Childs & Gibson, Engineering Management Education – A Strategic Imperative? Proposals for Strategic Development of Engineering Management Education aimed at Improving Business Outcomes

Abstract: This paper points to perceived deficiencies in teaching management knowledge and skills to engineers. There has been a largely ad-hoc approach to the inclusion of management in engineering degrees that was not based on objective research. There is anecdotal evidence that employers and professional institutions are dissatisfied with the management abilities of new graduates and that this may be adversely affecting the strategic competitiveness of engineering organisations. A literature review of teaching management to engineers is presented and research is proposed that will objectively evaluate the effectiveness of current engineering management education teaching strategies with a view to recommending more effective methods for the future.