Conference Dates

January 12-16, 2003

Abstract

A typical engineering curriculum often leaves little time in a four-year program for a budding engineer to learn about the business aspects of the company he may join soon after graduation. The outcome of little business knowledge in the commercial application of technology by engineering graduates is a lack of understanding of the importance of their contribution to the company’s bottom line. For those engineers who value business knowledge for their future profession, the alternatives for business training have been to take regular MBA courses when possible or settle for short certificate programs in a business school. In this paper we offer a list of business training topics that would prove useful for those engineers who wish to align their work in technology with the financial goals of a company in the commercial sector. Further, these topics would well serve those engineers who aspire to become managers and perhaps go on to found companies of their own. The importance of receiving business training early in their career may prove useful in accelerating their promotion to management levels or to greater success as an entrepreneur. Suggestions are made how an engineering curriculum can be structured to allow such business training topics to be covered for the benefit of all engineering students and then for those select few who wish to combine business with technology in their careers.

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