Impact of a Construction Management Educational Intervention on the Expertise and Work Practice of Nonconstruction Engineers

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of a construction management educational intervention on the expertise and work practice of nonconstruction engineers affiliated with a premiere U.S. engineering procurement and contractor (EPC) firm. In this experimental study, nonconstruction engineers with a supervisory role in the delivery of capital projects were instructed in three fundamental construction management subjects, i.e. front-end planning, contracts and project execution, and project completion and team dynamics. These subjects were independently instructed in a traditional classroom-style setting. To capture the sustained impact of the educational intervention, a self-assessment survey tool was designed and distributed to the instructed engineers 4 months after the intervention. The educational intervention resulted in a significant gain in construction expertise among the engineers. The intervention also induced positive changes in the work practice of the instructed engineers and of their organiza...