Chicken, Cow, Grass

The world is not only getting flatter - - it is also developing a tilt to the East. Because of their economic power combined with their tremendous growth rate - - the world is shifting more toward Eastern thinking modes while developing an enlightened appreciation of Eastern culture. Engineers need to be aware of this, especially the thinking part, as we attempt to adapt to this changing environment.

Consider the simple example. The chicken, cow, and grass - - which of the three does not belong? A majority of Western respondents answer, grass. Chicken and cow are both forms of meat that we eat, while grass is not. Western thinking is logical, teleological, and seeks causal links and categories - - very similar to the way engineers are trained to think.

A majority of Asian respondents answer, chicken. Cow and grass form an ecosystem, as cows eat grass. Eastern thinking is holistic, systemic, and seeks relationships - - the attributes that one typically associates with thinking in terms of sustainability and complex systems.

Which way of thinking is needed? Both - - especially in a global economy. Engineers need both - - we need the logical skills that can link unrelated events in cause-and-effect chains. But perhaps even more important, engineers need the holistic skills that help them understand complex systems and how the various parts link together - - because global goods, labor, capital, and information markets form an intricate ecosystem whose interactions are complex and not easy to grasp.