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Specialists vs. Generalists
12

Specialists vs. Generalists

Specialists vs. Generalists

(OP)
How do you see the engineering profession evolving?  Will there be a greater profusion (or need) of engineers specializing in a discipline/sub-discipline or will there be a greater need of the "Jack of all trades, master of none"?  Science (in my point of view for this thread), seems to be evolving toward focused specialization, will engineering follow?

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

PSE,

I am a mechanical engineer (MSc, Thermal Power Engineering) and if I look around me I see that the choice you refere to really depends on someone's interest and personality.
Both specialists and consultants are needed and the first type is mostly more the quiet puzzle-solving type while the other is more the socializer. I know I generalize here but that's how I obsereve it.

Cees-Jan

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

(OP)
ceesjan,

I agree that both specialists and generalists are needed.  As the sheer volume of technologies increase, I begin to wonder if even the generalists will start to become specialized or perhaps sub-generalists.  It was interesting to see the qualifier (MSc, Thermal Power Engineering) that you placed after your mechanical engineering title.  I know that I was surprised even back in my collegiate days, at the variety of specialization possible within a selected engineering major.  How far might this trend continue in industry?

Regards,

PSE

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

He is a quote from Robert A. Heinlein that I think is appropiate -

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wasll, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallanty.  Specializations is for insects."


I also agree that both specialists and generalists are needed.  But the numbers of generalist needs to be increased.   I see it everyday, where engineers have been design the same thing for years, but give them something slightly different and it throws them for a loop. I believe that some of the Continuing professional development that a Professional Engineer is require to take each year should be spend on items to expand the engineers knowledge base.  Why attend a seminar on galvanizing if you have been designing items to be galvanized for 15 years?

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

My focus, as a specialist in pipe stress engineering, has been to learn as much as I can about the elements involved in my specialty (codes, metallurgy, bolting, etc.).  

However, I must, to be successful (and of any real use to my company) develop enough of an understanding of the disciplines that I interact with (piping design, process engineering, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, etc.) that I understand how my work affects these other disciplines and how best to interact with them.  However, that broader base of knowledge does not make me qualified to take on those jobs.

I must confess, that I am leary of generalists, particularly in mechanical engineering.  Pretty much every area has such depth that I have difficulty seeing how someone who is a generalist would be useful at any but the most light weight of problems in a given area.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

2
I tend to think that a generalist is some one who knows their own limits and who has a support system of collegues and contractors to help with the in depth work. The generalist is the person who may interact between the client and the specialist and who would also be responsible for managing the overall project.

In my own field I would consider that I am a specialist in residential/domestic construction design and in subdivision design. But in larger building projects I would consider myself a generalist, where I can handle standard type designs but not designs requiring more complex analysis and design solutions, for these I have several other engineers I can sub-contract the work to.

Just my thoughts.

Regards
sc

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

I'll add my 2 cents since I am a generalist.  Our company, an A/E is changing. 25 years ago there were designers, drafters, and engineers.  Now the designers are disappearing and the engineer is expected to do it all, sometimes including the drafting.  This has come about as a result of the reduction in the number of hours allotted for each project.   If we need a specialist that is not in the company, we hire a consultant.  Lately there are more and more consultants.  

So if you want to work for a company, you better be a good generalist.  If you want to specialize, start your own business as there probably is a lot of work out there if you have the right contacts.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

richanton,

I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head. My specialty is designing valve & wellhead equipment, but in order to do that job properly I have to know something about, machining, drafting, metallurgy, welding, NDE, metrology, forensics, etc. I need to know a little bit about everything if for no other reason than to know when to call a specialist for help.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

(OP)
Interesting posts so far.  It appears that a hybrid style of engineering is evolving.  "Ideally", an individual with perhaps a couple of salient strengths that retains the ability to work outside of their expertise at a fundamental level.  My own experience is that of a generalist (I get to figure out the most efficient ways to put things together), but I have "specialized" my career in working only with corporations that use technologies aligned with my educational discipline (Optical Engineering).

Calling in specialists, subcontractors, consultants etc. has been mentioned in several of the previous posts.  Using the umbrella term "Collaborative Engineering" does this tend to take place internally (engineering project team) or externally (subcontracted consultants)?  Perhaps this could be fodder for another thread.

Regards,

PSE

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Rich2001,

I love the quote you posted above as well as the rest of your post...but what the hell is a wasll??

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

PSE,

I agree, and would like to think that in this day and age, we have increased our capacity to learn to the extent that becoming a "jack of all trades" does not prevent someone from achieving mastery of one or more other subjects.  

I'm preparing to become a "jack of all trades, master of some," and that's not too unreasonable anymore.

P.S.  A wasll is either olde english typewriter slang for 'wall'... or he misspelled 'wassle': that lovely cider/juice concoction from the weird Christmas carol.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

I'm a generalist at heart, though... in 21 years of life, all I've left for myself is to learn how to plan an invasion, butcher a hog, and set a bone before I can die happy.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Wasll is a word that is entering the language due to the proximity of the letter "s" to the letter "a" on the querty keyboard. Google finds many pages when asked to search for wasll. From the context, most seem to mean wall.

"Wasll" - a person with fat fingers who can't be bothered to spellcheck.

For a good all purpose free spellchecker, take a look at www.iespell.com . The dictionaries reside on your hard drive and you just right mouse and select iespell to start the spellchecker. The spellchecker is particularly useful for checking input to forums via dialog boxes just like the one you will use to comment on this suggestion.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Thanks for the link, owg, I jsut downloaded it and it works well!

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

jsut?

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

My humor is often subtle.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

I have been in Civil Engineering for almost twenty yrs. I started on the ass-end of a gunters chain, Drafting plans by hand with real drafting tools, have an engineer hand you a design proposal hammered out on cocktail napkins in a cryptic language that would confuse most. Now, today we have software that helps us show John Q. Public this is our proposal in a 3-D animated Power Point Presentation "This is how much of your land we are going to take for this project."
So, let's ask the Question "Can the New Engineers of today use a slide-rule?" NO
Can the New Engineers of today quote tangent tables from memory without consulting there HP48GX with the program card? NO
Can the New Engineers tell you the conversion factor from end areas to cubic yds.? NO
So, with the technology moving foward as it has, and drafters moving into design positions should we really stamp the set of plans with an Engineer Seal or the Software Seal.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

namdac,

Let me start by saying that I have tremendous respect for anyone who's been in their field as long as you have, and even more respect for the skills they learn by such extensive experience.  I believe that experience defeats classroom knowledge hands-down...

...but in defense of the new engineers:  Computerizing the engineering process saves precious time and money; we wouldn't have adapted to the CAD software and the calculators had there been no advantage.  It is true that young engineers like myself cannot use a slide rule or any of the other implementations you refer to.  But in the case of advances in technology and its impact on engineering, should we really be stripped of our titles as engineers because we don't use the same tools engineers used in the past?.  We're making progress and learning how to use new tools.  To be a successful engineer today, one still requires common sense and a 'head for engineering'; these talents are not exclusively linked to slide rules.  I find the scenario similar to the following:

A horseman may know how to take care of his horse, but as the automobile era approaches, that knowledge loses value.  Sure the average driver might not know how to take care of a horse, but it doesn't matter.  Everyone's driving around in automobiles.  

The horseman's advantage is that he already knows the roads, but it doesn't mean he has to use his horse to get to them.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

RTelectric,

I understand where you are coming from. I must say though I think that are institutions of learning must move foward as with technology if our new engineers are to be successful.

That I guess is the point I was trying to make.

The tools that were used then vs. now I agree. I know deep down in my heart that having these "New Tools" will help all of us improve the way we do things.

Thanks for the info.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

2
I think that one of the problem with our new tools is that they are increasingly being used by people outside of our profession.  They plug numbers in and get answers out and feel that they have no need for us expensive tempermental demanding engineers.  I can't even beging to describe the increase in projects that involve fixing a faulty design, as I type this I have one on my screen were several computer tools were used by a Geologist to design a large scale verticle turbine pump application.  It is a complete disaster that I as an engineer understood immediately.  The geologist used our tools and he was excellent in identifying the information he needed from the running of the programs, he developed a system curve and specified a pump.  I am on the project now because the pump corroded?   It's actually cavitation damage from an improper pump selection.

Now, with this said, engineers are hurt by this.   The engineering went bad, but I was practiced by a non engineer using our engineering tools.  These tools are no substitute for an engineer.  I think its our job to as engineers to all be Generalists in order to police our practice from those who are not qualified to practice it even though they may have our tools to do so.  After becoming Generalists, specalizing in areas that we enjoy becomes the passion of our careers.  

This is a lot of rambling, but I thought I would share it with you all...

BobPE

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

BobPE - What you say rings true with me. I was a generalist for 20 years working for the man, then a specialist for 20 years working for myself.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

BobPE,
Total agreement with regards to engineering tools being used by non-engineers.  Not only are they giving the proverbial guns to children with this, generally they are encouraging these children to play with the guns.

I had a person ask me how (using a CAD package with FEA functionality) how to calculate the stiffness for a given part (with given b.c.'s and given point unit loads).  He couldn't find the "stiffness" button in the program (and wasn't knowledgeable enough to know the definition of stiffness).

By the way, I told him to call tech support for the particular product.  I'd let them deal with their own monster.
Brad

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Brad,

Don't feel so bad, I once had an engineer ask me how big were the units for the unit load!

Best regards,

Matthew Ian Loew

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Did you give him the correct answer:
"Unity"
:)
Brad

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

2
Good thread.  Interesting stories and opinions.

I must say that after 12 years I would have to consider myself a generalist with a melting/casting emphasis (but by no means a specialist).

However, the problem I see at this time is the lack of MENTOR-type engineers to school the younger generation.  There are specialists that are retiring every day that leave their knowledge to no one.  I think you can blame part of this on today's companies and their policies on turnover and mentoring.  I just left a company that 1) found itself hurting from a lack of knowledge due to retirements; 2) disregarded the engineer's need for networking, peer development, and continuous education; and, 3) considered engineers "grunts" instead of professionals.  

Another part of the blame resides on the engineer themselves by changing positions so readily.  (Hey, I include myself in that one.)  The last I heard, the average engineer graduating since 1985 would move jobs at least 7 times in his/her career.  How does that promote stability and specialization?  

And lastly, the other part of the blame resides in the profession itself for not emphasizing this problem more.  I think we all realize there are needs for experts/specialists.  But how do we get to be the next generation of experts if the profession itself doesn't promote it?  When all the professional societies put out statistics on job title, pay, etc., what are we really saying we are concerned with?

Additionally, there is so much opportunity out there if you're willing to go for it.  Plus, there is an attitude in this time that most everyone wants to "march up the ladder".  Both of these together don't promote specialization at all...just generalization.

Personally, 25 years from now, I don't believe you'll see the number of specialists you see today.  Generalists will be plentiful.  And, though I hate to admit it, key knowledge will be lost, maybe forever.

Thanks for reading my 2-cents worth.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Now that the thread is talking about the learning part, I would like to know which skills are more valuable for the graduate.

Do we teach them to be practical from day dot or do we give them all of the theory and let them learn the practical component in the field?

I am currently involved in helping a Uni restart its civil degree course and this seems to be the main question being asked. My feeling is that with the number of computer aids for design that are available today we should be teaching students to use them and to recognise when the results are  up the creek. This can come from practical experience or theory.

So should we be creating a student that is street wise but basically behind in terms of deep theoretical knowledge or should we be creating a theoretical person who will need a lot of assistance to become street wise.

Regards

sc

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

The most relevant issue today for engineers is to have absolute knowledge on all issues that has its bearing on  day to day businesss scenario.I have a CAD designer but who does not know tool design,I have a methods engineer who can not understand the basic product developemnt process .Like that there are several specialized set of people who does job whenever there is a need or being idle .Not all specialization is required at all point of time but a generalist is the most needed person who habdle/manage any situation or rather the time has come wherein an engineer has to perfectly function like a technical manager managing several facets of engineering.


This is how all industries are moving now and one of the important elements of LEAN is cross functional training wherein every function must be able to peform other functions as well in the sense the designer will move to manufacturing,a quality guy will move to product design etc.This essentially reduced the burden on the industries to have absolute flexibility with out adding many resources and being idle most of the time.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

That sounds like a watered down, bean counter oriented recipe for disaster.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

stressguy, bean counters run the industry exmpt world!!!
BobPE

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Uppilli11--
That is the standard "bookspeak"; however this runs completely counter to the concept of economies of scale.  I will acknowledge that this is a popular trend as of late, but I have dealt with the byproducts of this "jack-of-all-trades, master of none" mentality, and it ain't pretty.

Sadly too often they are barely a jack of any trade. Therein lies the problem.
Brad

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Have compared this in medicine wherein it is very difficult to find a general medical practicioner who can recommend or can be consulted for some common ailments.everybody is a speialist but majority of the people for their day to day problems need only generalist not a nail specialist or throat specialist.

Today fortunately there are many engineers than doctors so you can find a mix of every person

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

This thread which focuses of the difference between generalists and specialists, it has not done a very good job of defining these terms.

I work in construction management. Therefore in the construction pond I’m a generalist in the sense that I work across the civil, mechanical and electrical disciplines to achieve an integrated complete final product. In the overall ocean of engineering I consider myself a construction specialist.

If I was a structural designer would I be a specialist because that is one small field or a generalist because I design in wood, steel and concrete? If I only worked in steel design would I be a generalist because I design compression, tension and bending members or would I have to specialize in only designing bending members?

At some level everyone in the profession has to be by necessity both a specialist who can concentrate on the specific item at hand as well as a generalist who can see the bigger picture and integrate his work into that larger cooperative effort that is engineering. That is what being a professional is all about.

Also remember that if you are say a steel design specialist and the price of steel jumps, there will be no more steel design and like the over specialized branches of the evolutionary tree you will be wonderfully adapted to do a job that no longer exists.

Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

(OP)
RDK

The vagueness of defining specialist or generalist is intentional.  It allows for the greatest variation of discourse within the thread.  My personal opinion (for what it is worth) is the same as yours.  Someone should attain excellence within a particular field or discipline while at the same time, developing or retaining a sensitivity to other fields.  Rarely is a product the result of only one engineering discipline.  Overspecialization, as you illustrate with your steel design specialist, can lead to career extinction.  Choose wisely.

Regards

RE: Specialists vs. Generalists

Perception can play a huge role in whether someone is a generalist or a specialist in an organization.

I worked recently in a company in which the materials engineers all focused on one area ( a group of materials or processes) of the product design. With that view, most of the managers considered us "specialists". I felt that was simply not the case for me personally, since I had a good understanding of the work the other engineers were doing, regardless of the fact that I was working on distinct projects from them.

However whether you are more aptly defined by "specialist" or "generalist" problem depends more on your own commitment to continued learning in new fields. I find it far more interesting to learn about several new fields, than merely focus on one. I believe it is possible for anyone to learn new things and continue learning new things in areas they are considered an expert in. After all, life is quite dynamic and things change so rapidly we all need to continue learning new things.

So being a generalist as many has stated does not mean that you can't also have specialty or expert status in some other specific areas.

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