Executive Technical Leadership - 595.781

This Capstone course explores the roles and responsibilities of technical executive leaders (VPs of Engineering, Manufacturing, CTO, CIO) in the context of a strategic framework. Topics relevant to technical executives are explored, from leading technical strategy development to tactical operations. The concepts in the course are reinforced using case studies, a team project, and fortified by interviews with practicing/retired technical executives who discuss practical career experiences. The format of this course is very different from other Engineering Management courses. Lectures are provided asynchronously online. Required weekly online seminar-type discussions guide the incremental development of a technical strategy, and include a mid-course team presentation. The semester ends with a Capstone presentation, and an executive roundtable discussion. Students will be evaluated on their application of the principles presented in the course, critical thinking applied to the issues posed in the case study, and teamwork as assessed by both the instructors and peer students. Course Note(s): In the Virtual Live format, weekly lectures are provided asynch online for students to view in adv of the weekly seminar sessions. The weekly seminar sessions are held at a predesignated day/time, with students/instructors joining live via web-conference using a personal device. The course also includes one Sat Capstone session in the Balt, MD area at the end of the semester. In-person participation with your team is encouraged. Students unable to attend in person will be able to participate online. The Sat session consists of student teams presenting their capstone technical strategic plan, issues, actions, and execution plans built around an evolving case study. A roundtable discussion will also be held where students have the opportunity to ask probing questions of visiting executives as part of the Capstone Day experience. This course is only offered in the Spr and Sum terms.

Course Prerequisite(s)

Prerequisite(s): EN.595.660 Planning and Managing Projects, EN.595.662 Technical Organization Management (or EN.595.661 Technical Group Management or EN.595.663 Technical Personnel Management), EN.595.676 Finance, Contracts, and Compliance for Technical Organizations (or EN.595.664 Project Planning and Control or EN.595.666 Financial and Contract Management), EN.595.665 Strategic Communications in Technical Organizations