E = T + M (Engineering = Technology + Management)

Your mathematics and logic are good. You have often been advised that you should become an engineer, perhaps a civil, mechanical, electrical or some other type. You graduate and then get your first real job. In a team meeting on the first day, it hits you hard that your studies were not that holistic after all. The discussions bounce from key project issues such as the critical path, incentivising the staff in non-financial ways, capping the indemnity clause in the contract, the fixed and variable project construction costs, the strategic plan and the like. You do not understand what is being said and feel underprepared, and indeed you feel stressed. You enquired about this gap in your knowledge. You were advised that most of your studies related to the ‘technology’ part of the E = T + M equation.

Why do engineering schools focus mainly or entirely on the Technology (‘T’) part?

There is a very strong focus on the T part because, for example, the civil engineering student needs to understand how to build a bridge that does not collapse.

What about other T professions and occupations?

What you read above equally applies to other studies that require technical knowledge, including medicine, accounting, law construction, motor mechanics etc.

What should the engineering, law, medical, accounting etc schools now do?

Ideally, the course would contain sufficient management training to assist the new graduate. Unfortunately, many technical professions are so technical that they can barely even fit essential technical requirements into the allocated study time. Fortunately, many schools have realised that graduates need to understand the broader picture of how to manage projects. For example - this author teaches business law to university engineering students. However, probably the best way forward would be that the school recognises the equation and makes it clear to the student that the school will focus on the technical issues and will only provide a basic outline as to the managerial aspects. The school should also make it clear that the students should progress further by themselves and ways to do this - including the option of MBA studies.

Conclusion

The better way to handle this equation is for the school to focus on the technical aspects and clearly advise the students on what key management areas they can work on in the future and include some managerial studies in their formal studies so students will obtain a broad introduction to management. Remember, as not all students will proceed to further managerial studies, a broad understanding of key management issues should be provided before graduation.

Postscript

UBSS provides an MBA that can successfully add the M part to the equation.

Associate Professor Cyril Jankoff is Associate Program Director – Undergraduate and Associate Dean – Scholarship at UBSS.