Engineering Management
Uploaded by rabbit on May 06, 2006
Summary
In this report an analysis was undertaken to investigate managing in an organisation. Using group contacts we were able to come into contact with Dr Smith, a manager at Telstra. After comparing textbook management techniques we discovered that the interviewee alternated between several of these with giving staff incentives to be independent in their work a major factor of his management. We also concluded that diversity makes management more flexible and allows creativity to flourish in the workplace.
Table of Contents:
SUMMARY II
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND AIM 1
1.2 SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY 1
2.0 BODY OF REPORT 2
2.1 DR. SMITH 2
2.2 COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE 3
2.3 STAFF MOTIVATION 4
2.4 DR SMITHS PERSONAL MOTIVATION 5
2.5 MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY 6
2.6 DR SMITHS¡¦ MANAGEMENT STYLES 7
2.7 COMPANY MANAGEMENT STYLE 9
3.0 CONCLUSION AND INSIGHTS 9
4.0 REFERENCE LIST 10
5.0 APPENDIXES 11
5.1 APPENDIX ONE: INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 12
5.2 APPENDIX TWO: INTERVIEW PROMPT SHEET 18
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background information and Aim
This is a report on the interview that was conducted with Dr. Bernard Smith of Telstra on Friday, 30th August. The interview was aimed to find out various details about being a manager. These included, management styles, models and philosophies used, what a manager does and problems that arise as a manager.
Dr. Smith is the section head of the Access Networks section of Telstra, Australia¡¦s largest telecommunications provider. There are four or five levels of management above Dr. Smith who is at the lowest level of formal management [1].
His section contains about 25 people under him. Access Networks is part of the Telstra Research Laboratories in Clayton and conducts research on the access part of the telecommunications network. This mainly deals with the part of the network between the customer and the nearest exchange [1]. Including transmission line and interference research for cable and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) [2].
He manages a range of people. Some have similar skills who he can work closely with such and electronics and protocols people. And some work in areas he knows very little about such as metallurgists and chemists who test corrosion of cables. He also manages workers who test the application of the research findings to see what the customer will experience.
1.2 Sources and Methodology
The interview was organised through a contact at Telstra, Phil Potter, who was the father of one of the group members. Dr. Potter talked to Dr. Smith who we intended to interview and found if he was willing to be interviewed and what...