Robert J Aslett - Perspective On Holistic Engineering Management, A: Learning, Adapting And Creating Value

Learning, Adapting and Creating Value

World Scientific Series in R&D Management

Print ISSN: 2591-7498
Online ISSN: 2591-7501

Series Editor: Tugrul U Daim (Portland State University, USA)

Published

Vol. 7 A Perspective on Holistic Engineering Management: Learning, Adapting and Creating Value
by Robert J Aslett, John M Acken and Siva K Yerramilli

Vol. 6 Digital Transformation: Evaluating Emerging Technologies
edited by Tugrul U Daim

Vol. 5 Managing Medical Technological Innovations: Exploring Multiple Perspectives
edited by Tugrul U Daim and Alexander Brem

Vol. 4 Managing Mobile Technologies: An Analysis from Multiple Perspectives
edited by Tugrul U Daim and Alexander Brem

Vol. 3 Cooperative Innovation: Science and Technology Policy
by Frederick Betz

Vol. 2 Technology Roadmapping
edited by Tugrul U Daim, Terry Oliver and Rob Phaal

Vol. 1 Managing Technological Innovation: Tools and Methods
edited by Tugrul U Daim

World Scientific Series in R&D Management Vol. 7

Learning, Adapting and Creating Value

Robert J Aslett

3e8 Consulting, USA

John M Acken

Portland State University, USA

Siva K Yerramilli

Synopsys Inc., USA

Published by

World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224

USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601

UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Aslett, Robert J., author. | Acken, John M., author. | Yerramilli, Siva K., author.

Title: A perspective on holistic engineering management: learning, adapting and creating value / Robert J Aslett, 3e8 Consulting, USA, John M Acken, Portland State University, USA, Siva K Yerramilli, Synopsys Inc., USA.

Description: Singapore ; Hackensack, NJ ; London: World Scientific, [2021] | Series: World Scientific series in R&D management, 2591-7498 ; vol. 7 | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020046878 | ISBN 9789811228322 (hardcover) | ISBN 9789811228339 (ebook for institutions) | ISBN 9789811228346 (ebook for individuals)

Subjects: LCSH: Research, Industrial--Management. | Industrial management.

Classification: LCC T175.5 .A83 2021 | DDC 620.0068--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020046878

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Copyright 2021 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher.

For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher.

For any available supplementary material, please visit
https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/12043#t=suppl

Desk Editor: Amanda Yun

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Printed in Singapore

My big regret: not having this book as a young engineering manager, as a newly appointed R&D director, as a rapidly learning technology VP, and yes, as a global high-tech CEO! I love how the authors interweave leadership and management and show that culture, strategy, and execution are not merely additive ingredients but multipliers on the path to great engineering management!

Aart de Geus, Chairman and co-CEO, Synopsys, Inc.

Technology is such an opportunity to innovate and transform all aspects of life for the better. The outcome is technology; the actors are the people who shape and deliver the results. Earning the collective and woven discretionary energy of an R&D organization is paramount. With A Perspective on Holistic Engineering Management, Siva Yerramilli, Robert Aslett, and Prof. John Acken provide a wonderful and comprehensive blueprint for how to lead and manage disruptive and impactful R&D teams.

Aicha Evans, CEO, Zoox, Inc.

The increasing pace of technology advancement is relentless with growing interdependencies between different engineering organizations and companies with a significant increase in design complexity. To excel, engineering managers must understand and harness a highly dynamic environment that stretches beyond their organization on a global basis. This book is an essential reference for aspiring engineering managers who want to know how to lay the proper foundation, conduct core engineering functions, connect an entire R&D system and develop their own leadership skills to create a high velocity engineering organization that not only survives but excels in todays competitive world.

Amir Faintuch, Senior VP, GM, GlobalFoundries, Inc.

For those who want to lead an engineering organization that thrives, A Perspective on Holistic Engineering Management will be an indispensable addition to their library. This book not only explains each piece of the puzzle but describes how they connect. Most importantly, it describes how the proper cultural foundation, tightly connected core engineering functions and enlightened leadership combine to extract the most value from an R&D system that extends well beyond the managers organization. I wish this reference had been available when I learned many of these important concepts through a much more painful trial and error method.

William M. Holt, former Executive VP, GM, Intel, Corporation

Dedication

Rob dedicates this book to his wife Anita and sons Kevin and Colin.

John dedicates this book to Charlotte Acken.

Siva dedicates this book to his loving wife, Sandhya Yerramilli, his mother, Yerramilli Kusumakumari, and his sister, Nagalatha Ryali.

Collaborative innovation is the lifeblood of business and the engine of great engineering. We like to romanticize the lone genius inventing a breakthrough on their own, but in truth, virtually every successful engineering project is driven by a collective effort. More often than not, success hinges on multiple teams coming together to achieve a shared goal.

If collaboration fuels good engineering, the next question becomes: whats the key to effective collaboration? In my experience, it comes down to leadership. I often think of leadership as the operating system that makes collaboration possible. Like a computer OS that orchestrates disparate resources into connected and interoperable parts, leadership empowers teams to execute at scale. And just as successful digital products must run on great code, leaders must skillfully manage the software and hardware of corporate culture and strategy. That includes orchestrating multiple initiatives that need to function and flourish at the same time.

The best leaders are not experts in everything; they often do not have fancy titles, and many are not even managers yet. What they have in common is an ability to identify a good idea and then shape it into a cohesive vision and a concrete action plan. Effective leaders connect the dots across diverse teams to build trust and instill a shared sense of purpose.