techinques in training/mentoring 7

[Denob]

I am starting research on a report and powerpoint presentation. The topic is going to be about the proper way of training/teaching novice engineers. Basically, there's been a problem at my work place when it comes to training, or lack thereof, new engineers. Project managers are giving projects to new engineers without any type of mentoring. They give the engineer a "go-by" and expect the project to be done correctly and within budget. Problem is, these engineers have to teach themselves new concepts and invariably eat up the budget doing so.

Are there good resources out there on this topic? Any comments or advice? For example,Step 1: Teach the "big picture" of what this project is about. Step 2: Explain more specific concepts and go through some sample calculations....etc., etc.

Thank you!

 

[epoisses]

The most important thing to learn is to know WHEN you don't know something. Rookie mistakes, hey in fact, even mistakes that very experienced people make, are often due to the fact they THINK they know something and then mess up. So if you start out, err on the safe side and ask as many questions as possible. This has an associated benefit because it challenges what everybody takes for granted which is the only way to achieve breakthrough improvements.

 

[HgTX]

Oh, yeah.

My first boss keeps a taped-together stack of Charpy V-notch impact test specimens on his desk. We were fellow graduate students before I was hired by him (he was doing his degree while working here), and I was "helping". I did the whole batch of 20 specimens wrong because it didn't occur to me that it mattered which side the notch went on. My advisor bawled me out for not asking, but it hadn't even occurred to me that there was a question to be asked.

My then-future-now-ex boss kept the specimens at the time because he thought maybe he'd test them some other time to see if it really made a difference, but they've since evolved into a paperweight. Their main function, though, is Hg Humility Device. Every time I went into his office when I worked for him, and every time I visit him now (and every time someone asks him what they are and he tells them to go ask me), I am reminded of how important it is to know when I don't know something, to be aware of when I'm making an unjustified guess.

He was the best boss ever.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

As the old saying goes;

"It is better to ask a stupid question, than to make a stupid mistake"


Helpful SW websites faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091
faq559-1177