ENGINEERING

MANAGEMENT
THE FIELD OF ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 1
THE FIELD OF ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT
The Functions of the Engineer
The Engineer in Various Types of Organization Management Skills
Required at Various Levels
What is Engineering Management?
Management Defined
The Process of Management
Requirements for the Engineer Manager’s Job
How One May Become a Successful Engineer Manager
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ENGINEER
PROJECTS DEVELOPED BY ENGINEERS
 Stone bladded axe and irrigation system (crop growing) – 6000 to
3000 B.C.
 Pyramids of Egypt – 3000 to 600 B.C.
 Roadbuilding by the Romans – 600 B.C. to A.D. 400
 Paper production and gunpowder by the Chinese – 100 A.D. to
1600 A.D.
Production of steam engine and the spinning and weaving
machinery – 1601 A.D. to 1799 A.D.
Manufacture of cars and household appliances – modern times
PROBLEMS/CONCERNS:
 Production of more food for a fast growing population
 Elimination of air and water pollution
 Solid waste disposal and materials recycling
 The reduction of noise in various forms
 Supplying the increasing demand for energy
 Supplying the increasing demand for mobility
 Preventing and solving crimes
 Meeting the increasing demand for communication facilities
AREAS
 Research
 Design and Development
 Testing
 Manufacturing
 Construction
AREAS
Sales
 Consulting
 Government
 Teaching
 Management
THE ENGINEER IN VARIOUS TYPES OF
ORGANIZATION
 Level 1 – those with minimal
general
engineering jobs like retailing firms
 Level 2 – those with a moderate
degree of engineering jobs like Mgt skills
transportation companies required

 Level 3 – those with a high

degree of engineering jobs like specialized
construction firm
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

The Firm’s Quantity of Engineering Jobs

MANAGEMENT SKILLS REQUIRED AT
VARIOUS LEVELS
 Level 1 – slim chance of becoming the GM; head a
small engineering unit or firm.

 Level 2 – engineering division which will need for

management skills

 Level 3 – biggest opportunity to become Pres or GM.

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
DEFINED

Refers to activity combining “technical knowledge

with the ability to organize and coordinate worker
power, materials, machinery, and money.”
MANAGEMENT DEFINED

Management may be defined as the “creative problem

solving process of planning, organizing, leading and
controlling an organization’s resources to achieve it’s
mission and objectives.”
THE PROCESS OF MANAGEMENT

 Planning
 Organizing
 Leading
 Controlling
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENGINEER
MANAGER’S JOB
 Bachelor’s degree in engineering from a reputable
school, in same cases a master’s degree in engineering
or business management
 Few years experience in a pure engineering job
 Training in supervision
 Special training in engineering management
HOW ONE MAY BECOME A
SUCCESSFUL ENGINEER MANAGER
Kreitner indicates atleast three general preconditions for
achieving lasting success as a manager.
 Ability
 Motivation to manage
 Opportunity
ABILITY
Managerial ability refers to the capacity of an engineer
manager to achieve organizational objectives effectively
and efficiently.
Effectiveness – a description whether objectives are
accomplished
Efficiency – a description of the relative amount of
resources used in obtaining effectiveness.
MOTIVATION TO MANAGE
 Favorable attitude toward those in positions of authority, such as
superiors
 Desire to engage in games or sports competition with peers
 Desire to engage in occupational or work-related competition
with peers
 Desire to assert oneself and take charge
 Desire to exercise power and authority over others
 Desire to behave in a distinctive way, which includes standing out
from the crowd
 Sense of responsibility in carrying out the routine duties
OPPORTUNITY
REQUIREMENTS
 Obtaining a suitable managerial job, and
 Finding a supportive climate once on the job
SUMMARY
 Engineers are known for their great contributions to the
development of the world’s civilization
 There are many areas where their presence is necessary
 Contributing shares at various levels of organization
 Engineering activities need to be managed and engineers are
sometimes placed in a positions where they have to learn
management skills
 Management is concerned with P-O-L-C of organization’s
resources to achieve its objectives
 Qualifications required for engineer manager
 Conditions of ability, motivation and opportunity