The Importance of Soft Skills in Engineering and Engineering Education

Edoardo Rovida was born in Milan in 1941 and graduated in Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, in 1966. He is Full Professor of Design Methods and Technical Communication and worked in the Department of Mechanics at the same Politecnico di Milano. His scientific interests include design science (product development using methods as TRIZ, CREAX, Biomimetic¬¬ and product lifecycle management, using methods as Design for X and LCA), communication and soft skills in engineering (with reference to the industrial product, as instructions for use and maintenance, and to the Engineering Education), and the history of technology (criteria to manage collections of historical products, to be critically analyzed as possible source of innovative ideas useful in the modern design.He was member, for many years, of the Advisory Board of ICED (International Conference on Engineering Design), of TMCE (Tools and Methods of Competitive Engineering)and of UNI (Italian Standard Institution). Giulio Zafferri was born in Reggio Emilia (Italy) in 1940. Graduated at: Istituto Tecnico Carlo Cattaneo and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, in Economics; in Marketing and Communication at M.C.E (Management Center Europe, Bruxelles); at IMEDE (Institut pour l'Etude des Methodes de Direction de l'Entreprise (today IMD), International Management Development in Lausanne) of which is actually Alumnus, followed Master in Management Development. He worked as Managing Director in several national and international companies (POLISTIL Spa, MILTON BRADLEY Srl, POZZOLI Spa, AMBROMARK Srl). Became Senior Business Consultant with CEGOS Italy (Centre d'Etudes Gestionaires et Organization Societaire) and Senior Associate Consultant with MY LEARNING BOUTIQUE (MLB) Lausanne. He is the Founder of MASTERING MANAGEMENT Consultant, EXECO Consulting and OFFICINA DELLA CONOSCENZA Consulting in Milano. Professor of Applied Psycology at Cardinal Colombo University (UTE) Milano. Member of APCO (Associazione Professionale Italiana Consulenti di Organizzazione) and certified C.M.C. (Certified Management Consultant). He is also member of MSI (Marketing Science Institute, Academic Community-USA); Vice-President of BIOAGRICOOP, Bologna, partner of B Corporation (Sustainability); President of ORGANICITY Consortium of Companies-Bologna, selected to promote the nutritional concept of the Organic Mediterranean Diet (Food), Heritage of UNESCO.