Chapter 5 – engineering communication

As an engineering student, you need to develop good written and oral communication skills, because it
is an important part of engineering.

They should learn how to:

• Express your thoughts.

• Present a concept for a product or a service.
• Present n engineering analysis of a problem and its solution.
• Show your findings from an experimental work
• Communicate design ideas by means of engineering drawings or computer-aided modeling
techniques.
Written Communications

Written communication: might be a brief, as in progress or short memos or longer. It should follow a
certain format requiring calculations, graphs, charts and engineering drawing.

• Engineers required to write report that might:

- Be lengthy and detailed.
- Contain charts, graphs, and engineering drawings.
- Be a brief memorandum or executive summary form.

Examples of written communication categories:

1- Homework 2- progress reports 3- technical reports 4- lab reports 5- design project reports 6-
emails 7- Executive summary 8- short memos

1-Homework (presentation or reports ) should include :

Given:

-problem statement. -Extracted information.

Finds:

-The information

Solutions:

-Appropriate model -diagrams -calculations -answer with proper units

2- progress report: a short form of communication to organization or a sponsor of a project.

Presenting in progress report:

-completed work - work expected to be completed for the next reporting period

-problems and recommended solutions

3-Executive Summary:

-a brief form to top management positions. – to convey the findings of a study -few pages long

-no need for references.

4- short memos:

-used to convey information in a brief form to interested individuals.

- a note to tell people to do something

-example of a reason to send a memo: IT stuff sending a reminder to update all passwords.

5- technical report (long report) contain the following items:

-Title - abstract -objectives -theory and analysis -apparatus and experimental procedure - results

-result discussion -conclusion and recommendations -appendix -references

• Abstract:

-Important part of the report -concise statements (objectives/findings/conclusion/ recommendations)

-last section to write.

• Objectives:

-State what is to be investigated - List your objectives explicitly

• Theory and analysis:

-state the principles, laws and equations - present the analytical model

-define unfamiliar terms - list important assumptions

• Apparatus and experimental procedures:

-present the list of apparatus to be used

-describe how you preformed the experiment with the procedure and schematic diagram

• Data and analysis:

-present the results in tabular or graphical form

-all figures and tables should be with numbers and descriptive title

-tables and graphs must include titles, columns or row, units, axis labels and data points.

- the figure and tables number should be placed bellow them.

• Result discussion:

-explain the important results - compare the results with theoretical calculations when it need

• Conclusions and recommendations:

-compare the objectives with the results -support conclusion with reference materials

- state recommendation based on the conclusion

 • Appendix:

- Add the copies of all original data - display calculations used in processing the data

• References:

-books (Author, title, publisher, place of publication, date (year), page)

-articles (Author, title, journal name, volume number, issue number, year, page)

-internet materials (Author, title, date, URL address)

Basic steps to analyze engineering problems:

1-Define the problem 2-simplify the problem 3- perform the solution 4- verify the result

1- Define the problem:

- What to analyze ?
- What you know about the problem ?
- What is the known things in the problem ?
- What are you looking for ?
- Find solution for what ?

2- Simplify the problem:

- Make assumptions.
- Understand the physical laws and the fundamental concepts.
- Decompose the problem into simpler one.
3- Perform the solution:
- Apply the physical laws and fundamental concepts
- Set up the problem in symbolic or parametric form.
- Explain clearly your methodology and approach for finding the solution.
- Substitute the values in the end.
4- Verify the result:
- Before presenting the solution, ask these questions:

1-The results make sense? 2-how the result would change if I change one of the parameters?

- Ask your self questions to develop the means to check the results
 Oral communication

Oral presentation: show the result of all your efforts

-Consider the needs of your listeners -be organized -be prepared - smile and use humor

-listeners should understand what you are saying -- avoid using unfamiliar phrases

-use eye contact with listeners -get the audience involved if possible

- use models if needed -use animations and video clips If possible

Presentation techniques :

1-view all slides before presenting 2-know the place 3- don’t read your talk 4- behave properly

5-scan the audience while speaking 6- talk to audience not display screen 7- don’t block the screen while
standing 8- avoid monotone 9- keep some room lights on 10- don’t exceed your time

• How the PowerPoint presentation should be ?

1-colorful charts, graphs and tables 2-use contrast in colors 3- large font 4- don’t overcrowd the slides

5-short phrases

• What is the Presentation format?

1-opening slide ( titles, names, data and the event) 2- contents 3- body 4- conclusion

• what is the length of a presentation ?

1-depends on the talk scope 2-usually 20-30 minutes

• How to prepare and rehearse a presentation ?

1-Record your presentation and watch yourself 2- ask a friend to critique your presentation 3- practice

• What to focus in your presentation ?

1-material 2- time 3- voice 4- physical presence

• Strategies in writing a presentation:

1-Chronological strategy : give historical account of the topic

2-General to specific strategy: present general information and the detailed information

3-spatial strategy: describe the object parts

4-Debate strategy: describe the advantages and disadvantages

5-motovational strategy: convince the audience with pictures

6-problem to solution strategy: describe the problem then offer the solutions

7- know your audience

 • Times new roman for reports not presentations
• Arial or Tahoma for presentations

• How the texts should be in presentations ?

1-use 5 by 5 rule ( 5 points, 5 words each ) 2- phrases instead of sentences 3- no spelling mistakes

4-title for each slide 5-title should be larger with different color

6-be consistent in : headings-subheadings – text fonts – text size – justifications

• Speech nervousness:

1-cause: fear of embarrassment

2-signs: sweating, shaking stomach distress, increasing heart and breathing rate and muscles tightening

3-body chemistry: increasing in heartbeat and blood pressure by adrenaline hormone.

• Overcoming speech nervousness:

1-be prepared 2- know the place 3- take a deep breath 4- look at familiar faces

5- memorize the first sentences in the slides in the first few minutes 6- don’t look at bored audience

• Your presentation must contain a conclusion or a summary.

 Graphical communication

❖ Engineers use drawings to convey their design information. The drawings provide information,
such as shape, size, material used and assembly steps. It shows also how the various parts of a
products fit together.

Writing emails:

1-use CC ( Carbon copy ) and BCC ( Blind Carbon Copy ):

-CC: intended to people who need to know the main content but without taking actions with themselves

-BCC: sending an email to many people and those in BCC are invisible to the recipients.

2- sending emails in working hours 3- keep the email brief 4- write in a positive tone

5-mention the name and the program of the file when you send an attachment.

6-Include the original mail when replying 7-request the response in the first paragraph if required.
 Chapter 6 – Engineering Ethics

• Why engineering ethics is important?

1-to provide safe and reliable goods and services for people

2-engineers must perform under a certain standards pf professional behavior.

3-unethical engineers mistakes could cost money and lives.

• ethics definitions:

-The study of the general nature of morals and of specific moral choices.

-the rules or standards that control the conduct of profession members

- rules or codes defining moral behavior for a specific society or organization

• Etiquette definition: acceptable personal rules and courtesy when interacting with others
• Morals: personal rules of right and wrong from person’s upbringing, religious and beliefs.
• Laws: system of rules established by a society to provide safe and organized social environment
• Moral compass (gut feel ):

-A way to decide if something is right or wrong - comes from social side

• It is easy to slip on the ethical slope: adjust our ethical standards instead of trying to improve
our behavior
• Ethical Dilemma:

- A situation in which there is a choice to be made between options, none of which resolve the
situation in an ethically acceptable manner

- A situation with a conflict between personal imperative, in which obeying one would result in
transgressing another

• We know what is right and wrong, but the wrong thing is much better for us in many personal
ways.
• Questions to identify ethical dilemma:
1- Who will be helped by the decision you make?
2- Who will be harmed by it?
3- Does the decision violate anyone’s rights?
4- Are there other alternatives that might produce a greater balance of good over harm?
5- If the interests of some stakeholders conflict with others, whose ought to be paramount?
• Goals in ethical education:
1- Improve skills in resolving ethical dilemmas 2- reinforced your desire to do the right things
• How to improve your skills in resolving ethical dilemmas?

-Understand the NSPE codes of ethics -identify the situation with ethical concerns
• National society of professional engineers (NSPE) code of ethics:

-Designed to provide positive stimulus for ethical conduct.

- establishes the ethical guideposts for the NSPE Board of Ethical Review (BER) in interpreting ethical
dilemmas

• NSPE code of ethics (Preamble):

-engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty & integrity.

-Engineer services require honesty, equity and dedicated to the protection of public health, safety
and welfare

-Engineers must perform under the standard of professional behavior with the highest principles of
ethical conduct

• NSPE code of ethics (fundamental canons) & (Rule of Practice):

Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:

- Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public

- perform services in areas of their competence
- Avoid deceptive acts
- Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.

• NSPE code of ethics (Professional obligations):

-Engineers shall be guided in their relations by the highest standards of honesty and integrity.

- Engineers shall strive to serve the public interest.

- avoid deceptive acts

- engineers shall not disclose any information of any present or client or employer or public body.

- engineers shall not attempt to obtain advancement by untruthfully criticizing other engineers.

-Engineers shall not attempt to injure, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects,
practice, or employer

-Engineers shall accept personal responsibility for their professional activities.

-Engineers shall give credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due
• Engineer’s Creed:

1-Approved in 1954 2- Short statement of philosophy of service.

3-used in ceremonies or in recognition of individuals.

4- to give the utmost performance

5- Participate in honest enterprise

6- 6- place service before profits- honor of professions before personal advantages – public
welfare above all considerations
7- live and work according the highest standards of professional conduct

• Academic Dishonesty: any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise.
EX: cheating on test, homework, lab reports and plagiarism
• Plagiarism: presenting someone else’s work as your own
• Conflict of interest: between the individual’s personal interest and individual’s obligations.
• Contract: agreement between two or more parties
-legal contract: legally binding , that if not fulfilled it could have legal consequences
• Professional responsibilities: a responsibilities linked with the mastery of special knowledge that
a person process and the us of knowledge for well-being and benefit of the society
 Chapter 7 – problem solving
• what is a problem ?
a situation faced by individual or group of individuals without obvious solution
• The only way to learn problem solving is to practice doing it
• Engineers need a strong mathematical and basic science knowledge to solve problems
• Engineers use tools to solve problems such as computers and programs
• Engineers are often confronted with tasks containing problems they cannot solve immediately.
• Problem solving in different areas of application and at different levels of concretization is a
characteristic of their engineering work.
• Task is different from problem because:
- task need mental requirements and methods should be available to assist
• task could be a problem when looked at more closely
• large tasks can be divided into sub-tasks and it may reveal difficult sub-problems
• tasks and problems happened in engineering design in different ways, often combined and not
clearly separable initially.
• Type of problems:

1-research problems 2-knowledge problems 3-troubleshooting problems 4- mathematical problems

5-resource problems 6-social problems 7-design problems

1- Research problems: hypothesis to be proved or disproved.

2- Knowledge problems: when a person encounters a situation and they don’t understand it
3- Troubleshooting problems: an equipment behave in unexpected way
4- Mathematical problems: engineers describe physical phenomena with mathematical
models, some problems are converted to mathematical problems.
5- Resource problems: refer to getting things done when there are restrictions on resources
such as time and money. Engineers who can get the job done with resources limitation are
well rewarded.
6- Social problems: problems related to people in workplace or community
7- Design problems: require creativity, teamwork and broad knowledge

• Component of design problems :

1-undesirable initial state: the existence of an unsatisfactory situation.

2-desirable goal state: the realization of a satisfactory situation.

3-obstacles: prevent transformation from undesirable initial state to desirable goal state at a
point
• Characteristics of design problems:
1-complexity: many component are involved and influence each other through different
strength links.
2-uncertainty: - not all requirements are known -not all criteria are established
- Not understanding the effect of a partial solution on overall solution or other partial solution.
- Difficulties become more pronounced (clear) if the problem characteristic change with time

• Good problem solver engineer should have these skills:

1-good knowledge and learning skills 2-good experience to apply knowledge 3- motivation
4-communication and leadership skills to coordinate activities in the team
5-good decision maker

• Reductionism: ability to break complicated problem into pieces

- an important skill for a good problem solver
• essential mental activities and skills for decision maker:

1-Recognizing dependencies:

-in complex system the dependencies in individual elements can vary in strength

-recognize the type and the strength of dependencies is an essential prerequisite to divide the
problem into less complex

-people working in sub-problems should check how short and long term effects of their
decisions will influence the design.

2- estimating importance and urgency:

- good problem solvers know how to recognize importance ( factual significance ) and
urgency(temporal significance) and modify their approach to problem solving by using this
information

-resolve important things first and then sub-problems

- they have the courage to be satisfied with suboptimal solutions for less significant problems if
they have acceptable solutions for the most significant ones.

- good problem solvers estimate the time need accurately (estimating the urgency )

- mild stress is important for creativity

3- continuity and flexibility:

- continuity means a continuous focus on achieving goals but there is a danger that excessive
focus can lead to a rigid approach
- flexibility means the ability to adapt to changing requirements and not purposeless jumping
from one approach to another
- they show a continuous and consistent behavior and in the same time flexible
- adapt the approach when the situation change a new problem occur.

4- failures cannot avoided:

- least partial failures are difficult to avoid because it is hard to recognize the potential effects
- one way react when recognizing a failure

• problem solving skills:

1-approach to problem solving 2-knowledge of the problem 3-reductisim skills 4- logical thinking

5-analysis skills 6- perspective of the expected correct answer

• Problem solving approach and strategies:

- Thinking is important than knowledge in problem solving
- Problem solving is one type of large category of thinking skills, teachers teach students how to
think
- Problem based learning, critical thinking skills, creative thinking skills, decision making,
conceptualization and information processing are all the same meaning of developing thinking
- You could develop your own strategies for solving problems.

• George polya’s how to solve methods:

-step 1: understand the problem

-step 2: find a connection between data and unknown

-Step 3: carry out your plan by checking each step

-step 4: examine the solution obtained

 • Bransford and Stein method:
1- Identify the problem
2- Define your goals
3- Explore possible strategies
4- Anticipate outcomes and act on the strategies
5- Look back and learn by evaluating the effect of your activates

• Krulik and Rundnick method:

1- Read the problem and think
2- Explore it and plan
3- Select a strategy
4- Make a solution
5- Review and reflections

• Techniques for error-free problem solving (engineer can never be certain that they are correct):

• -Estimating: an important tool to check your answer quickly

• How to improve the estimating capabilities ?

- Practice
- Broaden your interests
- Don’t rely on calculators and be well with numbers
- Learn the units