INSTRUCTOR: Howard Birnberg, J.D., Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE

Course Length:  90 minutes

Purpose and Background

Few university technical curriculum provide even rudimentary project management training. Necessary skills are typically learned on the job through seminars or from self-initiative. Engineers are frequently placed in the position of project manager with little formal training or guidance. Many designers have little ability or interest in the business side of engineering. Often, those who show even the slightest inclination toward management are pushed toward becoming project managers.

Who should be a project manager? How are they created? What characteristics are important? Few would dispute the fact that the best technicians often make the poorest project managers. The reason for this is obvious: most individuals with proven technical ability tend to focus strongly on the aspects of a project with greatest interest to them. With few exceptions, this focus works to the detriment of the broader project. It is a need that a manager must address. This webinar focuses on what it takes to be an effective project manager. It discusses on the characteristics and responsibilities of a dedicated project manager and provides insight into writing and public speaking skills.

Primary Discussion Topics

• Importance of effective communication skills for project managers
• Characteristics of a strong/effective project manager
• Responsibilities of a strong/effective project manager
• Factors determining how many project managers an organization needs
• Writing and public speaking skills

Learning Outcomes

• Determine what a project manager should be doing when managing jobs
• Improve project manager communications skills
• Recognize skills a project manager needs
• Develop improved writing and public speaking skills
• Recognize the various ways firms organize for project delivery

Webinar Benefits

• Examine individual project management skills set
• Learn what skills are important to develop
• Consider how a project management manual can help a firm
• Recognize the common characteristics of successful project managers
• Understand the benefits of a mentoring program for project managers
• Learn about the six most important steps in preparing and editing written manuals
• Overcome public speaking fears

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

• Intern engineers
• Young engineers
• Current project managers
• Firm owners/department heads
• Facilities managers

Webinar Outline

• Importance of communication skills for project managers
• Review of key management concepts
• The characteristics of strong/effective project managers
• The responsibilities of strong/effective project managers
• Factors determining how many project managers and organization needs
• Mentoring staff
• Preparing and editing written materials
• Public speaking suggestions
• Project management manuals