Engineering Leadership Development
The paper should be no more than five-pages in length (double-spaced), and should summarize the
insights you gained from the interviews. You should include your interview notes in the Appendix to the
paper.
Evaluation criteria
1. Quality of the analysis of the interview information
2. The extent to which the paper is linked to course materials
3. Quality of the leadership insights gained and explained
4. Quality of implications for personal development actions identified
5. The quality of the writing (grammar, flow, structure, word usage)
Interview questions
1. Background and basic information about current position
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Name and job title.
Number of direct reports and approximate size of your company.
Amount of time in current position.
Describe your background and career experiences.
2. Role related questions
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Describe your role and responsibilities as a leader or manager.
Describe how and why you assumed this leader or manager role.
What do you like most – and least – about being a leader or manager? Why?
What do you think it takes to be a successful leader or manager? Why?
Do you have a “role” model? Can you describe why they are a role model?
3. Engineering career questions
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Why did you become an engineer and what do you like most – and least – about engineering?
What do you think makes someone an “outstanding engineer” and/or an “engineering leader”?
What advice do you have for an undergraduate in choosing their first engineering role?
What advice do you have about planning a career in, or around, engineering?
4. Questions about skills
Of the following areas, which do you think are the most important parts of being a leader or
manager? Choose one or two areas and please explain why you chose this topic.
o Knowing oneself in the areas personal values, learning, and dealing with change.
o Dealing with ethical issues.
o Managing personal stress.
o Solving problems and making decisions.
o Coaching others to develop their skills and abilities.
o Counseling others through motivational or emotional problems.
o Gaining and using power.
o Motivating and rewarding people.
o Disciplining and punishing people.
o Dealing with conflict.
o Negotiating.
o Empowering others to make their own decisions.
o Managing and working in teams.
o Leading people and changing organizations.
Of the following areas, which do you think are the most difficult or challenging parts of being a leader
or manager? Choose one or two areas and please explain why you chose this topic.
o Knowing oneself in the areas personal values, learning, and dealing with change.
o Dealing with ethical issues.
o Managing personal stress.
o Solving problems and making decisions.
o Coaching others to develop their skills and abilities.
o Counseling others through emotional problems and challenges.
o Gaining and using power.
o Motivating and rewarding people.
o Disciplining and punishing people.
o Dealing with conflict.
o Negotiating.
o Empowering others to make their own decisions.
o Managing and working in teams.
o Leading people and changing organizations.
Related to your answers above,
o can you share any instructive “stories” about a successes or failures in these areas?
o How can someone learn to become more skillful in these areas?
Any final advice or suggestions?