Planning, Engineering & Supervising

Distinctions between occupational groups can introduce arbitrary boundaries, especially between engineers as professionals and other workers such as technologists. It is essential to recognize that most engineering involves highly coordinated work by many people with different roles and responsibilities and success relies on the ultimate production being performed correctly.

While coordination seems to be non-technical, analysis provides evidence supporting the critical importance of technical expertise. Coordination usually involves one-on-one relationships with superiors, clients, peers, subordinates, and outsiders.

Planning, analysis, design, organization, and administration precede the final hands-on production or maintenance that results in useful products, solutions, and services, yet all are part of engineering practice.