Engineering driven companies which enjoy first-rate, engineering driven cultures can be recognised by looking out for 3 distinguishing features.
Before we dive into describing what these characteristics are, first we should elaborate as to what exactly constitutes an engineering driven company.
To identify companies driven by an engineering culture you must first look for those which differentiate on technology by checking for 3 key distinctive characteristics:
The engineering division is the largest department within the firm.
These businesses produce high-tech products designed to fix complex problems which require advanced software, analytics and data solutions.
Their products are often purchased by engineering clients who value their offerings highly.
An engineering driven company can boast it has a world-class engineering focused culture if it displays these 3 attributes:
Models and metrics propel the decision making process.
Usually the people who complete the work, make the decisions.
The decision making process is transparent.
Debate and discussion prior to reaching a decision is welcomed, but once the decision is locked in, all persons must commit to it despite their personal leanings.
While keeping safety front and centre in mind, optimisation and efficiency are strived for by replacing manual procedures and processes with sophisticated software solutions wherever the opportunity arises throughout the companies different departments.
The ‘proportional investment’ principal influences and guides the company’s allocation of resources and time. This principal entails that when a person needs to fix an unexpected problem, an equal amount of time is allotted to fix the problem permanently.
There is no hierarchy within the team.
Expertise is valued and is the basis upon which authority is acknowledged and granted, not titles.
The team retains ownership of the code, not individual team members.
Phenomenal performance by individual team members is recognised in public and rewarded well.