A Guide to Success for Technical Managers - by Elizabeth Treher & David Piltz & Steven Jacobs Hardcover

Book Synopsis

Supervisory Skills for the Technical Manager: A Guide to Success focuses exclusively on the dynamics of being a technical manager such as a scientist, programmer, or engineer. An R&D environment demands modified management techniques and this book explores how to do so.

Drawing of years of experience to provide technical managers with various tools and ways to apply them in supervisory situation, this essential title includes exercises, templates and checklists to accelerate their uses and applications on the job. In addition, case studies are included throughout to thoroughly explain and explore the concepts discussed.

Key topics include handing the transition to supervising others in research and development, the characteristics needed to motivate personnel in a R&D environment as compared to other areas of business are detailed. The pitfalls and challenges of managing technical personnel, how delegating can build an effective team that can produce superior results, and how to monitor the work of previously independent personnel are also discussed.

From the Back Cover

Master the skills needed for successfully managing technical personnel

Independent-minded professionals such as scientists, programmers, and engineers are the driving forces behind today's technical industry. Accustomed to working alone, these self-reliant individuals present unique management challenges for leaders supervising their efforts.

Written by authors drawing on many years of management experience in technical field, A Guide to Success for Technical Managers provides technical managers and supervisors with the leadership and management tools necessary for making informed decisions in supervisory situations. It includes self-awareness exercises, templates, and checklists to help accelerate job skills. Some of this book's highlights include:

• Ways to deal with the transition to supervising others in research and development

• Tips for improving listening skills, communicating better, and motivating employees

• Examination of the pitfalls and obstacles faced in managing technical personnel

• A selection of real-life examples, along with suggestions on how to solve them

• Examples of real-world outcomes based on decisions made by actual technical managers

• A 365-day leadership journal with daily tips to increase leadership effectiveness

By modifying conventional management techniques to fit the specific needs of technical managers and supervisors, A Guide to Success for Technical Managers offers a fresh perspective on fostering employee development in an industry where non-conventional strategies are most often the best practice.

About the Author

Elizabeth Treher, PhD, has held technical leader roles in industry, government, and academia and has more than seventy publications and patents, including two books: The Pharmaceutical Business and Strategic Partnering. For the last twenty years, as CEO of The Learning Key, she has consulted with technology-based companies to develop curricula to build managerial and project leadership skills.

David Piltz has over fifteen years' experience in training managers and supervisors, both technical and non-technical. David has developed and designed over seventy-five modules on communication, management and supervision, facilitation, and delegation. He has also worked with numerous managers and executives on increasing their supervisory effectiveness.

Steven Jacobs is a consultant to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. He trains and coaches international clinical development teams to avoid and mitigate cultural problems and delays due to communication and conflict, and has also helped companies improve clinical supplies team dynamics, process efficiencies, and overall delivery performance. His senior roles have included those of COO and CEO.