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“Bill Gates is an Engineer”
June 20th, 2011 by Simon HaddockLord Sugar, one of Britain’s highest profile businessmen has been blasted for his comment about Engineers failing to a make a mark in the business world.
The outspoken peer has sparked a wave of protests after he fired Apprentice contestant Glenn Ward saying ‘I have never yet come across an engineer who can turn his hands to business. His remark has triggered a backlash from the entrepreneurial community working within a sector which is struggling with its image.
Billionnaire vacuum magnate Sir James Dyson has come to the aid of the nations engineers saying the comments reflected a bias against engineering. He said: ‘I think it is a great pity because it is engineers that made Britain great.” but Lord Sugar has defended his comments ‘I was drawing on my experience, having dealt with thousands of engineers over the years. That said, I accept the odd example that has been outlined, although James Dyson has told me many times he is an inventor not an engineer.
It seems he has forgotten that many of the worlds wealthiest people started life as technicians and engineers. None more famous that Software Engineer and Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, one of the world’s richest businessmen. But it is just not him, you can’t forget Apple Founder Steve Jobs, Michael Dell and Facebooks Creator Mark Zuckerberg.
What are your thoughts about Lord Sugars comments? Is he right in suggesting UK Engineers can’t cut it in the world of business? We would love to hear from you.
Tags: Apprentice, Bill Gates, Dyson. James Dyson. Engineering, Engineer, Lord Sugar, Microsoft
August 5th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Well Lord Sugar’s engineering skills in the Amstrad Computer(Bacterian word meaning unreliable crap) are well documented. As Rushton wrote ” there is nothing in this world that a man cannot make a little shoddier and sell a bit cheaper, And those who consider price only, are this man’s legitmate prey”
August 6th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
In my experience it’s the engineering mindset that is the problem. Railway engineers tend to focus on mechanical business solutions that see a square peg fits a square hole and so use resources on ensuring that happens. Whereas a round peg will fit through the square hole to keeps the operation moving.
August 7th, 2011 at 7:37 am
I think that Lord Sugar’s comments may stem from my experience of engineers that they are great thinkers but dreadful communicators and managers.
August 8th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Lord Sugar’s comments seem typical, these days, of what are the ill-informed and reflect a stereo-typical British Business’ attitudes.
Since the UK’s decline from its international business supremacy; this attitude illustrates a pre-eminence and business focus on services & image:
1. Legality (and at worst adversarial contract practices); rather than collaborative working;
2. Accountancy (albeit merely aspects of ‘bean-counting’); and the worst aspects of Western business practice of ‘Short-term’ cash grabbing practises; rather than focusing on earned-value analysis and the drive for long-term returns;
3. Status; and the desire for titled people to run businesses: as opposed to the application of technology science and good engineering.
It is no wonder the UK got into its mess: step away from wealth-creating: industry and innovation; focusing only on money issues and margins, which alone inevitably lead to a demise.
Engineering: is a wealth creator, not a ‘service’ activity; Lord Sugar would be well advised to make sure that the wealth creativity leads, while services support.
I am surprised by his comment when he knows to the contrary.