The ability to manage projects is a core competency for engineers and technologists.
While managing projects has always been an essential part of large-scale, civil engineering projects, it is increasingly required with smaller projects such as designing products, implementing new delivery systems or integrating technologies. For engineers, understanding project management practices allows them to enhance their performance, improve communications and increase their impact, no matter what size the task.
This nine-day course on project management for engineers, designed by the Lassonde School of Engineering and the Schulich Executive Education Centre at York University, is based on SEEC’s highly regarded Masters Certificate in Project Management, but designed specifically for engineers and technologists.
The tools and techniques shared in the course will help technology entrepreneurs, project managers, participants and technology leaders develop the knowledge and skills they need to ensure that small and large projects are delivered on time, on budget and in line with stakeholder expectations.
This joint Lassonde/SEEC program will expose participants to real-life challenges and issues involved in managing projects in an immersive and engaging experiential learning environment led by industry experts.
About This Program
The course is delivered in seven modules over nine days in live, instructor-led sessions in the virtual classroom. The course will be run over two months on Fridays and Saturdays. Each module is led by a different professional and highly-regarded instructor, who will bring their own unique experiences to the learning environment.
The course is designed as a structured learning journey based around the implementation of a project management plan and charter for a real hands-on project. The final assignment is the delivery of the final plan and reflective learning journal, which must be completed for participants to receive their certification. All sessions will be mixed format, including presentations, guest lectures, selected videos, group work and interactive question and answer sessions. The course will also involve a small amount of group or project work outside the regular schedule and the creation of a detailed project plan for a real-life active project you can apply at your own organization.
Delivered by experienced engineering project managers from a variety of industries
Traditional waterfall methodologies
Learning Agile
Material and examples directly relevant for engineers
Introduction to the challenges of managing projects in a technology environment, communicating projects to a broad range of stakeholders, and the increasing role of societal implications and ethical considerations in engineering projects and how to address them.
Planning, Scheduling and Control in Engineering Projects
Successful planning and implementation of both simple and complex technical projects
How to form a project team, scope projects and manage within a matrix environment
Developing a detailed and high-level project plan
Creating activity-based network diagrams and working with the critical path
The role of waterfall methodologies and the opportunities and challenges of agile
The different challenges facing short informal projects and large scale, multi-year complex projects
Introduction of the course project
1 day
The Human-Side of Project Management in an Engineering Environment
There are unique challenges to managing people in an engineering project, in many cases due to the nature of the project itself. We discuss teamwork, how to align team objectives, allocate responsibilities, and manage performance.
Define roles in the project and provide insights into how different individual creative problem styles can be harnessed to improve project outcomes
Communication and how the project management tools (especially online shared information) can enhance team performance and improve project outcomes
The challenges of change management for those involved in and affected by the implementation of a project.
1 day
Managing Risk in Engineering and Technical Projects
There are many risks in an engineering and technical project, that increase the complexity of the risks normally associated with traditional project management. This module will present:
Risk identification and analysis tools that can be used to mitigate technology
Implementation, operational, supply chain and financial risks
Developing risk mitigation strategies, and contingency planning
Development of a project risk management framework
Informal and formal risk response planning and embedding risk management into the project plan
The importance of monitoring for risk
2 days
The Complex Role of Project Management
This module will embed multiple facets of the challenges of engineering project management, and include several guests who will share their experiences, and answer specific participant questions.
The project life-cycle in engineering
The increasing role of project management in the workplace
Participants will be able to choose two options relevant to them:
A half-day session where the focus is on project management in new product development, design thinking and iterating the stages of product development
The role of project management in innovation, especially when introducing new technologies into an organization, and focus attention on user acceptance and communication.
Ethical issues in the development and deployment of new technologies, project implementation, and issues such as inclusivity, sustainability and equity
1 day
Our Project Environment and Implementing Your Projects
This module will both invite guests to share real life case studies, and lessons learned. It will both give participants the opportunities to share their own projects, and get feedback from both experts and participants, and allow us to discuss the challenges of implementation, especially in their current environment. The final class will focus on how project managers get work done, in both formal and informal teams.
