Engineering technology students: Their role in the global economy

Abstract

The percentage of United States employment in the manufacturing sector has been slowly deteriorating over the recent decades. Additionally, the GDP/capita ratio in the United States is not growing at the rate of other countries. This continuing trend does not bode well for the future domestic economy or future opportunities for technology students. An increase of entrepreneurial activities is one possible solution to the reversal of this trend. Technology students need to become more versed in the use of Design for Six Sigma techniques used to develop new innovative ideas in addition to the use of non traditional technology areas such as lead user methodology. Development of classroom techniques and programs where these fundamentals are transferred is of the utmost importance to future opportunities for the current technology student in the future global economy. Educational goals include providing the students with the fundamental skills to make decisions in the role of the financial manager using financial statements. Additionally, students will be exposed to differing management philosophies within the global economy. For example a recent survey of 378 managers from five countries provided the following results when asked "Whose Company is it?" The % respondents answering ("The Shareholders"/"The Stakeholders") for each country are listed as follows: Japan (3%/97%), Germany (17%/83%), France (22%/78%), United Kingdom (71%/29%), and the United States (76%/24%). The same managers were asked the question, "Which is important, jobs or paying dividends?" The respondents answering ("jobs"/"dividends") were as follows: Japan (3%/97%), Germany (40%/60%), France (41%/59%), United Kingdom (89%/11%), and the United States (89%/11%). The importance of student understanding of these differing global perspectives will allow them to be more effective in their development of innovative products to compete in the global economy. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2006.