Management of Engineering Projects

Organizing Technical
Activities
 Module V

Organizing Technical
Activities
Part I
• Explain the importance of organizing technical activities
• Understand how organizing function relates to using resources in
order to accomplish strategic goals
• Define the different types of organizational structures
• Describe how the organization provides for accountability through
authority and responsibility
What is Organizing?
• The structuring of resources and activities
to accomplish objectives in an efficient and
effective manner

• The arrangement or relationship of

positions within an organization is called
structure.
The Purpose of the Structure
The purpose of the structure defines the
following:
• The relationships between tasks and
authority;
• formal reporting relationships;
• groupings of individuals into departments
and departments into organization; and
• the system.
Concerns of the Engineer Manager
• Division of labor
• Delegation of authority
• Departmentation
• Span control
• Coordination
Formal Organization
• The structure that details lines of
responsibilities, authority and position
• Organizational chart
• Organizational manual
• Policy manuals
 Informal Organization
• Members of an organization who spontaneously form a
group of friendship as a principal reason for belonging
• Vulnerable to expediency, manipulation and
opportunism
 Types of Organizational Structure
1. Functional Organization
2. Product or Market Organization
3. Matrix Organization
 President

Vice President
Vice President Vice President Vice President
Human
Marketing Construction Finance
Resources

A Typical Functional Organization chart of a Construction Company

Functional Organization

• Advantages
• Permits economy
• Decision making is centralized
• Communication and coordination between
employees are excellent
• Promotes high quality technical problem
solving
Functional Organization

• The organization is provided with in depth

skill specialization and development.
• Employees are provided with career
progress within functional departments.
 Functional Organization
• Disadvantages
• Communication and coordination between the
departments are often poor.
• Decisions involving more than one department are often
delayed.
Functional Organization
• Difficult to identify which group is responsible for
certain problem.
• Limited organizational goals
• Limited general management training.
 Product or Market Organization
• Appropriate for a large corporation with many product
lines in several related industries.
Product or Market Organization

• Advantages
• Flexible and responsive to change
• Provides high concern for customer’s
needs.
• Provides excellent coordination across
functional departments.
 Product or Market Organization
• Easy pinpointing of responsibility for product problems.
• Emphasis on overall product and division goals.
• The opportunity for the development of general
management skills is provided.
Product or Market Organization
• Disadvantages
• High possibility of duplication or resources.
• Less technical depth and specialization in
divisions.
• Less top management control
• Competition for corporate resources
 END.
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 Activity

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REFERENCES
• https://www.betterteam.com/
• https://www.cprime.com/
• https://www.americasjobexchange.com/engineering-manager-job-description
• https://devops.com/how-to-become-a-great-engineering-manager/
• https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/blog/6-strengths-for-modern-engineering-managers/
• https://www.iedunote.com/
• https://ugcportal.com/raman-files/Developement-of-Management-Thoughts.pdf
• https://www.investopedia.com/
• https://www.business.com/articles/human-relations-management-theory-basics/
• https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/organization/what-are-the-important-steps-involved-in-
staffing-process-5-steps/8677
• https://upraise.io/blog/types-performance-appraisal/
• Management by Stephen P. Robbins & Mary Coulter
• Publisher: 2010 Pearson Education
• https://www.slideshare.net/NardiinObada/ch-5-social-responsibility-and-managerial-ethics