Engineering Leadership for Corporate Innovation

Catalog description

Traditional and contemporary leadership theory is analyzed to determine effective strategies for leading projects and innovation within an engineering context. This course focuses on concepts and theory related to the study of leadership in an engineering context. Traditional and contemporary leadership theory will be analyzed to determine effective strategies for leading technical projects and innovation. Based on current literature and research into effective engineering leadership, students will focus on understanding concepts related to: technical communication, optimization of engineering teams, and diffusion of innovation. Financial concepts and Lean Sigma practices will be assessed for effective engineering leadership decision-making. Specific topics addressed related to the engineering leadership concepts include leadership in organizations, communications in the workplace, customer focus in organizations, financial knowledge, workforce focus in organizations, and operational excellence. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: distinguish leadership theory relevant to an engineering context; recognize commonalities of leaders in successful organizations; explain concepts for how innovation is diffused throughout a corporate culture; define communication concepts relevant for leading change in a diverse technical environment; and recognize the ethical and social implications of engineering work in a global environment. The overall objective for this course is to provide theoretical understanding and practice of leadership and innovation in technical contexts within the global business environment.