TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT IV
TEST AND EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
1. The Environment in which Technical People Work
Question 1.1 [6]
Your studies at TUT will enhance your chances as an engineering technician to
become an engineering technologist. Define the terms technician, technologist and
technology.
A technician is generally someone in a technological field who has a relatively
practical understanding of the general theoretical principles of that field, e.g.,
as compared to an engineer in that field. They are generally much more versed
in technique compared to the average layman, or even the professional in that
field. A mid-level of understanding of theory, and a high-level of technique, is
generally mastered by the technician in order to become expert in a specific
tool domain. The legislation that describes the standardisation of technician
skills is known as the dublin accord.
A technologist can be described as someone who uses or applies technology
to create, enhance or extend products, processes, services or even existing
technology. The legislation that describes the standards required to conform to
the technologist's skill set is known as the sydney accord.
Technology refers to the theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and
artifacts that can be used to develop products and services as well as their
production and delivery systems. Technology can therefor be embedded in
people, material, cognitive and physical processes, plant, equipment and tools.
The aim of technology is to create and improve artefacts and systems that
satisfy human needs and aspirations.
Question 1.2 [10]
Describe the role of engineering technologists in modern society.
Technologists often support engineers in a wide variety of projects by applying
basic engineering principles and technical skills. The work of technologists is
usually focused on the portion of the technological spectrum closest to product
improvement, manufacturing, construction, and engineering operational
functions. Where engineers are inolved in the process of making a plan,
Technologists are primarily responsible for making plans work. The standards
put forward in the sydney accord that governs the minimum training that a
technologist would require, Require technologists to have knowledge of
technology application, enhancement, implementation as wel as knowledge of
enterpreneurship and management.
Question 1.3 [10]
Discuss the different skills needed to be a successful engineering technologist.
Technical skills
◦ Scientific skills
◦ technical skills (technology)
◦ mathematical and analytical skills
, ◦ problem solving skills
◦ be methodical
non-technical skills
◦ management skills (delegation)
◦ presentation skills
◦ reporting skills
◦ holistic
Question 1.4 [10]
Explain why engineering technologists have to appreciate the needs of business.
As part of the engineering team, part of the reuirements put forth to the team is
to keep abreast of any international competetion, and also that the most up to
date technologies are used to ensure that the team is running at optimum
performance. It is part of the technologists responsibilities to ensure that he is
up to date with technologies that may be required by the bussiness to keep up
to date with the competition. As such it is imperative that the tecnologist
understands the position that the bussiness holds in industry and how exactly
any changes in technology may affect the bussiness in the long run in its ability
to be competitive in a technology driven marketplace.
Question 1.5 [10]
You have applied for a manager’s position in your company. In the interview a
question was raised about the need of management skills. Explain, with appropriate
examples, why technologists need to have management skills in your company.
In an engineering project, the standard technical hirarchy is roughly 1 engineer,
2 technologists, 5 technicians, 10 trades men. The responsibility of the
engineer in the project is to give the direction that the team needs to take, what
product needs to be developed, the physical location of the plant etc, whereas
the techologists are responsible for putting the plan in action. As such, the
technologist will need to have management skills in order to be able to
effectively manage the implementation of an engineering project, as well as
have the ability to report feedback effectively to the engineer and his superiors
on the status of the project, and give applicable advice on how to ensure
optimal efficiency on the implementation of the project.
Question 1.6 [12]
Engineering managers involved in manufacturing and production faces many
management challenges. Discuss six main challenges that engineering managers
face so show the need for engineering managers to have management skills.
Getting the right people
◦ only when the right people for the job are employed can a project move
forward at its optimal rate. Ensuring that the group chosen to work on a
specific process complement each other and ensure a full coverage of skill
required is the responsibility of the engineering manager.
Aiming at the right targets
◦ ensuring that the long term project is in fact aiming to the correct goal is
the responsibility of the engineering manage, and he needs to break the
DEPARTMENT ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT IV
TEST AND EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
1. The Environment in which Technical People Work
Question 1.1 [6]
Your studies at TUT will enhance your chances as an engineering technician to
become an engineering technologist. Define the terms technician, technologist and
technology.
A technician is generally someone in a technological field who has a relatively
practical understanding of the general theoretical principles of that field, e.g.,
as compared to an engineer in that field. They are generally much more versed
in technique compared to the average layman, or even the professional in that
field. A mid-level of understanding of theory, and a high-level of technique, is
generally mastered by the technician in order to become expert in a specific
tool domain. The legislation that describes the standardisation of technician
skills is known as the dublin accord.
A technologist can be described as someone who uses or applies technology
to create, enhance or extend products, processes, services or even existing
technology. The legislation that describes the standards required to conform to
the technologist's skill set is known as the sydney accord.
Technology refers to the theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and
artifacts that can be used to develop products and services as well as their
production and delivery systems. Technology can therefor be embedded in
people, material, cognitive and physical processes, plant, equipment and tools.
The aim of technology is to create and improve artefacts and systems that
satisfy human needs and aspirations.
Question 1.2 [10]
Describe the role of engineering technologists in modern society.
Technologists often support engineers in a wide variety of projects by applying
basic engineering principles and technical skills. The work of technologists is
usually focused on the portion of the technological spectrum closest to product
improvement, manufacturing, construction, and engineering operational
functions. Where engineers are inolved in the process of making a plan,
Technologists are primarily responsible for making plans work. The standards
put forward in the sydney accord that governs the minimum training that a
technologist would require, Require technologists to have knowledge of
technology application, enhancement, implementation as wel as knowledge of
enterpreneurship and management.
Question 1.3 [10]
Discuss the different skills needed to be a successful engineering technologist.
Technical skills
◦ Scientific skills
◦ technical skills (technology)
◦ mathematical and analytical skills
, ◦ problem solving skills
◦ be methodical
non-technical skills
◦ management skills (delegation)
◦ presentation skills
◦ reporting skills
◦ holistic
Question 1.4 [10]
Explain why engineering technologists have to appreciate the needs of business.
As part of the engineering team, part of the reuirements put forth to the team is
to keep abreast of any international competetion, and also that the most up to
date technologies are used to ensure that the team is running at optimum
performance. It is part of the technologists responsibilities to ensure that he is
up to date with technologies that may be required by the bussiness to keep up
to date with the competition. As such it is imperative that the tecnologist
understands the position that the bussiness holds in industry and how exactly
any changes in technology may affect the bussiness in the long run in its ability
to be competitive in a technology driven marketplace.
Question 1.5 [10]
You have applied for a manager’s position in your company. In the interview a
question was raised about the need of management skills. Explain, with appropriate
examples, why technologists need to have management skills in your company.
In an engineering project, the standard technical hirarchy is roughly 1 engineer,
2 technologists, 5 technicians, 10 trades men. The responsibility of the
engineer in the project is to give the direction that the team needs to take, what
product needs to be developed, the physical location of the plant etc, whereas
the techologists are responsible for putting the plan in action. As such, the
technologist will need to have management skills in order to be able to
effectively manage the implementation of an engineering project, as well as
have the ability to report feedback effectively to the engineer and his superiors
on the status of the project, and give applicable advice on how to ensure
optimal efficiency on the implementation of the project.
Question 1.6 [12]
Engineering managers involved in manufacturing and production faces many
management challenges. Discuss six main challenges that engineering managers
face so show the need for engineering managers to have management skills.
Getting the right people
◦ only when the right people for the job are employed can a project move
forward at its optimal rate. Ensuring that the group chosen to work on a
specific process complement each other and ensure a full coverage of skill
required is the responsibility of the engineering manager.
Aiming at the right targets
◦ ensuring that the long term project is in fact aiming to the correct goal is
the responsibility of the engineering manage, and he needs to break the
