Engineering Management Theory

Questions:

1. Describe what challenges you as an individual, would face switching from a small, organic based company structure to a larger, functional based company structure.

The hardest challenges I could see would be the structure of the people. In an organic structure everyone is working on different stuff all the time. People will change different type of projects they are working on all the time. Tasks can be more challenging as there is not always a key skill set with the company. In an organic structure you have to think off the wall all the time as you do not know what type of project you will get next. Switching to a more functional based structure, first thing is I will mostly be assigned to a specific area or product line. This way you have people that are skilled at that particular area and work on projects in that area. I would be learning specific things unlike before where you could not be focused in one area based on the wide range of projects you did before. You have the less likelihood to think off of the wall as standards have been set and are mostly effective for that area. The biggest thing would to stay focused on tasks in a particular area. Most likely you will have support, but will not partake in other projects outside your area. Plus in a more functional based structure you have tighter deadlines for projects as where before the company may need more time to do a project based on skill level.

2. Under what situation could you effectively use coercive power?

I could see the use of coercive power when dealing with an operator that is not following standards. It depends on the situation, but if the operator was knowingly making bad parts or screwing something up, you could use coercive power to put the fear of punishment or termination. You don’t want to get physical with them as this may get HR involved, but verbally warning them and following that process, if there is one, is the right way to go. That way you put the fear in the...