Creativity, learning & knowledge management
Reflecting on the theme of this conference "Smart Solutions - Doing more with less" inspires thoughts of innovative approaches, creative strategy, greater efficiency and better use of people and natural resources, less environmental impact. This address will discuss engineering developments in Queensland, and consider possible implications and associated opportunities for chemical engineering industries in finding smart solutions.
A focus of my term as Queensland President of Engineers Australia in 2002 and in other roles was to encourage engineers to have a greater voice in bringing a technical view to solving problems and in explaining our contribution to society. Most engineers I meet are passionate in their dedication to improving our world in some way. There are many examples of prominent engineers who accept opportunities to get involved in professional networks, take on the challenge of selling solutions to the boardroom and society, and encourage the development of our profession by encouraging students to enter it.
All engineers working within the chemical process industries are in a highly influential position, whether working up business cases for plant improvements, collaborating with marketing personnel to develop new products or business or optimising production processes. Many are making decisions everyday which have a direct influence over the profitability and strategic advantage of their businesses. However some do not think of their work as unusual or valuable or even creative.
It is my observation that the strategic value of the engineering approach taken within a company is often underestimated by both industry and also by the participating engineers. The "absorptive capacity" or ability to learn and integrate new knowledge is dependent on the culture of the organisation and the attention paid to developing the intellectual capital of the organisation.
Doing more may mean different things to a business - enhanced profitability, increased production, new products and industries, new markets, exporting products & services, completing more projects with the same available funds. With less may refer to - resources, people, risk, capital and operating costs, contamination / pollution. Smart Solutions may involve new ways of looking at old problems, increased collaboration and shared resources, incremental, radical or transformational innovation.