How engineers can better collaborate with a business team

Although engineers may not spend much time in the business department (marketing, finance, human resources, etc.), it is important to know how to efficiently and effectively work with these professionals. Business is essential to engineering (and to any organization) because these departments help build interest, drives sales and increase customer and employee satisfaction. Before you head straight to your cubicle for the day, think about how you can increase office collaboration.

Know your value

Engineers are critical part to the growth and development of any organization. Although some may think that the revenue generating departments in a company have a more significant contribution to driving sales, this assumption is not necessarily true. Engineers keep a company up-to-date by installing new software and creating new programs that help maximize efficiency and better appeal to customers. One way to keep the company informed about how the engineering team is benefitting the organization is through weekly or monthly newsletters or email blasts. This way you can easily showcase your latest projects through simple programs like MailChimp or Zoho.

Take advice

One way to show your respect toward other departments within the organization is by taking advice. For example, a marketing team can offer valuable tips regarding the wants and needs of the customers. When the engineering team understands the needs of a customer, they can build better software to showcase the company’s products.

Increase collaboration

Cross-functional collaboration is important in any organization. In order to be able to collaborate and foster goodwill, engineers must understand the needs and goals of every team member within the organization. If you reach out to new people daily, you can make an effort to align other team’s goals, to meet the goals of the organization at large. Something as easy as asking someone to lunch or stopping by the business department for coffee could help increase your work happiness and overall productivity.

When you know how to better work with the business departments, you can help your company thrive as a whole! You can also share your new-found knowledge with other professionals in the engineering industry.