Skills Critical to Long-Term Profitability of Engineering Firms

Abstract

A list of 20 skills was developed by the writers from a previous research list of skills that were indicated to be important to long-term profitability. From this list of skills that the writers believe to be important to engineering firms, a survey was assembled and mailed to 500 engineering firms throughout the United States. The survey addressed two issues: first, the identification of the skills that principals perceive to be most critical for their firms' long-term profitability; second, the identification of the preferred method of training for members of the organization. We find that communication is ranked as the most critical skill, for both principals and project managers, attributable to long-term profitability. “Listening” and “project management” skills were ranked second and third, respectively, for project managers, whereas “leadership management” and “vision” were ranked second and third for principals. We also find that “working with mentor” was ranked as the most desirable method of training for principals followed by off-site full-day seminar. Project managers also preferred working with mentor as the most desirable training method, followed by personal study.