Future Trends Influencing Technical Leaders and Technical Leadership

This paper summarizes the authors' reflections on global trends and key factors influencing systems engineering in the post-COVID era. The discussion builds upon INCOSE's Systems Engineering Vision 2035, as well as multiple virtual workshops and peer discussions conducted by the authors as part of their experience in INCOSE's Technical Leadership Institute (TLI). The authors focus on three key factors affecting technical leaders and their technical leadership role: 1) the heightened societal awareness of environmental concerns along with the associated demand for more environmentally friendly products, 2) the increasingly interconnected, multicultural, multigenerational work environment, and 3) the increasing capability of advanced digital tools, techniques, and processes. The authors' analysis acknowledges the need for technical leaders to think green, build an inclusive work environment, welcome differing viewpoints, avoid stereotyping, and expand their virtual tradecraft. Ultimately technology changes how technical leaders do their jobs, but not the job itself. Leaders must still set the vision and direction of the organization, communicate that vision to their stakeholders, and provide the resources and support that the team needs to achieve the vision. Emerging technologies offer leaders new and innovative means to do this in a more inviting and inclusive manner.