MODULE 1 OVERVIEW

(CE 321 – Engineering

Management)
This module introduces the field of engineering
management, presenting the many areas and
INTRODUCTION TO organizations where the presence of engineer managers
are necessary for engineering activities. In this module
ENGINEERING the concepts of management and engineering
MANAGEMENT management are defined. Furthermore certain
qualifications required of an engineer manager are also
mentioned including the preconditions to become a
successful engineer manager.
Engr. Leo M. Sauro, D.M.
(+63)-9451136579
leomsauro@gmail.com LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should be able to understand the field of

engineering management including the concepts of
management and engineering management and to
appreciate its significance in achieving organizational
mission and objectives. The students should also
recognize the qualifications and preconditions to become
a successful engineer manager.

INTRODUCTION

Engineers are expected to perform a variety of

tasks depending on their specialization and job level. It is
important to the engineer that he knows what is expected
of him so that he may be able to perform his job
effectively and efficiently. Engineers are not trained to
directly deal with people hence it is expected that their
weakness will most often be on people-based skills. This
difficulty will be more apparent once they are assigned to
occupy management positions. It follows that if the
engineer manager would want to do his job well, some
exposure to engineering management activities becomes
necessary. And you my dear civil engineering students
must also be equipped with this skills.

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 LESSON 1: THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ENGINEER

Since prehistoric times, mankind has benefited from

the various tools, equipment and projects developed by
engineers. These contributions indicate that engineers
have become an indispensable segment of the world’s
profession. Specifically, the functions of engineering
encompass the following areas:

1. Research – where the engineer is engaged in the

process of learning about nature and codifying this
knowledge into usable theories.

2. Design and development – where the engineer

undertakes the activity of turning a product
concept to a finished physical item.

3. Testing – where the engineer works in a unit

where new products or parts are tested for
workability.

4. Manufacturing – where the engineer is directly in

charge of production personnel or assumes
responsibility for the product.

5. Construction – this is where the construction

engineer (a civil engineer) is either directly in
charge of the construction personnel or may have
responsibility for the quality of the construction
process.

6. Sales – where the engineer assist the company’s

customers to meet their needs especially those
that require technical expertise.

7. Consulting – where the engineer works as a

consultant of any individual or organization
requiring his services.

8. Government – where the engineer may find

employment in the government performing any of
the various tasks in regulating, monitoring and
controlling the activities of various institution public
or private.

9. Teaching – where the engineer gets employment

in a school and is assigned as a teacher of
engineering courses. Some of them later become
deans, vice-presidents, and presidents.

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 10. Management – where the engineer is assigned to
manage groups of people performing specific
tasks.

Lesson 2: Types of Organization and the

Management Skills Required of Engineers:

1. Level One Firm – The Engineer Manager maybe

assigned to head a small engineering unit of the
firm.
2. Level Two Firm – The Engineer Manager maybe
assigned to head an engineering division.
3. Level Three Firm – The Engineer Manager has the
opportunity to become the President or General
Manager. In this case he cannot function
effectively without adequate management skills.

Among the types of organizations, the engineer will

have a slim chance of becoming the general manager or
president of level one, unless of course, he owns the firm.
The engineer manager may be assigned to head a small
engineering unit of the firm, but there will not be too many
firms which will have this unit.
In level two firms, the engineer may be assigned to
head the engineering division. The need for management
skills will now be felt by the engineer manager.
Level three firms provide the biggest opportunity
for an engineer to become the president or general
manager. In this case the engineer manager cannot
function effectively without adequate management skills.

Lesson 3: Engineering Management Defined

Engineering management refers to the activity

combining “technical knowledge with the ability to
organize and coordinate worker power, materials,
machinery, and money.”

When the engineer is assigned to supervise the

work of even a few people, he is already engaged in the
first phase of engineering management. His main
responsibility is to lead his group into producing a certain
output consistent with the required specifications.

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 As the Engineer Manager scales the management
ladder, he finds that the higher he goes up, the less
technical activities he performs, and the more
management task he accepts. In this case, it is but proper
that the management functions taught in pure
management courses be well understood by the engineer
manager.

Lesson 4: Management Defined

Management maybe defined as the “creative problem

solving-process of planning, organizing, leading, and
controlling an organization’s resources to achieve its
mission and objectives.”

Explained in a simple manner, management must:

 seek to find out the objectives of the organization,

 think of ways on how to achieve them,
 decide on the ways to be adapted and the material
resources to be used,
 determine the human requirements of the total job,
 assign specific tasks to specific persons,
 motivate them, and
 provide means to make sure that the activities are
in the right direction.

The specific activities in the management process will be

discussed more thoroughly in the succeeding modules.

Lesson 5: Requirements for the Engineer Manager’s

Job

Depending on the type of products or services a firm

produces, the engineer manager must have the following
qualifications;

 A bachelor’s degree in engineering from a

reputable school; In some cases a master’s
degree in engineering or business management is
required
 A few years experience in a pure engineering job
 Training in supervision
 Special training in engineering management

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 Lesson 7: How One may become a Successful
Engineer Manager

Three general preconditions for achieving lasting success

as a manager;
 Ability
 Motivation to manage, and
 Opportunity

Ability
Managerial ability refers to the capacity of an
engineer manager to achieve organizational objectives
effectively and efficiently.
Effectiveness according to Higgins, refers to a
description of “whether objectives are accomplished”,
while efficiency is a description of “the relative amount of
resources used in obtaining effectiveness.”

Motivation to manage
Many people have the desire to work and finish
specific tasks assigned by superiors, but not many are
motivated to manage other people so that they may
contribute to the realization of the organization’s
objectives.

Opportunity
Successful managers become possible only if
those having the ability and motivation are given the
opportunity to manage. The opportunity for successful
management has two requirements:
1. Obtaining a suitable managerial job, and
2. Finding a supportive climate once on the job.

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 ASSESSMENT – Activity 1

Submit a list of ten Filipino engineers who became

president or general manager of a large company or
institution.

ASSESSMENT – Activity 2

Civil engineer 1 was asked by his superiors to finish a

Dep Ed standard 2-classroom project within two months
and he finished the job within the required period. On the
other hand civil engineer 2 was also asked to finish the
same Dep Ed standard 2-classroom project and also
finished the project within the required period of two
months but with a little less inputs (labor and materials)
than civil engineer 1.

From the preceding situation, tell if each of the following

statements is true or false.

1. Civil engineer 1 is effective in his given task.

2. Civil engineer 1 is efficient in his given task.
3. Civil engineer 1 is both effective and efficient in his
given task.
4. Civil engineer 2 is effective in his given task.
5. Civil engineer 2 is efficient in his given task.
6. Civil engineer 2 is both effective and efficient in his
given task.
7. Civil engineer 1 and civil engineer 2 are both
effective in their given task.
8. Civil engineer 1 and civil engineer 2 are both
efficient in their given task.
9. Civil engineer 1 is effective but not efficient in his
given task.

ASSESSMENT – Activity 3

In your curriculum now, you are required to finish this

three-unit course in Engineering Management before you
will be allowed to graduate. In your own opinion and
projection, WHY?

Note:
Use A4 size bond paper for your answer sheets. Submit your
Student Activity/Assessment (hardcopy and handwritten) to
Engr. Leo M. Sauro @ 274 Hillside Drive UEP Zone III/College
of Engineering Faculty Room or thru the UEP municipal link or
any mode that will be deemed safe for you and me, on or
before May 6, 2021.

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 FEEDBACK

Are you now enlightened my dear student in the

field of engineering management? I hope that the
preceding discussions provide you with understanding
with an eye-opener to the various challenges confronting
the engineer manager in dealing with people and
situations together with his decision-making
responsibility. The succeeding modules will provide you
with more understanding as we move to the different
functions of management.

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 like
research, design and development, testing,
manufacturing, construction, sales, consulting,
government, teaching, and management.
Engineers maybe found contributing their share in
the various levels of organization.
Engineering activities need to be managed and
engineers are sometimes placed in positions where they
have to learn management skills.
Management is concerned with planning,
organizing, leading, and controlling an organization’s
resources to achieve its mission and objectives
There are certain qualifications required of the
engineer manager.
One may become a successful engineer manager
if the preconditions of ability, motivation to manage, and
opportunity to manage are met.

SUGGESTED READINGS

https://www.noodle.com/articles/how-to-become-an-
engineering-manager-ready-to-flex-your-eq

https:/www.builtinnyc.com/2020/03/12/day-life-
engineering-managers?

REFERENCES

Medina, Roberto G.(2004). Engineering Management.

REX Book Store.

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