COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
George Washington University
EMSE 212 – The Management of Technical
Organizations
Professor: Gordon Gerson
Textbooks:Good to Great, J. Collins, Harper Books,
2001
Winning, J. Welch, HarperCollins, 2005
Course Description:
The practice of management as applied within technical organizations.
Includes history of the tradition and current effective practices, research
findings, and case studies, with objectives of enhanced understanding
of external and internal factors influencing organizational performance
and leadership requirements.
Reflection on Course:
This was a good introduction to big companies and big problems. The
case studies that we researched placed importance how we deal with corporate
issues and how the decisions shape the future of a company.
EMSE 283 – Systems Engineering
I
Professors: Christopher Miller, Sarah Sheard
Textbooks: Essentials of Project and Systems Engineering
Management, H. Eisner, Wiley, 2002
Course Description:
Systems approach to the architecting and engineering of large-scale
systems; elements of systems engineering; methods and standards; computer
tools that support systems and software engineering; trends and directions;
the integrative nature of systems engineering.
Reflection on Course:
This class was an excellent overview of the degree. It cover the top
level of near every element of project management and systems engineering.
Some of the topics are detailed to a greater depth in some of the future
classes, but the information presented give the student a great set
of tools to move forward with a career as a PM or SE. I still reference
this book at different parts of a project to make sure I don’t
make any common mistakes or forget any essential components.
EMSE 231 – Program and Project
Management
Professor: Jeffrey Beach
Textbooks:Essentials of Project and Systems Engineering
Management, H. Eisner, Wiley, 2003
Guide to Project Management: Body of Knowledge, PMI
Visualizing Project Management, K. Forsberg, Wiley, 2005
Course Description:
Problems in managing projects; project management as planning, organizing,
directing, and monitoring; project and corporate organizations; duties
and responsibilities; the project plan; schedule, cost, earned-value
and situation analysis; leadership; team building; conflict management;
meetings, presentations, and proposals.
Reflection on Course:
EMSE 269 – Elements of Problem Solving
and Decision Making for Managers
Professor: Erik Rasmussen
Textbook: Making Hard Decisions, T. Reilly, Duxbury,
2001
Course Description:
Problem formulation. Concepts and techniques used in analyzing complex
decision problems. Modeling decision problems using decision trees,
probability models, multi-objective models and utility theory.
Reflection on Course:
EMSE 284 – Systems Engineering
II
Professor: Dr. Tim Eveleigh
Textbook: Systems Engineering Handbook v2a, INCOSE,
2004
Systems Engineering Handbook v3, INCOSE, 2006
DoD Architecture Framework V1.0, Department of Defense, 2004
Course Description:
Specific applications of systems engineering tools and techniques; student
projects.
Reflection on Course:
EMSE 285 – Systems Analysis and
Management I
Professor: Dr. Tom Holzer
Textbook: The Reflective Practitioner, D. Schon, Basic
Books, 1983
Course Description:
he systems or holistic approach as a methodology for making decisions
and allocating resources. Analysis by means of objectives, alternatives,
models, criteria, and feedback.
Reflection on Course:
EMSE 260 – Survey of Finance and
Engineering Economics
Professor: Michael Duffey
Textbook: Engineering Economy, W. Sullivan, Pearson
Prentice Hall, 2006
Course Description:
Survey of material relevant to financial decision making for engineering
activity. Includes traditional engineering economy topics; fundamentals
of accounting; and financial planning, budgeting, and estimating applicable
to the management of technical organizations.
Reflection on Course: