Engineering in a Political World
Most traffic engineers are educated as Civil Engineers or have a similar background. We learn how to find the "correct" or "absolute" answer to problems and to solve problems by being very "efficient". However, our profession works and lives in the political world of elected officials making decisions about where, when and how to improve the transportation system. Many times political decisions are made that do not fit the "correct" or "absolute" answer.
There is a "new technology" for getting along with your elected body of officials, called "Political Engineering". This technology was developed by George C. Protopapas of the Univ. of California Technology Transfer Program. The ten commandments of political engineering are as follows:
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1 Establish a good relationship with your City Council: this is extremely important, because it helps to determine how successful you will be in many aspects of your job.
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2 Keep the Council informed about the operations of your department and any other matter that may be of interest to them:
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a. If there is an item of interest to an individual Board member, make sure that you brief him or her on it.
- b. The better you make a Council member look to his constituents by making him appear knowledgeable, the more he'll appreciate and respect you.
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3 Always make yourself available to each Council member, even if it means leaving a meeting to answer a phone call .
- 4 Fight as hard as you can to have the Council adopt your professional recommendation: If the action taken by the Council is contrary to your recommendations, implement it as energetically as if it were yours.
- 5 Never ask Council members what they want to do regarding an administrative or engineering matter:
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a. Go to them with your recommendation.
- b. Consider their comments, but let the final action be your decision.
- c. You never want Council members to get the impression that they are running your department.
- d. Their responsibility is making policy, not managing your department.
- 6 To the extent possible, have your Council adopt policies defining your responsibilities:
- a. This will discourage individual Council members from trying to have you do something that may be unethical or unprofessional.
- 7 When a Council member refers a complaint from a constituent to you, treat it with the utmost importance:
- a. If your department can solve the constituent's problem, consider letting the Council member pass on the good news to the constituent who complained.
- b. If you are unable to do anything regarding the complaint, let your department wear the "black hat" and respond for the Council member.
- 8 Do not show favouritism to individual Council members: Treat them all in the same manner.
- 9 When you receive compliments from the public, suggest that people pass on the compliment to the Council as a letter.
- 10. Never embarrass the Council or any of its members in public:
- a. If a Council member makes a mistake at a public meeting, do not correct them in public.
- b. Discuss the subject when you are alone.
- c. Always try to make your Council members look good in public.
Some of you may not be involved in Political Engineering, but as you progress in your career, you will find this a common problem, especially for government employees. Private sector employees will find that their political engineering may not be the same since they do not report to elected officials. But the dealings with managers and clients may be as frustrating and political.
I hope this information on a new technology is of help to you. I wish you success in your dealings with this subject and hope this information will assist you in your career.
(This report was compiled by Martin Bretherton of the ITE Georgia Section.)