Engineering Management: 3rd Edition

Author: Daniel L. Babcock
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Typically, young students of engineering and natural sciences, as well as technical professionals who have just entered the workforce, have little understanding of the environment and profession they are about to enter. However, the world is constantly changing. Competitive companies are undergoing "reengineering" by reducing the number of middle management layers, motivating and empowering employee teams to continuously improve quality and productivity, emphasizing customer satisfaction, and minimizing non-essential activities. The use of new methods and tools, such as concurrent engineering, strategic management of technology, activity-based costing, and total productive maintenance, is increasing. All of this requires engineers to have a clear picture of the application of management principles in their careers at an early stage. Engineering and Technology Management (3rd Edition) is one of the recognized authoritative textbooks for teaching management principles to engineers. The first chapter of this book discusses the integration of engineering programs, the art and science of management, and the synergy between the two. In the second chapter, the historical development of management is discussed from the perspective of an engineer. Chapters 3 to 8 cover the management functions of planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling. Unlike traditional management textbooks, this book provides a more concise introduction and emphasizes technical management. Chapters 9 to 13 apply these management fundamentals to the engineer's work environment, discussing research, design, production, and technical sales and service. Chapters 14 and 15 discuss how to apply management principles to project management, a common form of engineering practice. Chapters 16 to 18 consider the early career development of engineers—starting with the right foundation, maintaining technical competitiveness, considering a transition to management roles, the status of women and minorities in engineering fields, effective time management, and ethical codes of conduct. This book can be used as a textbook for students of engineering management and industrial engineering programs to study management. For technical professionals considering a transition to management roles, this book will be a valuable reference.