From the Back Cover
In times of internet-based businesses and the growing importance of platform economies, how can products and services be developed that inspire people? How are new ideas and technologies translated into high-quality products? Which development methods and organizational structures are promising? How do product engineers work together efficiently in an international development network? Leaders and developers will find answers to these questions in this book.
With their holistic approach, the authors focus on current challenges and changing leadership roles in the development of products and services. They present models and approaches designed by a team of experienced product engineering leaders. These models and approaches were discussed and refined in workshops with more than 4500 leaders of the Bosch Group worldwide.
The authors develop a leadership model that combines the skills required to solve technical problems with those required to lead people. The book starts with basic questions about the purpose of leadership, values, and strategic objectives of the organization. Then essential elements of leadership in systems engineering are presented, followed by success factors for innovation. Requirements engineering, architecture design and model-based development are emphasized to ensure that quality attributes are captured in the tasks of product engineering. These topics are complemented by strategies for mastering complexity, dealing with opportunities and threats, as well as shaping the work organization and cooperation. The structure of the book follows the logic of product development. However, each chapter can be read on its own, as it forms a self-contained unit.
The target groups
This book makes leadership tasks understandable for product engineers, regardless of hierarchy level or leadership role. It shows that technical leadership can be learned. It thus helps leaders to actively shape change in their own area of responsibility or to grow into a new role.
Dr.-Ing. Thomas Michl studied aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Munich and received his doctorate at the Institute of Aerodynamics and Gas Dynamics at the University of Stuttgart.He has many years of management experience in various management functions in the development of Robert Bosch GmbH and is a proven expert in Systems Engineering. Today, he heads the globally active "Bosch Product Engineering System Academy" and is himself a trainer and coach for specialists and executives.Dr.-Ing. Godehard Nentwig, studied aerospace engineering and business administration, advises development organizations, develops training programs and trains managers in specialist and management engineering topics. For more than 20 years, he has held various positions in research and product development in Germany and the USA. His professional spectrum covers various industries, from process engineering to aerospace engineering and the automotive and household appliance industries. His management experience ranges from working in start-ups to managing a development center in a large German company.Dr. rer. nat. Christine Deininger, studied physics at the University of Stuttgart and received her doctorate at the Max Planck Institute for Metal Research there. After a research stay at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, she joined Robert Bosch GmbH in 1995, where she held various specialist and management positions in product and manufacturing process development for 22 years. She is an expert in development quality and, as a systemic consultant, has extensive experience in specialist, management, and organizational development. Today she is the owner of the consulting firm ENGENCE-Engineering Excellence.
Dr. Michael Jantzer, studied "Technical Cybernetics" at the University of Stuttgart and "Industrial Science and Mechanics" at GeorgiaTech in Atlanta. He received his doctorate from the Institute for Control Technology of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Facilities at the University of Stuttgart. Jantzer has worked for Bosch for 27 years in various management roles in the Industrial Equipment, Thermotechnology, and Safety Technology (Development, Manufacturing, and Management) divisions. For six years, he has been head of the "Coordination of Technology and Development Methodology" central office. In this function, he is responsible worldwide for the Bosch Product Engineering System, including innovation management and technology coordination. His central task is the design and implementation of continuing education programs for experts and managers in product development.
