Management research methods for engineering managers - A progress report on an experimental graduate course

As part of a graduate program in engineering administration, a class of 16 experienced engineering managers were offered a course in methods used by academic researchers to study the research and development process. The academic researcher's development of propositions which he then tests through field study or experiment was presented as a method analogous to the design and testing process which the engineer uses for solving technical problems. Each engineering manager selected a management problem which he was concerned with, developed his propositions, and tested them under laboratory conditions. The class was able to use this method in evaluating management problems and proposed solutions, but, as of the time of this report, no field testing has been accomplished.