Applying Engineering Principles in Business: The Pros, Cons, and the Need for Diverse Leadership

My inspiration behind this blog was recently listening to an audiobook recommendation "The Brompton: Engineering for Change" by Will Butler-Adams and Dan Davies. Will Butler-Adams story of the Brompton bike and the company behind the foldable, carriable "commuter" bicycle highlights the importance of exploring how engineering principles can be both beneficial and limiting when applied to Organisational Design and Business Growth.

There's a lot to take away from the book, and below I'll cover the key points that resonated with me. It would be interesting to hear your take or experience in building and growing a business and if you have read or listened to The Brompton story and what resonated with you.

The Pros of Applying Engineering Principles

We should all know that applying engineering principles into business can emphasise efficiency gains through process and manufacturing optimisation programmes i.e. Process Mapping, Value Streaming, introducing Lean, Six Sigma etc.) These practices and models will streamline processes and reduce waste within an organisation.

And that Engineers are conditioned and experienced to solve complex problems, and that Engineers love a break-fix Problem-Solving approach, which can sometimes lead to innovative solutions in business.

Also, that Engineers traditionally rely on gathering lots of data and reviewing through analytics prior to making decisions.

The Cons and Limitations – (Of solely applying Engineering Principles).

However, Engineers desire and emphasis on Technical Solutions sometimes can lead to an overemphasis on only looking for technical solutions, neglecting the human and cultural aspects of business (the soft, intangible stuff). So, whilst the data analysis helps inform the objective decision-making, and trailing different design concepts to find a new solutions, Engineers don't necessarily think about and consider, how the environment, the solution created is introduced into, will impact and change their employees or customers behaviours. These recipients to the new solution, will react to any small change, which will impact the business. (+/-)

Engineering approaches can be rigid, often stifling creativity, innovation and adaptability. No disrespect to Engineers but if a room full of engineers are tackling a problem, it can take a lot of time and typically there can be "paralysis by analysis" and no thinking outside the box.

Engineers like to be surrounded by Engineers. In "The Brompton: Engineering for Change," Will discusses when they decided to push for growth they struggled, and then had to bring in Marketing & Sales specialisms to help with the "fluffy stuff". Typically, in engineering led businesses often the organisation can't see beyond their own product design i.e. "The Brompton bike hinge mechanism". 

And when it comes to developing your people and growing them as the business develops, you'll need more than Engineering Principles. You will require to bring or source specialist Human Resource and People Development specialists.  

My call out to you;

Does your organisation really understand what the customer is buying and what value they obtain from owning or using your product or service?

Ensure you consider and understand the importance of building and obtaining a Diverse Leadership Team as your business grows. As Diverse leadership brings varied perspectives to the table, leading to more comprehensive, effective and enhanced decision-making.

A diverse boardroom fosters innovation by combining different viewpoints and experiences, I've experience this personally in previous senior leadership roles, (I worked for 2 global manufacturing Organisations for 26 years – they were both full to the brim with engineers). When we introduced diversity into the board room, this supported innovation and creativity and the businesses sales took off, we introduced new services to support our products, and we had the ability to adapt and change quickly due to market environments too.

Having a diverse team will better represent your customer base and will improve customer relations and brand loyalty, through better understanding of your customers from different perspectives.

Ultimately don't just change for change's sake or do anything radical - You will need a balanced approach that will leverage the strengths and Pro's of Engineering Principles while at the same time embracing diversity in leadership to drive sustainable business growth along with having the agility, ability and capability to adapt and change due to market conditions.

Some questions for you.

Have you recently reflected on your own organisational structure and who (person specification) sits in what position, in what role, and with what key responsibilities?

Is the right person on the right seat of the bus?

A quote I heard yesterday on the "Help to Grow Management" Module 7. Organisational Design.

"Organisations are perfectly designed for what results they are currently getting today!"

So, why not consider how you can incorporate diverse perspectives across your leadership team or introduce diversity by possible looking at Non - Exec. roles.

And rather than it being all about you, why not invite your team to share their thoughts and experiences regarding the power of obtaining diversity at your next SLT or board meeting.

As a caveat – if your business is full of creatives, chances are, you need to introduce structure, process and form to the business. So, why not bring in someone from an Engineering background!

Next Step.

If you feel your organisations Business Growth is stifled with "Group Think" and wish to explore the benefits of introducing diversity into the board room or senior leadership team (SLT) do just get in touch as happy to share my experience.

Author; Peter Fleming - 26th February 2025

Email; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Some Engineering Principles and examples

#SystemsThinking - Amazon uses advanced algorithms and data analytics to optimise its supply chain and logistics, ensuring fast and efficient delivery of products.

#Innovation - Tesla continuously pushes the boundaries of automotive technology with innovations in electric vehicles, battery technology, and autonomous driving

#Scalability - Google designs its infrastructure to handle massive amounts of data and user traffic, ensuring reliable and fast service across its platforms.

#Ergonomics - Apple places a strong emphasis on user-centric design, creating products that are intuitive and easy to use.

#Modularity – Apple also designs its products with modular components, allowing for easier repairs and upgrades.

#LeanManufacturing - Toyota pioneered the lean manufacturing approach, focusing on eliminating waste and improving efficiency in its production processes.

#QualityControl – Toyota also implements rigorous quality control measures to ensure the reliability and safety of its vehicles.

#Data-DrivenDecisions - IBM leverages data analytics and artificial intelligence to inform strategic decisions and drive innovation.

#SystemsIntegration – IBM also ensures that its various technologies and services work together seamlessly to provide comprehensive solutions for its clients.