The management process is a key background for policy design and execution

What is it about?

Engineering professionals have long advocated including management content in undergraduate programs. However, the traditional business school approach--of sequencing loosely connected topics--fails to engage technically inclined students. The engineering approach helped design an undergraduate course from first principles. The course introduces management as a system. Its specifications integrate modeling with hands-on lab practice using an interactive workbench, and its structure presents topics within a continuous management process from an information feedback perspective. Pilot runs with students from different academic years and programs validated the course's applicability. A closed-form questionnaire confirmed strong student interest and engagement. Although the workbench required more consistent weekly effort compared to traditional exams, there was no decline in overall performance.

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Photo by Vlado Paunovic on Unsplash

Photo by Vlado Paunovic on Unsplash

Why is it important?

By training, engineers handle technical problems while managers handle social problems. This educational divide fosters an adversary mindset and hinders problem-solving. When facing setbacks, managers in technology companies more readily blame technological change rather than flawed organizational policies of their own making. Policies are decided, not designed, because no academic curriculum offers policy design and execution methods. This course represents a foundational step toward incorporating policy design and execution into engineering education.

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