Professionals expert thinking

The shift in focus of engineering training from the job site - whether a machine shop or a canal - to universities thus did not wholly remove the practical element from education, especially since the field maintained close ties with industry. The impetus to establish the field as the domain of white-collar professionals, however, meant that engineers integrated themselves into the industry as experts in abstract thinking who were loyal to management, not as tradesmen whose practical experience could invite identification with carpenters or machinists. 

Just because an employee is not an expert at something does not mean he or she does not have valuable ideas. And the expression of all ideas, whether by the professional or the amateur, needs to be encouraged. The trick in managing ideas is to make sure egos do not get wrapped up in the innovation process. Every idea has to be considered valuable, even if you really think it stinks. Remember, you are a prejudiced observer, and you do not want to discourage the creative process. You also need to be careful that the professional is not offended if the ideas of an amateur contradict his or her opinion. 

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