The Unwritten Laws of Engineering

Abstract

This chapter discusses the trade version that has been added as a revision to the Unwritten Laws of Engineering book. The trade version focuses on what the beginner needs to learn at once. Promises, schedules, and estimates are necessary and important instruments in a well-ordered business. Many engineers try to dodge making commitments. One must make promises based upon best estimates for the part of the job, together with estimates obtained from contributing departments. The chapter points out that a good project manager probably knows which engineers are pessimistic and which are optimistic and tries to work the middle way. In dealing with customers and outsiders, remember that one represent’s the company, ostensibly with full responsibility and authority. A good project manager knows which engineers are pessimistic and which are optimistic and tries to work the middle way out. The chapter also highlights that risk management activities should be scheduled into a project right from the start; however, issues must be squeezed into the schedule as they appear.