Preparing Engineers for Management

Abstract

At present many undergraduate programs in civil engineering do not include management courses, a situation that should be changed. The present methods of preparing engineering managers are discussed briefly, and recommendations made considering constraints of four-year programs and the probability that the BS will continue to be the entry level degree for civil engineers. After reviewing the characteristics of the engineering students and the requirements of an accredited program, methods of including management in the preparation of engineers in the present bachelors engineering programs are presented. An undergraduate engineering program should orient the students to the full range of activities that the practicing engineer performs so that the role of management is understood in the context of an engineering career, after which the concepts of management can be better absorbed. The preparation of the engineering manager can not be limited to the undergraduate classroom. Some formal training in management should be provided for graduates and practicing engineers, as they may not have had the opportunity or inclination to acquire all the necessary management information previously.