Book Reviews from ENGINEER to MANAGER Rolls-Royce Mastering the Transition – Second Edition by B M Aucoin
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Book Reviews FROM ENGINEER TO MANAGER Rolls-Royce Mastering the Transition – Second edition By B M Aucoin Artech House, 16 Sussex Street, London SW1V 4RW, UK. 2018. xxvii; 384pp. Illustrated. £89. [20% discount available to RAeS members via www. artechhouse.com using RAE2020 promotion code]. ISBN 978-1-63081-543-1. Senior engineers have traditionally coached and mentored young engineers in the wider perspective that will enable them to develop their professionalism. This book, written in an easy, mentoring style of advice and encouragement, should be of great value to engineering professionals to better understand that wider picture in order to make better decisions in their Rolls-Royce own engineering role and help develop their management potential. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing engineers as they progress to leadership and management roles. Six fundamental principles are defined as ● Mastering Relationships – Business is about people, so there is a need to manage up, down and sideways ● Seeing the Big Picture – Redirect focus from narrow technical area to the financial health of the business ● Getting Things Done – Effective Project and Risk Management ● Communicating Effectively – Facilitating good communication with a simple and clear message ● Using Assets Wisely – Adding value and generating income ● Taking it to the Next Level the key determinant of success in engineering – Innovation and Excellence while using basic management” and “Meetings are almost universally management principles disliked, so offer a ready opportunity for both The author rightly asserts that the highest leadership and dramatic improvement.” priority of an engineering manager is the successful Some of the material is superficial, although management of relationships. that perhaps is only to be expected in an overview, Each chapter has three ‘takeaways’ that and the references and bibliography should help summarise its key elements to provide a valuable where further detail is wanted. The book does not focus for the topic. Chapters end with a list of The author always reflect up-to-date thinking. For example, risk references and selected bibliography covering rightly asserts is defined simply as a detrimental threat, whereas traditional sources and new ones. A comprehensive that the highest for some time now effective risk management contents list and index make it easy for quick considers risk as both threats and opportunities (eg reference. priority of an International Organization for Standardization ISO The author uses examples from his experience engineering 31000:2018 Risk Management). to illustrate points with assertions not always manager is In summary, a valuable resource for engineers to backed up by references, which might not suit a the successful help develop their professionalism. rigorous academic analysis. However, many of the assertions are worthy of consideration, such as management of Lee Balthazor “Effective and proactive communication is perhaps relationships CEng FRAeS 44 AEROSPACE ALL THE FACTORS OF VICTORY Naval History and Heritage Command Adm Joseph Mason Reeves His undoubted influence on carrier airpower was dominated by his engineering mentality and and the Origins of Carrier experience of the chaos of 19th century battleship Airpower engagement. His subsequent approach was based upon the realism of warfare, including the decisive By T Wildenberg combination of surprise; overwhelming weight of Naval Institute Press, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, effort; effective equipment; leadership; delegated MD 21402, USA. 2018. xii; 317pp. Illustrated. authority; and professional skills. His internal USN $29.95. ISBN 978-168247-299-6. battles included command and control of embarked aircraft and the balance between shore-based All the Factors of Victory and the Origins of Carrier tactical training and ship-based flying skills. Airpower is a thought-provoking biography on the He led the concept of embarking the maximum influential career of a US Naval Officer and the number of aircraft that ship size physically permitted, parallel formation of carrier airpower. deploying Air Group sizes of 70 aircraft in the 1920s Born in 1872, Reeves outlook was formed that continued to the modern USN. He also nurtured listening to family members that had fought in the naval aviator careers within a battleship-orientated cavalry in the American Civil War. Post Annapolis, Navy, plus encountering the first cultural differences his first notable Naval appointment was in 1898 between flyers and ship drivers that exist to this day. as an engineer on the battleship Oregon, including As an ex-Royal Navy pilot 70+ years after engagement and victory over three Spanish cruisers Adm Reeves, the enduring themes that he breaking out of a blockade in Santiago de Cuba. encountered and overcame to generate a war His subsequent career included: the first officer winning capability are obvious and familiar. An responsible for USN Gunnery standards, two excellent book describing a change of cultural and battleship commands and the first Flag Rank officer military history, through a determined, innovative and wearing a flying badge. His naval career ended in ground-breaking USN Officer. 1936 as Commander of the US Fleet. Tony Rae AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT NATS Economics, Regulation and book also introduces operational practices, across numerous examples, including the management and Governance organisation of the airspace, which is accessible to By M Arblaster the non-technical reader. Part One discusses the technical characteristics of ATM, its governance, and associated safety Elsevier, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, regulation. Part Two moves to the economics of Oxford OX5 1GB, UK. 2018. xx; 265pp. Illustrated. air traffic management and associated regulatory £98.95. ISBN 978-0-12-811118-5. mechanisms and principles. Part Three looks forward to the possibilities open for increasing This comprehensive book covers a good deal of competition (having earlier tackled trends in the challenging ground well in the fast-moving domain commercialisation, corporatisation and privatisation of air traffic management (ATM) in which relatively of service provision), unbundling, and some of the little has been published at this high level, yet evolving characteristics of the industry (such as the with detailed insights into, and comparisons of, fast-evolving topic of drone integration). the particularities of international practice. Having Key areas of appeal are likely to be the wider written myself on the subject, I am all too aware of international perspective, with frequent references the challenges associated with collating fragmented to Australia, Canada and New Zealand (for information across multiple sources and the work example), whereas many other comparative texts involved in marshalling diverse concepts and data focus on the US and Europe. The book also makes into a cohesive structure. frequent use of well-designed boxes and tables, The book discusses ATM from an international which are useful for quick reference. Several themes perspective, addressing mainly the economic and Andrew Cook – which are in fact addressed frequently through the regulatory contexts and governance of the industry. Professor of Air Traffic text – are not apparent from the index. Complex issues and trade-offs associated with the Management The references are extensive and this book will ownership and financing of the air navigation service University of Westminster, doubtless appeal to a wide readership – I will be providers is discussed in an informed manner. The London recommending it to our students. MARCH 2020 45 Book Reviews BRITISH SECRET PROJECTS 3 Fighters 1935-1950 Clockwise from top left: battlefield both on land and sea. The book shows An early Hawker Sea Fury the steady improvements made over these years, X, TF898, during sea trials By T Buttler aboard HMS Victorious. obviously spurred on by the pressures of war, until RAeS (NAL). the sudden jump in performance made possible with Crécy Publishing, 1a Ringway Trading Estate, de Havilland Hornet F1, the jet engine. Shawdowmoss Road, Manchester M22 5LH, PX217. RAeS (NAL). The volume highlights the essential role the UK. 2018. 224pp. Illustrated. £27.50. ISBN Hawker Sea Hawk I, WF144, Government played in the story of British military was an early production aviation during these years. The unfolding of 978-1-91080-917-4. aircraft used in trials. RAeS (NAL). every project is accompanied by its Air Ministry This is the second edition of the book first published Westland Wyvern S4, specification number and details. A feature that in 2004. Whereas the original version included VW884. Royal Air Force Museum. also comes out of the book is that from all the both fighters and bombers, this publication covers varied projects, most of which, from the presented fighters only. Much new material, the author claims, data certainly appear worthy of further promotion, has been uncovered and included in this latest the majority came to nothing. The old stalwarts the volume. As one progresses through the pages Hurricane and Spitfire dominated the early war this assertion becomes apparent by the profusion years and with their development, albeit with the of graphics, construction and performance data. Hurricane taking on new roles, roles for which it was This includes photos, line drawings, models and not originally planned, continued in front line service sketches. Throughout the 11 chapters and three up