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OCR for page R1
FOSTERING FLEXIBILITY
IN THE ENGINEERING WORK FORCE
Committee on Skill Transferability
in Engineering Labor Markets
Office of Scientific and Engineering Personnel
National Academy Press
Washington, D.C. 1990
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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing
Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of
the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute
of Meclic~ne.
~ . . 1 _ _~ ~ . ~ ^ ~- the-Ohm then arr~rHinc~ to
This repoIt has been reviewed oy persons v~;~ Unix use auk aver v
procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the
National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of
Medicine.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuat~ng society
of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the
furtherance of science and technology and to their use for He general welfare. Upon the
authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate
that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.
Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of
the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is
autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the
National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The
National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting
national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior
achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of
. · .
ngmeenng.
The Institute of Medicine was established In 1970 by the National Academy of
Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropn ate professions in the
examination of policy matters perching to the health of the public. The Institute acts under
Me responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to
be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of
medical care, research, and education. Dr. Samuel O. Thier is president of the Institute of
Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of
Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the
Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government.
Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by Me Academy, the Council
has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and
the National Academy of Eng~neenng In providing services to Me government, the public,
and the scientific and engineering communizes. The Council is administered jointly by
both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White
are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.
This material is based on work supported by the National Academy of
Engineenng's Technology Agenda Program.
Copies available from:
Studies Section
Office of Scientific and Engineenng Personnel
National Academy of Sciences
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW-Room GR 402
Washington, DC 20418
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 90-61001
International Standard Book Number 0-309-04276-3
Printed in the United States of America
First Pnniing, March 1990
Second Pnniing, December 1990
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COMMITTEE ON SKILL TRANSFERABILITY
IN ENGINEERING LABOR MARKETS
NAE Dale R. Carson, Chair
President Emeritus
Cornell University
NAE W. Dale Compton
Gilbreth Distinguished Professor
of Indusmal Eng~neenng
Purdue University
Richard A. Ellis
Director of Manpower Studies
Amencan Association of
Eng~neenng Societies
Robert K. Armstrong
Manager, Professional Staffing
Ed. duPont de Nemours & Co., Inc.
Robert C. Dauffenbach
Director, Bureau of Business
& Economic Research
Oklahoma State University
NAE John K. Hulm
Chief Scientist
Westinghouse Electnc
Liaison to OSEP Advisory Committee on Series and Analyses
NAE Hotel A. Zadeh
Department of Computer Sciences
University of California - Berkeley
Sta~Of~icer
Cheryl B. L`eggon
·. ~
111
~ -
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FOREWORD
The pace of development of new technology and the rate at which resulting new
~ ~ ~ ~ _ . . ~ . . . . . . . .
prc~auc~s ana services enter one marketplace nave oeen steely accelerating since World
War H. Moreover, in this period not only markets but also finance, investment, and
industry have become increasingly global in nature. Indusmal operations research,
design, development, production, dis~but~on, sales, and service support even for single
products, now take place with less and less regard for national boundaries. In the global
, ~ - r -I ~~~ -~0
economic and industrial complex that is evolving, the engineering enterprise in all nations is
constancy challenged to excel in developing and applying new technologies, bringing forth
new products and serving new user and societal needs and wants. Thus, in the meetings
and forums of the National Academy of Engineering it has been widely recognized that
flexibility and adaptability are important qualities for engineers and are destined to be even
more important in He future.
Yet, although He positive merits of flexibility and adaptability of engineers are
generally regarded as obvious, it is not so clear how these qualities can be assessed and
how rapid changes over time in both challenges and responses can be tracked. A 1985
National Research Council report* on engineering education and practice in the United
States concluded that the United States did have a flexible, adaptable eng~neenng work
force as evidenced by the ability of engineers to transfer among diverse disciplines,
engineering functions. and industrial sectors. often in activities well removers mom the.
theirs In which they were originally educated. This observed flexibility and adaptability of
engineers is often attributed to the solid grounding in basic science, mathematics, and
eng~neenng fundamentals received by engineers In Heir professional ecluca~aon and no
doubt tills may be die most important conmbu~ang factor. But it is not at all clear Hat sound
* National Research Council, Engineering Education aru] Practice in the United States, Washington, D.C.:
National Academy Press, 1985.
v
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basic education, particularly limited to only the first professional degree level attained by
the maJonty ot engineers, can entirely account for the flexibility and adaptability of
engineers experienced in the past, much less be relied on to meet the greater challenges of
the future. It is increasingly apparent that a university education, career-Ion" education
personal professional development, and the climate of engineering practice in industry all
must contribute to Me creation and maintenance of an engineering work force capable of
providing technological and industrial leadership for the nation in a highly competitive
global economy.
To look at the questions of what might be the changing requirements for the
flexibility and adaptability of engineers in the highly competitive global economy and the
rapidly changing technologies we face In the future and to examine some of the ways In
which these requirements might be met, the NAE asked the National Research Council
Office of Scientific and Engineering Personnel to undertake this exploratory study. The
findings and conclusions illuminate what can be determined *am available data and arrived
at by judgments based on past experience as a guide to academic, industry, and government
policy. They also indicate some important gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the
nature and extent of the future needs for flexibility and adaptability of engineers and of Be
measures by which such needs may be met.
V1
Alexander H. Flax
Home Secretary
National Academy of Engineering
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Committee on Sew Transferability in Engineering Labor Markets appreciates
the assistance that it received from a number of individuals. The National Academy of
Engineering (NAE) initiated the establishment of this committee. The committee is most
grateful for the many contributions made to the development of this exploratory study by
NAE staff: Robert M. White, president; Alexander H. Flax, home secretary; Gerald P.
D~nneen, foreign secretary; and Bruce Guile and Samuel Rod, director and associate
director, respectively, of the NAE Program Office. Alan Fechter, executive director of the
Office of Scientific and Engineering Personnel (OSEP), provided guidance and helpful
counsel throughout the course of the study and cnucal readings of all drafts of the report.
Lotfi A. Zadeh, liaison to OSEP's Advisory Committee on Studies and Analyses,
contributed critical insight to the committee's deliberations. Cheryl B. L`eggon, staff
officer, kept the committee abreast of current research, organized the various committee
activities including the workshop convened on September 29, 1989, and wrote the
numerous drafts of this report. Michael G. Finn, OSEP director of studies and surveys,
provided methodological guidance. Linda S. DO redcoats officer. eciitect this vendor: an]
. . ~,~.
_ _ , , , ~ ~
Linda Emerson assisted} dunng both the workshop and Be pr~uc~aon of this report.
Much of the information presented in dais report was gathered du ing the
committee-sponsored Workshop on National Needs and Technological Change: Fostering
Flexibility in He Engineering Work Force. The committee appreciates the background
materials prepared by the following individuals: Pamela H. Atkinson, University of
California-Berkeley; Larry M. Blair, Oak Ridge Associated Universities; Robert C.
Dauffenbach, Oklahoma State University; Alan Eck, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Michael G.
Finn, OSEP; S au} Gorn, University of Pennsylvania; Cheryl B. Leggon, OSEP; J. S.
Watson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and David Woodall, Idaho National Laboratory.
Special acknowledgment is extended to Peter Cannon, president and chief executive officer
of Conductus, Inc., for delivering the charge to the workshop and making insightful
_ . . ..
·-
V11
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contributions to the deliberations. The committee thanks the 40 individuals from industry,
academe, government, and professional engineering societies who participated in He
workshop. Finally, the committee gratefully acknowledges the reviewers, whose
comments signif~ca~ntly enhanced the quality of the final report
We hope that the efforts of the many individuals involved in this exploratory
examination of flexibility in Be eng~neenng work force win clarify the issues and assist
OSEP aunt NAE in developing their research agenda for Me next decade.
Dale R. Corson
Chairman
· -
V111
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CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Background
Findings
Conclusions
~ BACKGROUND
2 WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL NEEDS
AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE: FOSTERING
FLEXIBILITY IN THE ENGINEERING WORK FORCE
3 FINDINGS
Adaptability as an Issue
Mobility Among the U.S. Engineering Work Force
Ph.D.s in Engineering
B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Engineering
Education and Training
Undergraduate Engineering Education
Continuing or Lifelong Education and Training
Data and Knowledge Bases
4 CONCLUSIONS
5 NEXT STEPS
1X
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2
4
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13
13
4
6
6
8
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20
2s
29
31
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COMMISSIONED PAPERS
National Needs and Technological Change: A Background Paper
by Check B. Legion
The Relevance of Career-Long Education to Creating and Maintaining
an AdEaptable Work Force by Pamela H. Atkinson
Evidence of Adaptability in the Labor Marketfor Engineers: A Review
of Recent Studies by Robert C. Dauffenbach and Michael G. Finn
Adaptability of the Engineering Work Force: Information Available
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics by Alan Eck
Adaptability in Chemical Engineering by I. S. Watson
Nuclear Engineering Case Study by David M. Woodall
Adapting to Computer Science by S au] Corn
x
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35
53
73
83
113
129
141
