Impact of a Construction Management Educational Intervention on the Expertise and Work Practice of Nonconstruction Engineers.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Impact of a Construction Management Educational Intervention on the Expertise and Work Practice of Nonconstruction Engineers.
Authors:	Grau, David¹ dgrau@eng.ua.edu, Back, W. Edward² eback@eng.ua.edu, Mejia-Aguilar, Guillermo³ maguillermo@crimson.ua.edu, Morris, Robert C.⁴ Morriss@mcabeeconstruction.com
Source:	Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education & Practice. Jan2012, Vol. 138 Issue 1, p73-85. 13p. 1 Diagram, 9 Charts, 2 Graphs.
Subject Terms:	*Engineering education, Engineers, Project management, Professional practice
Geographic Terms:	United States
Abstract:	This study investigated the influence of a construction management educational intervention on the expertise and work practice of nonconstruction engineers affiliated with a premiere U.S. engineering procurement and contractor (EPC) firm. In this experimental study, nonconstruction engineers with a supervisory role in the delivery of capital projects were instructed in three fundamental construction management subjects, i.e. front-end planning, contracts and project execution, and project completion and team dynamics. These subjects were independently instructed in a traditional classroom-style setting. To capture the sustained impact of the educational intervention, a self-assessment survey tool was designed and distributed to the instructed engineers 4 months after the intervention. The educational intervention resulted in a significant gain in construction expertise among the engineers. The intervention also induced positive changes in the work practice of the instructed engineers and of their organization, such as the development of solid intercommunication skills across engineering disciplines. Overall, the results of this study indicate a significant opportunity for transferring construction management principles and techniques to the engineers in the U.S. construction workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	This study investigated the influence of a construction management educational intervention on the expertise and work practice of nonconstruction engineers affiliated with a premiere U.S. engineering procurement and contractor (EPC) firm. In this experimental study, nonconstruction engineers with a supervisory role in the delivery of capital projects were instructed in three fundamental construction management subjects, i.e. front-end planning, contracts and project execution, and project completion and team dynamics. These subjects were independently instructed in a traditional classroom-style setting. To capture the sustained impact of the educational intervention, a self-assessment survey tool was designed and distributed to the instructed engineers 4 months after the intervention. The educational intervention resulted in a significant gain in construction expertise among the engineers. The intervention also induced positive changes in the work practice of the instructed engineers and of their organization, such as the development of solid intercommunication skills across engineering disciplines. Overall, the results of this study indicate a significant opportunity for transferring construction management principles and techniques to the engineers in the U.S. construction workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	10523928
DOI:	10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000088