A look at a interview with John R. Tapia, a Civil Engineering Technology professor at New Mexico State University.
Interview
• What types of written documents do engineers produce?
There are three main written documents that are done by engineers. Those three documents are research proposals, journals, and journal articles done on research; as well as all the other writing done based on the type of engineer. All of these documents are based on facts and made for the reader to think logically. Being that the professor that I interviewed is a civil engineer, most of the writing that he did was writing for proposals, such as:
Request for Proposals (RFP): A RFP is used when the engineer thinks he/she knows what they want but need more information from the vendors. It will usually be followed by an RFQ or RFP.
Request for Information (RFI): A RFI is commonly used when the engineer knows what he/she wants, but needs information on how vendors would meet your requirements and how much it will cost.
Request for Quote (RFQ): A RFQ is used when the engineer knows they have a problem, but do not know how you want to solve the problem. This is the most formal of the “Request’s” and has strict rules for content, timeline and vendor responses.
• How much time do engineers spend communicating on and off the field?
After interviewing the professor, I realized just how important writing is in engineering. Most people think that engineers do not do that much writing, but on top of all the math and problem solving, there is a fair amount of writing that takes place. When asked how much time he spends on communication, the professor answered me saying about 25% to 30% of his day was spent writing and communicating. That is a very large part of the day.
• Content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents.
The content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents vary depending on what type of document is being written. Different engineers use different formats to express and show their information. The main format engineer’s use is stating the problem, approach towards problem, solution, and final answer.
• What types of audiences do engineers communicate with?
Regardless of the type of engineer, engineers communicate and write their problems, solutions, and ideas. Engineers do this writing and communication individually, as well as with a group. When asked what type of the communication he did while on the job, the professor told me that he would communicate with whoever was involved with the job he was doing at the time. Of course the type of communication varies, with the various types of jobs. He would communicate with the state, city, owners, contractors, architects, and other engineer.
* One thing that I found really interesting during the interview was when he told me that you do not only have to know how to communicate with people, but with the working plans of the job your are doing. He said you have to be able to interact, and understand the working plans, because without being able to “communicate” with them, it is impossible to do a job correctly.
• Content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents.
The content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents vary depending on what type of document is being written. Different engineers use different formats to express and show their information. The main format engineer’s use is stating the problem, approach towards problem, solution, and final answer.
What communication channels and strategies are used by
Professional Engineers?
Many people think engineers do not have to write emails and letters, but it is actually a big part of the job. When asked what ways of communication he used, he told me the main way of communication that he used when needing to communicate on and off the field was through memos, letters, and emails.
• What strategies do engineers use when trying to access and search
for information?
When in need of information, most people will just look it up on the internet; however when out in the field, engineers do not have time to stop and look for information on internet. I found this interesting because my first thought was that would have been one of the main ways they find out information. When asked how he accessed information, he responded telling me the main way he accessed and searched for information, was through reference books, reference journals, and relying on previous experiences.
Interview
• What types of written documents do engineers produce?
There are three main written documents that are done by engineers. Those three documents are research proposals, journals, and journal articles done on research; as well as all the other writing done based on the type of engineer. All of these documents are based on facts and made for the reader to think logically. Being that the professor that I interviewed is a civil engineer, most of the writing that he did was writing for proposals, such as:
Request for Proposals (RFP): A RFP is used when the engineer thinks he/she knows what they want but need more information from the vendors. It will usually be followed by an RFQ or RFP.
Request for Information (RFI): A RFI is commonly used when the engineer knows what he/she wants, but needs information on how vendors would meet your requirements and how much it will cost.
Request for Quote (RFQ): A RFQ is used when the engineer knows they have a problem, but do not know how you want to solve the problem. This is the most formal of the “Request’s” and has strict rules for content, timeline and vendor responses.
• How much time do engineers spend communicating on and off the field?
After interviewing the professor, I realized just how important writing is in engineering. Most people think that engineers do not do that much writing, but on top of all the math and problem solving, there is a fair amount of writing that takes place. When asked how much time he spends on communication, the professor answered me saying about 25% to 30% of his day was spent writing and communicating. That is a very large part of the day.
• Content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents.
The content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents vary depending on what type of document is being written. Different engineers use different formats to express and show their information. The main format engineer’s use is stating the problem, approach towards problem, solution, and final answer.
• What types of audiences do engineers communicate with?
Regardless of the type of engineer, engineers communicate and write their problems, solutions, and ideas. Engineers do this writing and communication individually, as well as with a group. When asked what type of the communication he did while on the job, the professor told me that he would communicate with whoever was involved with the job he was doing at the time. Of course the type of communication varies, with the various types of jobs. He would communicate with the state, city, owners, contractors, architects, and other engineer.
* One thing that I found really interesting during the interview was when he told me that you do not only have to know how to communicate with people, but with the working plans of the job your are doing. He said you have to be able to interact, and understand the working plans, because without being able to “communicate” with them, it is impossible to do a job correctly.
• Content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents.
The content, organization, format, and style of engineering documents vary depending on what type of document is being written. Different engineers use different formats to express and show their information. The main format engineer’s use is stating the problem, approach towards problem, solution, and final answer.
What communication channels and strategies are used by
Professional Engineers?
Many people think engineers do not have to write emails and letters, but it is actually a big part of the job. When asked what ways of communication he used, he told me the main way of communication that he used when needing to communicate on and off the field was through memos, letters, and emails.
• What strategies do engineers use when trying to access and search
for information?
When in need of information, most people will just look it up on the internet; however when out in the field, engineers do not have time to stop and look for information on internet. I found this interesting because my first thought was that would have been one of the main ways they find out information. When asked how he accessed information, he responded telling me the main way he accessed and searched for information, was through reference books, reference journals, and relying on previous experiences.
Example of Engineering Document with Analysis
An engineer has 3 main types of documents, those are research proposals, journals, and journal articles done on research. Documents usually go through revising, and are reviewed by a team of engineers. The information within them is most of the time not pulled from only one source, but from many. Below is an example of an engineering document.
String Theory - The Physics of String-Bending and Other Electric Guitar Techniques
Here is a Rhetorical Analysis of the engineering document given above. The point of a Rhetorical Analysis is to be able to read and understand the material within the document better. It helps break down the material, so the reader can comprehend what is being discussed better.
String Theory - The Physics of String-Bending and Other Electric Guitar Techniques
Here is a Rhetorical Analysis of the engineering document given above. The point of a Rhetorical Analysis is to be able to read and understand the material within the document better. It helps break down the material, so the reader can comprehend what is being discussed better.