Exploring attitude towards skills and competencies across engineering career experience levels required for engineering leaders

Abstract

This study investigates the perception of skills and competencies required for engineering leadership roles across different career experience levels. In the engineering field, engineers are reluctant to transition into leadership or managerial positions, often due to a promotion system prioritising technical knowledge over leadership abilities. To address this issue, this research aims to understand the perceived importance of various skills and competencies among engineering leaders from diverse industries and engineer types. A quantitative approach was employed, utilising electronic surveys distributed to qualified tertiary-educated engineers representing various career experience levels and industry sectors. The survey collected responses from 85 participants across four career stages, where respondents ranked different skills and competencies using a Likert scale. The findings revealed that cognitive skills were ranked highest, while business skills were rated lowest among the surveyed engineering leaders. Overall, the mean perception of skills and competencies for engineering leaders displayed minimal variation across career experience levels, with only a few notable exceptions. These results suggest that while certain skills may vary in perceived importance, there is a general consensus on the essential competencies required for effective engineering leadership. This study contributes to the understanding of the evolving landscape of engineering leadership and highlights the importance of addressing skill gaps to facilitate the transition of engineers into leadership roles. By identifying key focus areas, organisations can better tailor training and development programs to nurture well-rounded engineering leaders capable of driving innovation and success in the engineering profession.