At the 1995 American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) Annual
Conference held during September in Washington, D.C., Dr. Greg Sedrick,
ASEM Member and then professor (now Acting Dean) in the College of Engineering
Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, presented
an idea for using the Internet as a information resource and distribution
medium for what he referred to as a "virtual engineering management
(EM) handbook." This virtual EM handbook, once developed, was envisioned
to place a variety of EM "resources" at the ready disposal of
practicing engineering managers, engineering management researchers, policy
makers, and analysts. EM resources were to consist of information (principles,
best practices, 'how to' methodologies, lessons learned, etc.) and specialized
problem-solving software tools of interest to users.
Dr. Sedrick cited the following reasons for why ASEM should take the lead
in developing a virtual EM handbook:
(1) the need for a resource tailored to EM practitioners and other users
of EM information;
(2) to express ASEM's position in matters involving engineering management
and to achieve recognition as THE subject matter expert in the field of
engineering management;
(3) to further advance ASEM influence on policy and processes in the field
of engineering management; and
(4) to have control over handbook content and content evolution.
Although some members expressed their reservations about "taking on
a project of sizable magnitude," all agreed that a virtual EM Handbook
would be a worthy endeavor.
Also presented at the 1995 ASEM Annual Conference was the status of prior
work performed by some of Dr. Sedrick's graduate students at the University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Their collective output resulted in a preliminary
listing of potential EM handbook subjects that served as input for the virtual
EM Handbook Table of Contents.
Send your questions, comments, and suggestions on how WE can make the EM
Handbook YOUR MOST UTILIZED WEB SIGHT ON THE INTERNET!