The engineering-management synthesis: evidence from graduate programs in telecommunications

The engineering-management synthesis is examined using data for master-level programs anchored on a particular technological infrastructure. Content analysis of objectives and course descriptions of 24 master-level programs in telecommunications and a three-dimensional classification schema led to the identification of six salient configurations of the engineering-management synthesis. These configurations differ in terms of their relative emphasis between engineering and management disciplines and their breakdown into nine constituent elements. It is shown that the four syntheses best suited to address downstream activities include those configured to manage telecommunication facilities as critical corporate resources, strategy and policy issues relevant to end-user applications of telecommunication technologies, operations of communication departments of large-user organizations, and projects dealing with the integration of telecommunications technologies