Someone commented on a recent post indicating they felt that we as IEs don’t do enough to help others.
I completely agree!
But just who are “those people” who don’t do enough? It’s you and me.
Sure, there are a thousand very good reasons why you can’t get involved:
• I’m too busy with work.
• I have family commitments.
• I can’t make a difference.
• I don’t know how to get involved.
• There is nothing in it for me.
But I feel that is our responsibility to give back – even if no one is looking. Industrial Engineers have unique capabilities to contribute. There are many ways that we can each make a difference with even a small time commitment.
Here are just a few:
Community group support – The Pittsburgh IIE chapter solicits the community to discover needs and then solicits volunteers to help meet those needs. Some recent projects that I am familiar with are helping to improve the logistics of a Pittsburgh arts festival, and helping to improve operations and resources use for Habitat for Humanity. Many organizations have such opportunities if you take the effort to ask.
Education - Ask your local school if you can come in and talk to a class about what you do. Most teachers would love such involvement. You can give the kids some career ideas and some encouragement to study hard and take those “tough courses” needed for engineering. Want a bit more involvement? Contact your local Junior Achievement chapter.
Engineer’s Week – There are hundreds of organizations that sponsor events for Engineer’s Week (in February). Again, here in Pittsburgh a couple dozen societies are participating in exhibits and activities at a major science museum to help attract their attention and interest in engineering. These are typically staffed by volunteers like you.
Community Group Management – Join a steering council or board of directors for a community group. For the same reasons that Industrial Engineer’s are highly represented among corporate upper management, they have a lot to contribute to guiding community groups. United Way is one place to go to identify organizations in need.
There are lots more opportunities if you look. And I think you will find that participation brings unexpected rewards.
Dave Sturrock
VP Products – Simio LLC
While one could also argue that IEs are not a minority in “not doing enough to help others.” Everyone of us regardless of our profession could probably do more to help others. However, IEs are gifted with the ability of seeing thing from a different perspective and always asking if there is a better way to do something. Furthermore, IEs typically have very good organizational skills. When it comes to helping others, IEs posses the skills or gifts which could greatly benefit others, especially when organizing or planning events. It all comes down to priorities and how much helping others is valued in our list of priritites. Regardless of the profession, don’t we owe it to one another to utilize our skills that each of us has been blessed with to help each other?
I agree completely, pms22. We all, regardless of our background, should understand the importance of helping our community. However, the original argument could be said about any professional career. Accountants do not do enough to help others. Not that I mean to pick on accountants, but that is the flaw of the argument. It is an individually-based decision to get involved. Some IEs have the people skills and outgoing personalities that drive a desire to participate in community activities. Other IEs would prefer to sit and do quiet research. The same would apply to any other profession. One could also make the argument that doing your job as an engineer is helping people. We, as IEs, are trying to improve the world around us…as well as the world around everyone else.