An evaluation of the leadership training for mechanical and electrical engineers in consulting engineering organizations

Leadership training for engineers and technical managers takes place in consulting engineering organizations to prepare graduate engineers for the competitive world in which the consulting engineering organizations operate. The problem is that graduate engineering students are prepared to solve technical problems, but are not prepared adequately for leadership and management roles. A significant gap exists between ideal professional educational outcomes that are deemed necessary for effective performance in consulting engineering organizations and the actual abilities perceived by employers. Applying the qualitative method, the study evaluated the leadership training for engineers and technical managers in consulting engineering organizations located in Southern California. The researcher developed a general theory grounded on structured interviews and surveys. Five research questions were addressed. First, "What leadership qualities are expected from recently graduated mechanical and electrical engineers at baccalaureate level?" Second, "How important are focused, clear, and confident communication and presentation skills by recently graduated engineers?" Third, "What evaluation methods are best suited to assess the communication and presentation abilities of recent engineering graduates in the corporate environment?" Fourth, "What kinds of training methods are used in consulting engineering organizations to improve the communication and presentation skills of project managers and future team leaders?" Fifth, "How is the ability to work on presentations affecting the career advancement of recent engineering graduates?" Four general procedures were established to develop the group questionnaires and the form used in surveying the engineers participating in the professional associations' meetings. The structured group interviews were conducted with volunteers from the pools of educators, managers, and from professional engineers. The surveys eliciting opinion of engineers were performed at monthly meetings of professional engineering associations in Southern California. Detailed procedures for general procedures are given. The data from structured group interviews were analyzed using the software program NUD*IST version N6 and presented applying qualitative research methods in the process of summation.