1st Edition
Global Engineering Design, Decision Making, and Communication
As the world becomes increasingly globalized, today’s companies expect to hire engineers who are effective in a global business environment. Although you can find many books covering globalization, most of them are aimed at business, management, or social sciences. Developed with engineers in mind, Global Engineering: Design, Decision Making, and Communication covers the theory, models, and decision making tools for incorporating globalization into engineering work.
Written by a multidisciplinary team of experts in industrial, mechanical, and manufacturing engineering and organizational communications, this book is a primer on how to improve designs, make better decisions, and communicate more effectively in an international working environment. The contents of the book reflect the authors’ multidisciplinary perspective and their experience in working on projects around the world. The book presents globalization as a phenomenon affecting the way companies operate and their engineering functions. It uses a case study format based on system improvement projects and real industrial projects, ranging from design to supply chain and logistics problems. This case study format allows for a natural presentation of critical technical and non-technical concepts and their complex interactions.
The challenge that engineers face in a global environment results from the need to be aware of interdependencies and to be able to determine which ones are most important in each situation. Unique in its focus on engineering, this book provides a framework for how to better design, make decisions, and communicate in the new era of global competition.
Section I
Engineering in a Global Age
Engineeering, Change, and Resistance
Conclusion
Review and Study Questions
Notes
A Global Engineering Model
The Global Organization Layer
The Operational Layer
The Context Layer
Complicating the Concept of National Cultures
Conclusion
Review and Study Questions
Notes
Decision Making in Global Projects
Introduction
Analytical Hierarchical Process
Application Example: Decision Making under Certainty Using AHP
Integrating GEM and AHP
Data Gathering
Example: MexPlast Goes Global
Conclusions
Review and Study Questions
Notes
Section II
MEPO Manages Culture
French and Mexican Culture: The Best of Both Worlds?
The Facts of the Case
Interpretation
Conclusions
Review and Study Questions
Notes
USAHP Confronts Mexico’s Subcultures
U.S. and Mexican Cultures: So Close, and Yet So Far
The Facts of the Case
Interpretation
Review and Study Questions
Notes
Implementing a Global Engineering Perspective
Internationalization of Automobile Production
Localization Influence Factors
A Case Study in Global Automotive Engineering: The German-Mexican Partnership
Conclusion
Review and Study
Notes
Section III
SmartDrill Stays Home
Culture, Communication, and Decision Making
The Facts of the Case
Interpretation
Review and Study Questions
Notes
Do What You’re Told, and Don’t Confuse Me with Facts
Cultures, Decision Making, and Organizational Learning
The Facts of the Case
A Year Later
Interpretation
Review and Study Questions
Appendix
Notes
The Wisdom of Getting Everyone Involved: Communication and (Un)coordination at HOCH
Long Histories, Different Cultures
Interpretation
Postscript on Life in Network Organizations
Review and Study Questions
Notes
Section IV
Technical Consulting and Organizational Recovery at Chips
The Paradox of Cross-National Operations
The Facts of the Case
Interpretation
Review and Study Questions
Notes
Bucket Brigades Work, but Why?
The Facts of the Case
Review and Study Questions
Appendix
Notes
Index
Biography
Carlos Acosta, V. Jorge Leon, Charles R. Conrad, Cesar O. Malave
