Reengineering the corporation failed. Now they are reengineering engineering. Will it succeed?

Reengineering failed largely because it forgot about people.

In 1996, a front-page Wall Street Journal article featured and quoted Michael Hammer, one of the writers of the book on reengineering. "Dr. Hammer points out a flaw: He and the other leaders of the $4.7 billion re-engineering industry forgot about people. 'I wasn't smart enough about that,' he says. 'I was reflecting my engineering background and was insufficiently appreciative of the human dimension. I've learned that's critical.' "

More than a decade later we see engineering schools are finally starting to take this lesson to heart. An AP article today (11.03.07) discusses why liberal arts schools are embracing engineering and engineering students.

The article stated in part:

The trend is driven partly by changes in accreditation standards in recent years that recognized the need for more well-rounded engineers who can better understand the communities in which they work.

The revisions were spurred in part by discussions with companies like Boeing and Texas Instruments, which were seeing engineering job applicants with too much book knowledge and not a lot of practical experience or perspective, said M. Dayne Aldridge, dean of the engineering school at Mercer University in Macon, Ga..

"It's an opportunity to generate some kinds of engineers with a wider viewpoint," said Ted Ducas, a Wellesley professor. "It's critical to have the engineers of the future connected to society. ... The world is not getting less technological."”

Wow, what a concept, look at the whole, see how things connect and it changes everything, particularly when we include people. Someone should write a book about this, or at least a blog.

Spherical,
Phil

It’s transformational to be whole

Liberal arts schools embrace engineering
KATHY MATHESON
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071103/ap_on_re_us/engineering_and_liberal_arts