Company A: A friendly place . . . but

This is the second article in a Spectrum series on engineering work environments and how they affect both bench-level and managing engineers. Four companies - manufacturers of semiconductors, computers, military equipment, and consumer products - are the focus of the study. All were guaranteed anonymity in exchange for freedom in interviewing and observing their employees at work. Though few concrete conclusions emerged from the study, the sampling of engineer reactions may offer useful ideas to other companies and should, at the least, foster healthy discussion among engineers. Spectrum's survey team was advised throughout its research by Douglas Carmichael, a psychologist in private practice, who previously had assisted in a study of corporate environments that was published as a book, The Gamesman (Simon & Schuster, New York, 1976).