilled labors will be necessary as much of the prepping and counting and menial tasks are completely automated, requiring fewer employees. More technical - The employees who are employed need to have some familiarity with computers, and many need to be very proficient.

Question 2

Can multinational companies overcome the need for co-location of team members when the teams must be created with people who come from greatly separated geographical locations? If your answer is yes, how can they accomplish this? If your answer is no, support your answer.

Answer 2

Answer depends on the student and their experience. Could include: Initial face to face team meeting
Team should plan together
Team have meetings at alternating sites. Team have ways to communicate regularly

Question 3

What was a positive value of Max Weber's model of "bureaucracy"?

Answer 3

Weber developed a model for a rational and efficient large organization. The answer could include a number of points.

Question 4

Based on the expected value, which of the investment options listed below is the best choice, if my choice is to make money. The states of the economy are given with their probability of occurrence. Also given is the amount of money to be made in each state (given in thousands of dollars)

Question 5

What are four items to remember when putting your resume together?

Question 6

Give a company's mission that you found on the web.

Question 7

In considering leaders, name a leader and 3 of the qualities discussed that this person has.

Question 8

Some companies require that employees who receive training at the company's expense enter into a contractual agreement to stay with the company a number of years or repay the company if they leave. Is this unduly restrictive, or is it justifiable? Why?

Question 9

Distinguish between traditional line authority and staff authority. Give an example within your university. (or in your company)

Question 10

Do you think that engineering leaders of today are leaning more toward the servant leadership? Why? 2 reasons.

Question 11

What have we learned from classical management thinking? Give 3 items

Question 12

Delphi Technique
A. List 4 characteristics of the Delphi technique.

Question 13

Herzberg specifically classed salary as a hygiene factor, not a motivator. How does salary fit in with Maslow's hierarchy? Discuss how these two statements relate.

Question 14

Give an example of the Abilene Paradox, other than the ones given in class.
Write your example in paragraph form stating the Abilene Paradox and how your example conforms to this paradigm. State this so that someone outside of class may understand what we are talking about.

Question 15

Why is planning said to have "primacy" among the managerial functions?

Question 16

If as a manager of an engineering company you ask that engineers become more familiar with financial reports, what would you tell them are the benefits? Give 3.

Question 17

Comments have been made as to the positive and negative aspects of Frederick Taylor's teachings. Give 2 positive comments on the teachings and discuss.

Question 18

A strategy is a statement about the way to achieve objectives. Why is it important to have alternate strategies?

Question 19

How would you distinguish between engineering management and management in general?

Question 20

What is a difference in a Vision and a Mission for a company?

Question 21

The Bozo Sales Company has had sales for the years 2004 through 2007 have been
$50,000, $64,000, $67,000, and $80,000, respectively.
a. What sales would you predict for 2008 using a weighted moving average with weights of 0.40 for the immediate preceding year and 0.30, 0.20, and 0.10 for the three years before that?

Question 22

Super Electronics, Inc. is a specialist in the emerging field of microcomputers. The firm currently produces two products: a personal computer with the label GE-1000 and a small computer with the label GE-2000. The company has set up two modern production assembly lines. The assembly time requirements, the production capacities of assembly lines, and the unit profit for the two products are as follows:
The management of Galaxy Electronics is attempting to determine the best possible weekly production schedule for GE-1000 and GE-2000 to maximize total profit.
Do Not Solve!!!
What is the problem?
Give (in mathematical terms): Decision Variables - Objective Function - Constraints -

Question 23

WP Machine shop makes deluxe and regular skis on a weekly schedule for the area skiing enthusiasts. They also supply both regular and deluxe skis to local sporting goods stores. A deluxe pair of skis requires 40 minutes for roughing and 20 minutes for finishing, whereas a regular pair of skis requires 20 minutes for roughing and 27 minutes for finishing. With only 1,000 minutes for roughing and 800 minutes of finishing time available per week and a profit realization of 4 Euros and 3 Euros for the deluxe and regular, respectively, what weekly mix of the two types of skis should be produced to meet the contract's requirement and maximize profits.
Do Not Solve!!!
-What is the problem?
Give (in mathematical terms):
-Decision Variables -
-Objective Function -
-Constraints -

Question 24

The Blue Manufacturing Company has had sales for the years 2006through 2009 have been $48,000, $64,000, $67,000, and $83,000, respectively.
a. What sales would you predict for 2010 using a weighted moving average with weights of 0.50 for the immediate preceding year and 0.30, 0.15, and 0.05 for the three years before that?