Leadership and Management in Engineering

The commanding general and chief of engineers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stresses that the traditional role of the engineer must change to meet the current needs of society. The extent to which these changes can be effected through formal education is briefly treated. Correcting the deficiencies of America's infrastructure will, it is argued, require engineers to get involved in policy making. Leadership is seen as another aspect of an engineer's responsibility as a citizen of a democracy. As professionals, engineers have an obligation to employ their skills in the service of a free society.

An engineer and political insider exhorts his fellow engineers to get off the sidelines and into the fray. A typical day in the life of a state senator in Texas is described to illustrate the many demands made on politicians and to underline their need for advice on technical issues. The many contributions that engineers can make to the political process are described, but the author sees no substitute for direct involvement.

Developing mechanisms to finance the rehabilitation of infrastructure requires that civil engineers understand company finance. In addressing the basics in infrastructure replacement accounting, attention is given to the way in which depreciation of infrastructure is to be treated in financial statements. Also considered are the implications for an organization's financial position if depreciation is funded. It is shown how the funding of depreciation is an investing activity and therefore has an effect on the amount of cash available.

ASCE's congressional fellow for 2001 recounts her experiences in Congress. She stresses the importance of direct involvement in the political process on the part of engineers. After summarizing the state of the nation's infrastructure, she explains how engineers can make a difference in this area and thus ensure the safety and well-being of the public. In particular, engineers can use their status in the community to raise public awareness of the need for infrastructure funding. Projects in Massachusetts are cited to illustrate the economic benefits conferred by infrastructure improvements.

The way in which public policy affects the volume and type of work done by engineers is summarized, with attention then given to the dearth of engineering expertise among members of Congress. The work done by legislative staff members is briefly described, and the telling effect that engineers could have at this level is emphasized. The similarities between the work done by an engineer on a legislative staff and the work of an engineer in private practice are highlighted. Finally, the importance of communication skills in influencing public policy is stressed.

After outlining the ways in which any private citizen can make his or her voice heard in the area of policy making, arguments are presented of special relevance to engineers. It is contended that the shift in power away from Washington and toward the states makes it more important than ever for engineers to take the plunge. Attention is also called to the ways in which policy makers could benefit from greater involvement on the part of engineers. Finally, the types of lobbying activities permitted to nonprofit organizations are summarized.

The importance of choosing a person within the section (a "champion") to lead the program is stressed, and the help available from ASCE headquarters in setting up a program is described. A mission statement can help a section focus its efforts. The ways in which ASCE sections can build relationships with their state legislators are summarized, with attention also given to increasing the number of engineers in policy-making positions. The importance of joining coalitions is emphasized, and advice is offered on hiring a lobbyist. The resources available through ASCE's State Public Affairs Grants program are described.

General advice on political involvement is offered, along with tips for dealing with the regulators who come to the fore once a bill has been passed. The importance of following up on contacts is stressed. Attention is also given to the way in which the success of a government relations program is measured. A program's success depends on prioritizing and keeping pace with issues and knowing when staff and volunteers can handle an issue on their own and when outside professionals are needed. Tips for writing a letter to a legislator are offered, and a sample letter is included. There are also pointers on how to telephone a legislator with your views and how to organize an effective meeting with him or her. A sample press release that uses ASCE's 2001 assessment of our nation's infrastructure to highlight shortcomings in a particular region is also included.