Overview

One simplifying principle, applicable to all human relations, will lay the basis for solving any problem in this area. It will show that a solution is always possible if there is any reason for the relationship to exist (although some solutions will be drastic). The principle is this: effective relations between individuals and groups are established on the basis of a common, shared purpose.

Chapter 3 examined the operation of a project team. Here we will be interested in taking a longer and more general look at some other aspects of the relations in an engineering organization. You will be frequently called upon to go outside your project group to deal with other groups vendors, customers, and so on. You must deal with your own manager effectively.

We saw (even more generally) at the beginning of the book that if you are to fulfill yourself and your professional purpose you can't be a hermit or keep the rest of humanity the people you've enlisted to serve at arm's length. An ability to work effectively with others is essential in our business.

If the principle stated above is fundamental, we can deduce from it that ineffective relations can be caused by lack of common purpose, by the absence of a shared goal. To work with others we must thus know enough about them, their interests and motivations, to build a common purpose in whatever transactions are involved. For example, cooperative relations within a project team come from the mutual desire to make the...