To Be or Not to Be: Manager or Individual Contributor?

Abstract

Manager or individual contributor? That is the question faced by many human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) professionals after a few years of having embarked upon their careers in industry, or sometimes at the start of their careers. They are often ill equipped to understand the nuances of each role, the drivers for success, the challenges and frustrations, the opportunities, and most importantly, the people- and business aspects of each role. This panel consists of managers and individual contributors who will provide unique insights into the above areas and will appeal to many audiences. To the practitioner, it will provide real-world experiences that address the various business and professional skills needed for each role. To students and faculty, it highlights what needs to be learned, or be taught in our HF/E programs at school so that we may create well rounded, graduating HF/E professionals who are cognizant of the business demands of industry.