CHAPTER 2 Success in the Engineering Profession 4 21. Personal Success. Success in life, like success in the construction of an engineering structure, requires a good sound foundation on which to build. Success is measured by various individuals in many different ways, but basically it implies the accomplishment of that which the in- dividual desires to accomplish. The highest, most worthwhile, success, however, is not based on great wealth or great power but on the creat- ing of conditions under which the individual can lead a well-adjusted, useful, and happy life. The highest success results from a well-balanced life, and usually includes: 1; Suitable friends and family relations, for the most worthwhile success does not come with solitude 2. Sufficient income to provide for the comfort of the individual, his family, and dependents, and to permit him to help those philanthropic movements in which he should take part 3. A good personal, professional, and business reputation 4, The respect of friends and associates 5. Self-respect or the approval of one’s own conscience resulting from the proper observance of personal religious and ethical convictions In spite of individual differences in ideals, any success which is truly worthy of the name will be based on health, basic ability, character, education, experience, and opportunity. ‘i Character, while partly determined by heredity and the influence of family and friends, is, in the last analysis, the responsibility of the in- dividual and the result of individual effort. No high professional stand- ing is ever attained without properly developed character. It is like the internal mechanism of an important machine, unseen but essential to the proper and correct functioning of the machine. It is the mainspring of the highest-success. ‘ Health greatly affects the chances of success. Poor health diverts the attention of the mind. to the condition. of the body and reduces the ca-, @ 15 Scanned with CamScannera Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations trated thinking. The ability to perform physical work i also be lost. Sound living habits, healthful exercise, energetically "ay on are, therefore, not only desirable but essential for and mental veg and professional, success. A knowledge of personal oa 7 iene and sanitary requirements is necessary, not only be- 204 Pipe iuence personal health, but also because ofthe engineers oa ibility for the maintenance of good public-health standards in his vanlie nd private practice in the factory and in the field, ' Pac cmownt of basic ability which is possessed by the individual is doubtedly an important factor in his success if it is properly utilized eA developed. It cannot take the place of hard, conscientious work and cuutinuons effort. Most so-called geniuses wall admit that their success is due more to hard work and continuous effort than to basic ability. Success is due more to the personal exercise of will power, which con- centrates the efforts of the individual on the end in view and utilizes to the fullest extent such ability as the individual may possess, than to the half-cultivated, spasmodic exercise of so-called genius. The individual 16 pacity for concen! pers - who possesses both great basic ability and the ability for sustained con- centrated effort has opportunities of a high order. In all cases, the development of ability is dependent to a large extent on individual effort. Education and experience are to a considerable degree the result of opportunity but are still usually acquired principally through individual effort. The lack of college or university’ opportunities is not an insur- mountable obstacle to the individual who is willing to do the amount of work necessary to obtain an education by his own individual efforts. Schools and instructors are an aid, not a necessity, and such aids should be utilized when available; but they can be dispensed with when neces- sary if replaced by energetic, vigorous, and forceful application to the undertaking. Experience is best acquired by personal observation, but the recorded Practice of others is a source not to be neglected. * To some individuals opportunity comes with little apparent effort, while others are required to make their own opportunities, In either case, an opportunity gives no permanent benefits unless the individual is pre- Pared to take advantage of it when it comes, Many of the subordinate jobs in engineering are filled by young men who are clamoring for ad- vancement but who are only half educated and poorly prepared, while many jobs at a higher level are unfilled and waiting only for the proper Persons to fill them. There are few professional lines in which an able, well-educated, well- é informed man of high character will not find opportunities waiting, but strenuous, unremitting work and continuous, conscientious effort are the Prices of success, Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 7 22. Factors Affecting Professional Success Must Be Recognized. In the previous section, certain factors which are necessary to the highest personal success were discussed. These traits of character, when properly developed, will also contribute greatly to professional success because they are demanded by professional and business men of their employees, clients, and associates. There are additional factors, however, which are associated primarily with professional success, and as the solution of an engineering problem depends on a comprehensive knowledge of the factors involved, so the professional success of the individual engineer depends on an appreciation of the importance of the various factors which affect engineering success. Much might be written on any of the many factors which affect suc- cess, but only a brief discussion of some of the most important seems warranted. Common sense and judgment must extend the list and supply further details. If a limited discussion is not sufficient to convince a man of the essential nature of the characteristics discussed, further elabora- tion would result only in a waste of time and space. The man who will win success will be able to recognize its essential elements without ex- tended discussion. 23, Opinions of the Engineering Profession. Over a period of years the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development has been interested in determining those attributes which make for success in the practice of the engineering profession. As early as 1915, this organization, in connec tion with the Camegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, sponsored research along these lines. The research was conducted by Dr. C. R, Mann, Data submitted by over 5,000 practicing. engineers were analyzed, and showed the six characteristics considered to be the most important for success in engineering and the relative importance which this group of engineers attached to each of the six. The characteristies and per cent relative importance were given as: Characteristics ¢ % Character, integrity, responsibility, resourcefulness, i itiative.... 24.0 Judgment, common sense, scientific attitude, perspective. .....-- 19-8 Bfficiency, thoroughness, accuracy, industry. 16.5 Understanding of men, executive ability + 15.0 Knowledge of fundamentals... +++ : he Toobnique of practie and of business In a more recent survey which was conducted by the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development in 1948, the six most important characteristics are listed in their order of importance as: 1, Intelligence 2. Dependability Scanned with CamScanner18 Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations 3. Organizational acceptability 4, Energy 5, Emotional acceptability 6. Physical acceptability A more detailed study of the survey ing data defined intelligence as clear thi and listed truthfulness as the most important aspect of dependability. The engineers who differed to any great extent from the above-listed order of importance were those in sales work, who put more emphasis on a dynamic personality and on physical acceptability. It should not be concluded that if a man rates very highly in the more important characteristics, he may be completely lacking in the less im- portant ones and still be a success. Each man must be capable of the proper performance of his duties, and the Jack of any essential charac- teristic will be fatal to his success. ‘The metals used in engineering construction are in most cases alloys and consist of a combination of various elements, some of which are essential and some of which are considered as impurities. Nevertheless, each element, whatever its nature and amount, has a particular influence on the properties of the alloy. If any one is missing, it may change entirely the characteristics of the alloy and make it unfit for some par- ticular use, For the greatest usefulness in any particular application each element must be present to the extent needed. In the same manner a man may be useless in an engineering position, even though his charac- ter, judgment, efficiency, and understanding of men may be highly de- veloped, unless he has a proper knowledge of the fundamentals of engineering science and the techniques of practice; and yet in all pro- fessional positions which involve fiduciary relations (and there are practically no positions which do not) there can be no doubt that char- acter, judgment, efficiency, and understanding of men are of just as much importance as are any other qualities in the attainment of the highest professional success. 24, Judgment. The few years spent in an engineering school cannot give a complete knowledge of any of the subjects studied. The funda- mental principles of those sciences on which practice is based can be acquired, but these principles must usually be further investigated and their relation to practical things more fully determined when the engineer comes to apply them to the actual work of design and con- struction. Methods of investigation and of calculation must also be further considered and judgment and skill in their use acquired when their application to concrete problems becomes important. In the class- room the conditions of the problem are usually distinctly stated. The shows that the engineers furnish- inking rather than as shrewdness Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 19 factors that enter into it are definitely assumed, The theory that applies to these conditions is before the student. The application of the prin- ciples and the solution of the problem under such conditions are’ not difficult because the uncertainties are eliminated. In the field the cir- cumstances are very different. Here the engineer must determine for himself the correctness of the theory which he applies; he must deter- mine the factors which actually enter into the problem; and he must be - certain that there are no other considerations which will affect it and render the theory inapplicable or the solution incorrect. Accuracy, thoroughness, and speed become important in the field. On these func- tions depend not only the personal success or failure, which is important to the individual, but often the success or failure of the engineering work which may involve lasting benefits or loss of both life and property. The very keystone of successful engineering practice is judgment. The development of judgment requires personal investigation, personal con- sideration, and personal conclusions, and should be based on a well- balanced appreciation of both theory and practice. In the development of judgment, the teachings of instructors, the statements of textbooks, and the opinions and conclusions of others must be questioned, and can be accepted only when they satisfy the fullest inquiry and analysis. In other words, the engineer, in order to develop his judgment, must learn to think for himself, to form and hold opinions of his own, and to base those opinions, on a substantial, comprehensive, and thoughtful con- sideration of both theoretical principles and practical results. Judgment may be based on practical experience and is then applicable within the limits of that experience. When, however, judgment is based on a correct theory which has been substantiated by a wide range of practical experience, it is capable of being applied to a much wider field than when based on practice only. It is apparent that judgment must also. be based on a correct perspective of the individual's personal attributes and aptitudes; for if the individual deceives himself through his own per- sonal traits, his judgment will be unsound. 25. Understanding People. The engineer, in the course of his profes- sional life, must work with many people in various types of employment. He will work with engineers with training similar to his own and also with technicians with more limited training. He will work with non- technical personnel—men who are production-line workers, mechanics, and supervisors. Sooner or later he must also work with managers of in- dustrial enterprises and representatives of financial agencies. In sales or consulting work, the engineer will encounter a wide variety of clients and customers. The ability to get along with and to establish harmonious working relations with all these various people must be developed if the engineer is to attain the greatest success, The problem is more complex Scanned with CamScannerGatco Specifications, and Engineering Relations friendly relations with those d professional life. The \ecessity of getting cer- 20 than just the establishment of comfortable, with whom one comes in contact in business an‘ engineer is frequently faced e ; : tain things done to assure the success of the project on. which he is engaged. Sometimes tactics that are rather arbitrary, domineering, and even almost ruthless are n is is the hard way and should Jeasant, and usually more be followed only as a last resort. The more p people do things because they want to, not effective, way is to have tt because they are forced to do them. The art of getting people to co- operate actively on one’s projects is a broad subject, and it is not within the scope of this book to cover it fully. Many complete books have been en tenon this subject with much still unsaid. Tf a starting point for the young engineer can be established, the balance will be left for him to work out as a lifetime program. tt human relations should be obvious ‘The first requirement for pleasant to almost anyone but is sometimes overlooked. It is to. observe in all our dealings with others those things which have been accepted by common usage as being courteous and polite. These usages have not been worked Suteas a set of arbitrary rules by some one person or group of persons, but have developed, with various changes from time to time, because people in general have found that they make the relations of one person with another easier and more pleasant, It takes very little extra time to add the words “please” or “thank you” to a sentence, and the results usually more than pay for the time thus spent. ‘Another point which is too frequently overlooked, particularly by some engineers, is that the emotional reactions which one’s speech or actions cause in others are just as important as is the correctness of one’s actions or of the matter being presented, Thoughtless handling of a situation, in which the interests of all parties involved should dictate a united course of action, may at times produce disagreements and unpleasant- ness, On the other hand, careful handling of a situation can, in many cases, resolve widely different interests into agreement on a common program, Psychologists have worked out rules.by which mental and ‘emotional reactions can be predicted with a fair degree of accuracy if all of the conditions affecting a case are known. In business, however, it is seldom possible to know all the factors which affect a given situation, and most business people are not trained psychologists. But even without this extensive training almost anyone can master’ the more simple psychological principles, and, by studies based on the careful observa. tion of the people with whom he associates, one can, over.a period of with the absolute n\ | time, develop a very good sense of human relations. One of the psychological traits which is of major importance in human relations is the almost universal feeling which a Sepia at the Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 21 position which they hold in society-or business has certain elements of “importance or dignity which must be preserved at all cost. This point can best be developed by illustration. There are many cases on record where some person has suffered ex- tensive privation and near starvation because he “was too proud to ac- cept charity.” A large industrial organization at one time contacted all foremen and asked them what the company could do for them that would improve company-foreman relations. These foremen placed a request for a section of the company cafeteria to be reserved exclusively for them higher on the list than they did a request for pay increases. In one other case which might be cited, the general manager of a large firm made some suggestions for product improvements to the president of the company. These were turned down because the presi- dent did not want to admit that the general manager knew more about product design than he did. The general manager resigned, and carried his ideas to another company, which developed and used them most successfully. The psychological trait just discussed will help or hinder the progress of the young engineer immensely depending on how completely he understands it and on how it applies in the various situations which arise. ‘Assume that a young engineer in an office is checking a design which * has been developed by one of his superiors in the organization. Suppose that he finds what he believes to be a substantial error in the design. He might take one of two courses: One would be to publicize the supposed error as widely as possible. This might convince some members of the organization of the young engineer's ability, but his superior would almost certainly do everything possible to block his future progress. On the other hand, this young engineer might quietly ask his superior to go over the design with him and preferably let the superior discover the error for himself. This would promote good feelings between the two, and there is also always the possibility that the design was correct and -that the apparent error was due to the fact that the superior was basing the design on considerations which the young engineer had overlooked. “Another type of situation may arise for the engineer who is employed on construction work or in a factory. It sometimes becomes his duty to introduce new methods or change procedures which have been standard over a period of years. On construction work it may even be necessary to tear down work already completed and replace it with work of a different design, The engineer in thesé situations is responsible for see- ing that the changes are made even if the construction or production foremen are-reluctant to make them. The engineer may bluntly exercise Scanned with CamScanner22 Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations hig authority with no explanation and no tact. ‘This causes resentment on from then on do all he can the part of the foreman, who will probably to undermine the work of the engineer. If, on the other hand, the engineer would approach the foreman in advance and go ovr the proj- cot with himn and ask for suggestions, the two together might come up with improved procedures; but in any event, most foremen would at least give the new procedures a fair trial. Further, the young engineer should never underrate the knowledge and ability of foremen and trade of profitable ideas. - workmen, They are frequently his best source of p 3 “The beneficial or harmful effects of psychological reactions are no- where more important than in sales work. The sales engineer is con- fronted with a wide variety of situations, many of which are most trying. The prospective customer may be completely unreasonable, or there may be differences of opinion within thi faction trying to use the sales engineer to bolster up i To obtain future orders, it is necessary for the sales engineer to retain as many persons as possible as his friends, but at the same time he must present his proposal forcefully and effectively if he wishes to make the sale, At times a good salesman inay even pass up some one particular sale rather than offend those who will control the letting of future orders. Arguments and debates with customers are almost always futile. There is a standard maxim in sales work which states, “He won the argument but lost the sale.” Many other illustrations could be given and many other points of psychology could be presented, but those discussed should suffice to start the young engineer on a program of learning the proper procedures for good human relations. In any discussion of human relations it should be pointed: out that while pleasant human relations are desirable, they are not always pos- sible. The engineer has a legal and professional responsibility for public health, safety, and welfare which he must never overlook. If any of these matters are involved or if the upholding of professional ethics is at stake, the engineer must take a clear and firm stand even if unpleasantness results and even if a change of job becomes necessary. 26, Personality. The personality of the individual is of great im- portance and has a marked effect on his advancement, Good appearance, good demeanor, proper self-confidence and self-respect, the evidences of intelligence and energy, the ability of proper expression, and a proper consideration of the feelings and rights of others mark a man for the higher- positions. Great ability and high technical knowledge and train- ing may command respect although the personality is unfavorable, but such respect is given not because of such personality but in spite of it. It is unfortunate that many young men who enter technical work ac- e customer's organization with each ts side of the case. ia Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 3 quire the idea that because engineering sometimes involves the utiliza- tion of great. strength and energy in pioneer investigations and construc- | tion, its practitioners should not only be strong and energetic but also 1 rough and rugged, and that personal refinement is something to be dis- | couraged rather than sought. No greater error is possible. j The rough, strong, energetic character who ignores all personal dis- comforts either of himself or of others and drives construction work to | successful completion in the face of great difficulties may be admired for | the results which he achieves in spite of his roughness and disregard of i dangers and discomforts. Such personalities develop in the construction isl camp in contact with hardship and unfortunate frontier conditions, and i they may be an important element in such classes of work; but they are in no way representative of the best ideals of the engineering profession. The social amenities of life and the polish of society are not signs of efficiency, but they are important means of lubricating business and professional relations. The field executive who is actually constructing engineering works is the ideal of many young engineers and is their idea of the personification of the engineering profession. They fail to recognize that back of this, « behind the actual construction work, is the brain that conceives and the i mind that directs. d| Personal Appearance. Personal appearance is also worthy of considera i tion, for impressions are based on appearance. Appearance is not simply HI a matter of dress but of personal attitude as well, A man should not be | too modest ur diffident, not loud, not overbold and familiar, but he should be quiet, confident, frank, and businesslike. In dress he should be neat but not fastidious. He should endeavor to be inconspicuous, for con- spicuous dress usually shows unfortunate idiosyncrasies which need to a be eliminated. The busy man has little time to give to the question of ' dress, but neatness and modest, quiet apparel, suitable to the’ work or | position occupied, are indications of a well-balanced man. Punctuality. Lack of punctuality is due to heedlessness, carelessness, Jack of consideration, or conceit, any one of which is equally objection- able and the possession of which is a serious detriment to the individual. Punctuality is an essential qualification for success. An employee who is habitually late not only robs his employer of the time for which he is receiving compensation but frequently causes a consequent loss of the time of the employer or others whose services are of much greater vah A record for habitual tardiness is most unfortunate, for it is a serious handicap for both present and future employment or advancement. In professional life, the man who habitually disregards the conven- ietice of his associates and causes the loss of their time and patience by his lack of punctuality in meeting appointments shows the lack of a due hg a Scanned with CamScanner24 Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations consideration of the rights of others, and will soon find that he is eliminated from such conferences whenever possible. He will lose much of the consideration and many of the opportunities which are essential to the greatest professional success. 2 Attention to Business. Not only should the employee be punctual in his arrival at his place of business, ‘put he should also devote his atten- tion to his legitimate work during the hours set aside for that purpose. Office hours are relatively short, and arrangements for evening pleasures, the passing crowd, and many other siness hours should a good story, the moming paper attractions which may catch the attention during bu: sereeldionsly avoided. They can well wait until the hours of work have i ¢ time for business they will re- other things, but will passed, for if given attention during th «quire not only time which should rightly belong to Fe attention on the matter to which jevoted. Weaken the ability to concentrate # the time of the employee should be d Concentration. The ability to concentrate one’s attention on the im- mediate problem being considered is a primary requisite for success and js a matter to which the young engineer should give his immediate at- tention and his best endeavor. ‘This characteristic should be developed carly in life, for it is fundamental to the accomplishment of any really valuable results in scholastic or Dusiness life. It should be developed yn the pupils of the elementary schools, impressed on the students of the college and university, and practiced by the individual in every phase ‘of his later life. The ability to concentrate results in the greatest saving ‘Cf time in school, in college, in the laboratory, the office, the factory, and the field. The man who can concentrate his attention on a problem wwill accomplish his work accurately and rapidly and will therefore be of greatest value to himself and to his employer. The ability to drop a problem in order to receive directions, or on account of various other , interruptions which may occur, and to take it up at once at the point ithout loss of time or the reconsideration of the where it was dropped, wit phases already examined, will result in the maximum conservation of time and the highest efficiency. ‘The student often acquires the habit of concentration when alone and. finds that in the office, the factory, or the field his attention is distracted from his work by the coyfusion due to’ the presence of others and the work which is going of around him, He must train himself to ignore all this and to keep -his mind and attention strictly on his own particular work; and when he is able to do this, he will be surprised both at the amount he can accomplish and at the rapid flight of time. The individual should learn to put his whole mind and energy on whatever he is doing to the exclusion of all else, whether he be engaged in work, play, or other anetivity. The man who cannot do his work during working hours because Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 25 of thinking .of the pleasure which awaits him, who cannot enjoy the Present pleasures because his mind constantly reverts to his work, or who cannot sleep properly because of business matters which are con- stantly on his mind, will make little progress in his work and is in danger of business failure or mental breakdown. The day's work should receive undivided attention, but in afterhours the worries and difficulties of the day should be entirely laid aside and the time given to healthful recreation or to other matters of a beneficial nature. A sufficient time must be given to undisturbed sleep. Relaxation from arduous and continuous effort is essential to health, but a change in occupation is frequently as advantageous as complete idleness. Many men have found the pursuit of some science either re- lated to their business or one in which they took a particular interest both stimulating and restful. The man who wastes time wastes oppor- tunities. Felaxation should be a means, not an end. A young man who was playing billiards with Herbert Spencer, after running up a remark- able score, asked Mr. Spencer's opinion of his play. “Young man,” the philosopher replied, “I regard a slight proficiency in billiards an accom- plishment which every man might well enjoy, but such proficiency as you show bespeaks an ill-spent youth.” There have been men who have seriously impaired their health by too constant application and by over- work, They are smaii in number, however, and the danger of such excess is not great. There are more professional men who rust out than who wear out. Collaboration. The individual should train himself to work in harmony with the associates that he meets in any organization. He should avoid - petty jealousies, faultfinding, and gossip. He should both avoid giving offense by careless words or actions and should endeavor to overlook and ignore thoughtless speech or action on the part of others, A peevish or irritable disposition and the habit of using sharp, strong or inconsiderate language unfit a man for successful association with others and deprive him of much of his usefulness, The habit of con- stantly taking or giving offense, for the two traits are usually present to- gether, is a serious handicap, and will often eliminate the one who pos- sesses them from important opportunities. These habits are unfortunate, and may become unbearable to such an extent that even the greatest ability cannot compensate for them. Petty jealousy is equally reprehensible, The man who cannot rejoice at the advancement of others but feels personally aggrieved because he has not received promotion will usually hinder his own progress. It is frequently true that promotion depends both. on ability and ‘in- dividuality, and failure to secure the promotion whick seems honestly due should result in a serious consideration on the part of the individual Scanned with CamScanner26° Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations of his own deficiencies in personal character, personal effort, or personal. ability, Tt should be a spur to greater effort toward individual improve. ment, for it is true in general that the man best fitted for a given position will be selected to fill it, because only in this way can the best results be obtained. ete 27. Bias. All men are to a greater or lesser degree biased in their judg- of others, and of all problems and conditions with contact. That this bias is possessed by others and injuriously affects their judgment is easily recognized. It is more difi- cult, however, for the individual to recognize such bias in himself; but in spite of the difficulty, the engineer must recognize that he may be- come biased because of various influences, such as local and individual experiences, special knowledge, educational background, business as- sociates, and personal interest. He must make every effort to recognize these influences, evaluate them, and make sure that they do not im- properly bias his work. Influence of Special Knowledge. Special knowledge and special ex- perience in a limited field of engineering unless accompanied by a broad consideration and a considerable knowledge of related subjects, are apt to produce a prejudice or bias in favor of the application of such special. means to the solution of all problems to which such means can be ap- | plied. The specialist naturally appreciates the full value of his specialty and the advantages that accrue from its application, Normally, he is less informed in other special methods of solution of his problems and is apt therefore to give undue weight to the advantages which he knows _, his own specialty to possess. The hydraulic engineer is apt to overrate the advantages of water power and to underrate the contingencies of its construction and maintenance. The steam engineer is apt to overestimate the value of the use of steam power in the solution of all power problems, and the electrical engineer, recognizing the advantages of electrical zen- eration and transmission, is apt to consider only electrical methods in power applications. In each case the advantages of other methods may ‘be overlooked and the problem solved on individual preference and information, and not by the method which would prove the most ad- vantageous if all conditions and methods were fully weighed and In the correct solution of any problem, all the methods by which it can be solved deserve the fullest and most careful investigation and con sideration, for only by such means can the best solution be found; and . ° the engineer who is trying to find the best and most economical solution of the problem entrusted to him must give the most careful consideration _to those methods with which he is least familiar, for only by doing this can he hope to accomplish the best results. ment of themselves, which they come in Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession At. Influence of Personal Experience. Personal experience should give the engineer his most useful and exact knowledge, provided such experience is properly considered and digested. The fact that the knowledge so acquired is the most exact and valuable in his possession is apt to give it undue importance in the solution of other problems with which he has to deal. A successful enginecring achievement, the product of ideas well matured, and of plans carefully prepared and well executed, which has resulted in the creditable solution of an intricate problem, may well lead to the future application of similar methods and designs to problems of a similar nature, Frequently, however, there is a tendency for the suc- cessful designer to endeavor to adjust the conditions which prevail in a new problem so that they may be solved by the methods successfully adopted previously rather than to adjust the plans to meet the conditions as they exist. This tendency frequently results from a natural laziness in planning new methods for a problem where a successful solution, which has stood the test of practice, is immediately available. The plans of some professional men can be identified by frequently repeated features which show their disinclination to consider each new problem on its individual merits. Influence of Local Experience. The normal conditions which exist in any locality must of necessity modify the successful solution of every local engineering problem. A professional man who has, within the range of his practice, successfully met the various problems as modified by local conditions must, therefore, readjust his ideas and modify his plans whenever he is called upon to solve a problem under circumstances where the local conditions differ to any considerable extent. For example, the flow of streams differs radically not only because of the difference in rainfall on the different drainage areas, but even to a greater extent be- - eause of the geological and topographical conditions; and the engineer who has given special attention to one stream must use special care when he considers construction which is to be carried out on another stream for which the conditions of flow may be radically different. In the matter of electrical supply for light and power, the demand per capita varies greatly in different parts of the same country and in ities of various sizes, even closely adjoining ones. Local factors greatly affect cost at which work can be done. Construction in larger cities, for example, may be affected by the existence of labor unions, which some- times, cause higher wage rates and pethaps lower productivity per worker. This, together with the extra cost involved by street obstructions and other similar factors, ordinarily will greatly increase the cost of con- struction over that for which similar work could be done in communities where the market for Iabor is not modified by such coviditions, where traffic and, obstructions are less serious, and where many other conditions Scanned with CamScanneroe 28 Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations» are favorable to cheaper construction. It is a common observation that men familiar with only one set of these diffezent conditions usually fail to agree on the cost at which work can be done in some third community it experience. The city contractor who occa- Vere nett ee ne poaller :cenmuantos' oF the eotty te sionally ids on vole his experience with the high prices of the larger usually unsuccessful, as his expe acai ith th community prejudices his judgment; and the contractor familiar with the work in the smaller communities usually learns by sad experience the extra cost involved when he attempts to transfer his operations to the larger cities. These difficulties can be overcome by freeing the mind of purely local influences and by a detailed determination and consideration of the new conditions. Influence of Personal Interest. It is important that the engineer should free himself as far as possible from the bias of personal interest which ~ is a constant menace to sound judgment. No matter how conscientious a man may be or how much he may endeavor to arrive at judgments which are thoroughly sound, he is constantly in danger of not attaining the results desired if his personal interests are in any way involved. ‘The engineer who is out of employment may, because of this situation, be greatly tempted to accept employment or commissions which are entirely beyond his experience or ability. Reports on special projects are often unduly optimistic because the engineer making the report is un- consciously influenced by the fact that a favorable report will mean the continuation of the project and his employment in its design and’ con- struction. : An engineer having a patent for some methods or process by which a problem has been satisfactorily solved is constantly in danger of ad- vocating this method, when it is at all applicable, and this from.no dis- honest motive but because of the fact that he has become so impressed with his favorite plan that he places on it a value to which it is not entitled. It is essential therefore that the individual endeavor to eliminate in so far as possible any personal interest which he may have in the problem, except an interest in its correct solution. If its solution on cer- tain lines involves a profit to himself, such profit can be of only the most temporary and unsatisfactory, character if it does not also involve the greatest possible success. Influence of Association, Almos' very problem is capable of a variety . of. solutions, although there is usually one solution which is preferable when ali things are considered. Almost every question can ‘be regarded from several points of view,.and the correct answer is not always clear or evident, Association will normally establish the point of view from ~ which the individual will consider any question which is called to his attention, The most common example of this tendency is found in the Scanned with CamScanner 3 ]Success in the Engineering Profession 29 unfair treatment of contractors by engineers who are employed to plan and supe-vise the construction of engineering works. There is a con- stant tendency to inflict unjust requirements and to require unwarranted expense, especially in meeting contingencies which have not been anti- cipated by either party and which therefore could not have been included in the contract. The engineer frequently sees the’ matter entirely from the viewpoint of his client and fails to exercise that impartial judicial attitude that his professional position demands. In work of appraisal, where a municipal corporation contemplates the acquisition of the property of a public utility, the engineer is almost cer- tain to assume the point of view which is most favorable to the side which he is called upon to represent. This may not result from any de- sire on his part to be unfair or biased, but is normally what is to be expected from the action of the human mind. Those who have served as chairmen on boards of appraisal to which they have been selected by the agreement of both sides, and have consequently been unbiased on account of their appointment, have frequently observed the radical differences of opinion which have obtained among their colleagues whom they knew to be men of great ability and of the highest integrity. Most men who have engaged in this class of work recognize, after the completion of the appraisal and after the heat of the argument has faded away, the same tendency in some of the ideas and opinions which they have previously held and which at the time had their complete endorse- ment and were the results of their most profound convictions, A peculiar result of this normal attitude, which is often appreciated by men engaged in such work, is that when they are endeavoring to be entirely fair and equitable in their findings and appreciate their own inclination to-bias in these matters, there is a tendency at times to lean over backwards in the matter and to consent to findings that are more or less. unfair to those whom they represent, This is usually, however, a minor matter and does not change the general proposition that, in the main, the tendency is to favor the client unfairly, but it emphasizes the fact that the fair-minded man is not always able to bring in an equitable finding in the face of his associations and personal relations with those by whom he was selected. ‘The same tendencies are more fully emphasized by the expert witness. There the personal bias of the witness is often accentuated by the endeavor of the other side to confuse or confound the opinions expressed. In some cases these idiosyncrasies are so pronounced and are carried to such an extent that they give even the appearance of dishonest inten- tions, to which they are sometimes so closely related as to be almost indistinguishable, and may grade from mere prejudice to actual dis- honesty in many lines of engineering work. s Scanned with CamScanner30 * Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations : 28, Business and Finance in Engineering. Is addition to designing and supervising the construction of engineering. arkc, the engineer is , ns on all the other fly required to analyze and render opinions on sede rojechsimluing the business and nancial aspects, Tn just as important as are the design and most cases, these aspects are ju port nt #8 ar Oe construction features because no project can sac success if it is impossible to finance it, or if, on completion, it proves to be a business failure. There are a number of types of business anc Shaneial analyses which the engincer may be called upon to make. Four of the more common of these will be discussed. 1. Economic selection, or the determinatio jomics design for accomplishing a given purpose. This is the question in economics most common in engineering practice. It includes the selec- tion of the best type of materials for construction to meet certain de- mands, the best class of machinery to furnish certain service, and the: _ best design to fulfill certain requirements. It enters into every phase of design. iS Beoniila management, or the determination of the best methods ‘of management and operation of factories, utilities, and projects and of the methods by which a new business can best be managed or an old business improved, operating costs reduced, and profits increased. | 8 Economic expediency, or the advisability of a project when the best design is considered for. the purposé it is desired to fulfill. This in- cludes such questions as the advisability of the construction of a railroad or interurban line between certain places, of the construction of hydro- electric plants or power stations to serve certain districts, of the develop- ment of drainage or irrigation or other projects, and of the purchase or rehabilitation of properties or works already constructed. 4. Economic worth, or the determination of the physical, structural, and commercial worth or value of a plant or project for the uses and purposes it is intended to fulfill, This includes the question of valuation and appraisal, the question of the present value of public utilities for purchase and rate making, and the question of private enterprises and manufacturing plants for financial investments. For the greatest professional success, the engineer must properly train himself to solve these problems successfully. The knowledge, judgment, and experience required for such solutions are much more complex, intricate, and extended than are required in engineering design or con- struction. 29, Financial Success. One of the résults which the engineer has @ right to expect from a successful engineering career is‘a certain degree of finaccial success. Engineering isnot the most financially rewarding profession; and if a ung man is secking only high income at an early n of the most economical ” Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 31 age, he should not enter this profession. On the other hand, incomes for engineers are well above the national average for all incomes and have risen greatly in the decade between 1940 and 1950. There is the addi- tional advantage that the engincer’s earning capacity usually extends further into old age than does earning capacity in many other profes- sions. The engineer can, with careful management, have a financially rewarding life. ‘The average of all engineering incomes in 1950 was very close to $6,500 per year, and the period of earning capacity for most engineers is somewhat over forty years. The typical engineer, therefore, currently has a reasonable éxpectation of a lifetime earning capacity in excess of $250,000, Direct taxes will probably take between $20,000 and $50,000 from this income, depending on the amount of applicable deductions, but this still leaves a substantial sum. This amount is sufficient for raising and mainiaining a family and providing for old age if proper financial management is used. Many persons do not plan their financial future at all or delay planning until such a late date in life that the planning cannot be completely effective. The result is usually an unsatisfactory financial situation in the later years of life. Dublin and Lotka’ show that in 1945 the basis of support for persons over sixty-five years of age was: Basis of support % Admittedly, long-range financial planning is difficult, and the two recent trends of monetary inflation and low interest rates make it in- creasingly difficult at the present time. The adoption of social security legislation by our Federal government and of various pension plans by many private companies has not reduced the need for financial planning but has made it more important, if only to coordinate the various plans applicable to a given individual. Most persons feel that these plans do ' not provide completely adequate incomes and wish to add to their bene- fits by insurance or savings or both. The original Social Security Act was enacted in 1935, and has been altered from time to time since. The purpose of the act was not to pro- vide a completely adequate retirement plan, but to provide for a part of the bare necessities of old age. The benefits are therefore low, and there are a number of considerations which may prevent or stop payment of Louis I. Dublin and Alfred J. Lotka, The Money Value of a Man, The Ronald Press Company, New York, 1946. Scanned with CamScanner32 Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations | benefits. An employee must work at least six quarters before coverage becomes effective, and, to have permanent coverage, must have worked forty quarters or more in a covered type of employment. Old-age benefits may become payable at age sixty-five. A single person entitled to maxi; mum benefits currently receives $85 per month; or a man and wife, both over sixty-five may reccive up to $127.50 per month. A person, otherwise eligible, who is earninig over $75 per month cannot receive old-age-bene- fits, The amounts and conditions of payments are changed from time to” time by legislative enactment, but it is apparent that social security alone, as presently constituted, cannot provide’ sufficient income for a comfortable old age. Private pension or retirement plans have been operated by:many com- panies over a long period of time, and there is a wide variety of plans in use. Some plans pay a fixed amount monthly or a fixed percentage of the worker's previous salary. One company guarantees that the pension plus social security will equal a designated monthly sum. A system used by many political subdivisions not included in the social security program is based on each worker’s paying a fixed per cent of his earnings into.a retirement fund. The individual's payments are usually supplemented by an employer contribution. At retirement, the accumulated funds, with interest earned, are used to purchase an annuity. Monthly payments are determined by the type of annuity and the age of the annuitant. Current rates are in the range of $5 to $6 per month for each $1,000 of annuity value. Many persons find that they should make additional provision for re- firement income and that the head of a family should also make some provision for the financial welfare of his family in the event of his death before retirement age. These provisions are usually made by means of insurance or savings and investment or by some combination of these’ _ means, Insurance is the means most commonly used to protect the family against the hazard of the death of the principal wage earner. For those eligible, social-security survivor, benefits are helpful and’ may run as high as $150 per month for a widow with two dependent children; but most heads of families feel that, even under these conditions, insurance should be provided as a supplement to these benefits. In many cases, it is impossible for a young man to pay for the amount’ of insurance which would be necessary to provide his survivors with as high a standard ‘of living as he would like them to have in the event of his death. ‘An annuity will currently pay a thirty-year-old widow approx- imately $275 per month for life for each $1,000 of annuity, and to provide an income of $150 per moith in this case would, therefore, require approximately $55,000 in insurance. The cost of insurance varies * Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 33 with the type of policy and with age, but a man at twenty-five years of age could probably purchase a policy for a premium of approximately $98 per year for each $1,000 face value of the policy. Should he’ wait until age forty, the same type of policy would probably cost in the neighborhood of $40 per year per $1,000 face value of the policy. It is important, therefore, that consideration of an insurance program should be undertaken at as early an age as is possible. After the basic needs of family protection and old-age retirement in- come have been provided for, there will probably be no surplus income for most young engineers to invest; but as progress is made profession- ally, there should come a time when there is a surplus. This surplus may be invested in real estate, stocks, bonds, mortgages, etc. It is beyond the scope of this book to discuss any of these in any great detail, but a few general investment principles might be profitably mentioned. Buying securities is much like making any other purchase; the best protection to the purchaser is the reputation, character, and experience of the investment company through which the purchase is made, The investor, however, should learn something about securities in general and, above all else, something about the venture in which he is invest- ing his money. The Securities and Exchange Commission now requires that for all stocks and bonds which are handled in interstate commerce there be placed on file a prospectus which gives in great detail the financial history and status of the persons or company issuing the securi- ties. A copy of the prospectus of any leading security may be obtained from almost any good investment house. There are also statistical service publications available in most public libraries which give the price and earning record of most stocks and bonds. Business enterprises are undertaken for profit, not for charity, and investors are asked to purchase securities because the money is needed or desired for business or for speculative purposes. . Thé reason for the issue and sale of any security, bonds, notes, pre- ferred stock, or common stock, is to obtain money for some business enterprise at the lowest possible rate of interest, when the financial con- ditions of the country and the risks involved are considered. The returns offered on any security are as a rule only such as are thought to be neces- sary to secure the funds needed, and the amount of interest is in reality fixed by the general demands of the investing public. It follows as a necessary corollary that the greater the possible ~cturns the greater the probable risk. 9 The investments on,which large returns are promised: are usually those in which the risk is so great that large and experienced investors do not care to take the risk, and the securities have to be marketed by an appeal to the small and inexperienced investor. Scanned with CamScanner84 Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations rial Opportunities: to secure large returns from the. organization of great’ business enterprises, the development of natural resources, or of really valuable inventions, are seldom offered to small investors. Such enter- 4 prises if safe, sure, and conservative, are almost always financed by large _ interests that are conversant with their value, and the small investor is offered only the securities which will net moderate returns more or less commensurate with the apparent risks involved or questionable invest- ” ments the hazards of which are so great that they do not appeal to the. experienced financiers. The following principles should be considered when making invest- ments: 1. Among the safest investments are United States bonds; carefully — selected industrial, state, or municipal bonds; and first mortgage bonds secured by readily marketable property and with the total value of the bonds issued representing a reasonable per cent ( usually not in excess of 50 per cent) of the normal value of the property. 2 Real estate, if carefully selected and purchased at a reasonable Price, is usually a safe investment, 3. The ‘value of business securities should be judged on the basis of the experience, honesty, and ability of those in charge of the operatién of the business; the value of the property on which the securities are based; and on the dependable market for the services or products of the business. 4. Bonds and stocks issued for the expansion of businesses that have uniformly earned adequate returns are fairly safe investments. 5. Study the annual reports of a business for a number of previous years before investing in it, 6. If the amount of money to be invested is large, the investments should be diversified. : 7. The term “bond” is no criterion of safety. Some bonds are safe, others are not as safe as good stocks, and some are worthless, 8. The greater the possible return, the greater the probable risk. 2:10. Professional Improvement. In order to grow and to develop, the engineer must acquaint himself with the ideas and activities of others who are working in his own feld. It is therefore essential that the young engineer mingle with other engineers and compare his ideas with those of others in professional lines. He should as soon as possible associste | himself with technical societies before which those problems of engineer- ing in which he is particularly or generally interested are discussed; and he should listen to or read the papers and discussions of others, both in the society proceedings and the technical papers, in order, that he may gain a proper idea of current engineering practice and be able to judge and appreciate thé limitations of his own ability. When he can contribute © Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 35 to the information by paper or discussién, it will be distinctly to his own advantage to do so. In so doing, he will strengthen his own knowledge _ and abilities, and subject his work and conclusions to the criticism of others, and frequently thereby correct his misconception, For this pur- pose the minor state and local engineering societies are of great ad- vantage, for before such societies matters of local and personal interest can be discussed to advantage. ‘A good, properly prepared paper which describes the development and successful completion of new work and the experiences resulting therefrom, or coordinates the experience gathered from extensive ob- servation and study, not only improves and intensifies the engineer's own conception of the problem, but establishes a record of his work, extends his acquaintance, and is of such direct professional benefit to the writer as the importance of the matter and the general excellence of its treat- ment may determine. In the preparation of such papers, due acknow!- edgment should be made of personal indebtedness to others for data re- ceived, information furnished, or the use of illustrations and suggestions in the preparation of papers and technical articles. Piracy of ideas, or plagiarism, should be studiously avoided, and a kindly consideration of the rights and feelings of others and a proper recognition of their aid and courtesy are highly desirable. ‘The young engineer should constantly seek information on the various phases of engineering work with which he comes in contact, for other- wise the opportunity to acquire this special information and special ex- perience with its consequent advantages will pass unnoticed. Opportuni- ties to acquire specialized information that is greatly needed in the engineering and business world lic on every hand and await the mind that can appreciate, develop, and apply them to practical needs. Those that are the most obvious and easily developed commonly offer the greatest competition and the lesser rewards. Those that are the most obscure and difficult frequently return the greatest rewards for the in- telligence and devotion which their successful development demands. To see the opportunity, to develop it systematically, and to apply it intelligently require keen foresight, an appreciation of the present and future trend of evenis, and both general and special knowledge and ex- ‘ence, There is scarcely a line of professional work in which radical improvements are not both desirable and possible. New conditions that old practice is inadequate to satisfy are constantly developing, New lines and new specialties are ‘in constant demand. The man who can see these neods before they are fully recognized and can offer an effec tive method for their satisfactory fulfillment will usually receive a suit- able reward, The successful solution of a problem or the completion of a Welleensidered and commendable design for any engineering work Scanned with CamScanner36 Contracts, Specifications, and Engineering Relations should not limit the efforts of the engineer, to improve his methods or © designs when similar problems or similar works are under consideration, There are seldom two problems of the sane kind that can be solved to the greatest advantage in entirely the same manner. Every problem is surrounded by its individual conclitions that differ to a greater or lesser extent and should modify any plan which is devised for its solution. _ There is scarcely a plant installed or a building or other structure erected but that the designer, if he gives it careful and thorough consideration, may not find it necessary to make improvements if he were called again to solve the same problem. This being the case, it is evident that each new problem should meet with a more intelligent solution; the new factors that are present should modify the original plans; and the im- provements which were possible in the first construction should here be adopted to advantage and probably still further elaborated. There is nothing stationary in nature, and the individual in his pro- fession or business relations is either advancing or deteriorating. As long as he can see ways and means by which his work can be improved; as long as he finds it necessary and desirable tc study and investigate and to improve his knowledge, his ideals, and their practical expression; so long is the engineer growing and improving and his value is increas. ing. But as soon as he is satisfied with his work and believes no further improvement to be possible, his progress has ceased, and, at least in comparison with the normal advancement in professional work, he is los- ing ground; and unless he acquires an entirely different attitude, his use- fulness will soon be a thing of the past. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What goals would you expect to achieve before you would class yourself as a success? 2A of engineers conducted in 1915 asked th to lis teristics wi ch, in their opinion, were the most ipa meee neering, What wore the characteristics most frequently listed? . . In what ways, if any, has the opinion of engi i vsti rn oat he pion of Sgn reading ihe hr 4. Why is it impossible to develop mature engineering judgment by tag neering college study alone? ete 5. How is mature engineering judgment acquired? 6. OF what i is i soe what importance is the art of human relations to the practicing engi- 7. On what principles are good human relations based? 8. When formal studies in psychology are not possi i procedure to follow in studying the ato pmoen releonap "eat the, best . ler what conditions must an engineer arbitrarily insis ly insist that certaiti cotas followed regardless of the human relations effect of such in- Scanned with CamScannerSuccess in the Engineering Profession 87 10. What are some of the personality traits which are accepted by many persons as characteristic of engineers but which are not typical of the most successful engineers? AL. Why is it very difficult in a given situation to evaluate the extent of one’s own personal bias? 12, iat are some of the influences which bias one’s engineering judg- ments! 18. In what phases of his activities does an engineer require an understand ing of the seacianes of business and finance? 14. Why is a knowledge of the cost implications of design essential in all engineering work? 15. Why is it desirable for those who wish to have a well-planned retirement. program to start the planning as eatly in life as is possible? 16. What are the current retirement benefits under the Social Security Act? 17. Outline the steps which an engineer may take to ensure that he will continue to grow professionally. Scanned with CamScanner