Engineering M anagement International, 2 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCB (1984) 33- 47 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam -Printed in The Netherlands 33 zyxwvutsr ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AS AIDS IN MOVING FROM TECHNICAL SPECIALTY TO TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT Dundar F. Kocaoglu Engineering M anagement Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 (U.S.A.) ABSTRACT Engineers are making the transition from technical specialty to technical management very early in their careers. This transition is gaining an ever increasing importance as the rapidly changing technologies, the severe resource constraints and the strong pressures for high productivity bring zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA engineering and the management of engineering into a sharply focused limelight. As engineers prepare for this transition, they feel the need for a special type of training to provide them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes for their new roles. En- gineering education gives them the tools, techniques and concepts for rational decision making in their technical specialties, but does not prepare them to extend their training into the management area. To bridge this gap, universities are now offering formal educational programs designed for engineers and scientists moving into technical manage- ment positions w hile maintaining their back- ground identity. These are rigorous programs blending mathematical approaches, behavioral considerations, organizational concepts and decision- making methodologies in a delicate balance. The strong demand for the Engineer- ing M anagement programs is evident in the rapid grow th pattern followed by these pro- grams. This growth has been particularly visible since the mid-l 970s and shows no sign of a slow-doivn. This paper is based on a study of the graduate programs in Engineering M anage- ment offered throughout the world. It is a comparative analysis of program characteris- tics, students, faculty and curricula. INTRODUCTION As a new, emerging discipline, Engineering Management has experienced an impressive, almost explosive growth pattern during the past few decades, The underlying reasons for this pattern can be identified at three levels: (1) At the national level, challenges to tech- nological leadership, resulting from scar- city of raw materials, declining produc- tivity and increased international com- petition, have shifted priorities toward the development of new technologies and the management of technological systems. (2) At the industry level, the assumption that “a manager is a manager is a manager” has met with strong challenges in the tech- nical environment. The critical impor- tance of engineering skill and knowledge is well recognized in the management of engineering systems. (3) At the individual level, engineers who