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Individuals in engineering management need solid project budgets to establish cost and time parameters that help keep an engineering project heading in the right direction. After establishing these parameters, engineering managers can share them with stakeholders so all parties are in agreement. engineers have the expertise to design and create things that make the world move and operate more efficiently. But as their careers advance, engineers’ responsibilities can expand beyond the technical aspects of the profession into leadership areas such as project management.
A key component of project management is the creation of a project budget. Accurately estimating time and costs, planning for contingencies, and deciding how to measure progress are just a few of the considerations that factor into creating a successful project budget. One way to obtain the skills that can help in preparing budgets is to pursue an online Master of Engineering Management degree or online engineering management graduate certificates.
Why Establishing a Project Budget Is Important
Individuals in engineering management need solid project budgets to establish cost and time parameters that help keep an engineering project heading in the right direction. After establishing those parameters, engineering managers can share them with stakeholders so all parties are in agreement. Regularly comparing actual expenditures against budget estimates is also key. This enables engineering managers to identify problem areas and make adjustments to keep projects on track, avoid cost and time overruns, and ensure that outcomes meet stakeholders’ needs.
Avoiding the pitfalls that surround project budgeting is critical. If those who create a budget lack a clear vision for the project, they may be unable to identify all of the necessary elements. Failure to identify and incorporate contingencies (such as unexpected changes in requirements) also can result in an unrealistic project budget.
When establishing costs, disregarding purchasers’ knowledge of prices and suppliers can result in inaccurate cost estimates. Inadequate allocation of limited resources within a project budget also can create inefficiencies that increase costs. Failure to communicate the project budget to all stakeholders can result in misunderstandings that lead to rework and overruns.
In short, engineering managers must put in the work to make the project budget as realistic as possible. If they do so, they have a valuable tool that assists in achieving goals and minimizing disruptions throughout the project.
What It Takes to Create a Project Budget
Following certain fundamental steps in a project, budgeting can help lead to a successful engineering project. Some key steps are outlined below.
Know What Stakeholders Need
Understanding stakeholders’ needs are the foundation of project budgeting. Developing that understanding is essential in identifying project tasks and their interdependencies. Not devoting sufficient time to this step can seriously reduce the likelihood of a project’s success.
Capitalize on the Expertise of Others
Taking advantage of available expertise is essential in developing realistic cost estimates. Consulting with experienced purchasers and developing relationships with suppliers can enhance the accuracy of cost estimates in a project budget.
Plan for Contingencies
Considering possible contingencies and creating strategies to address them is critical to a successful project budget. Not every project will go off without a hitch, but brainstorming what could go wrong and developing contingencies can go a long way toward managing unexpected hiccups to staying within time and cost constraints.
Adapt and Revise
Continually revising the budget as a project progresses is important in keeping the project budget agile and realistic. Think of the project budget as a dynamic tool that engineering managers can adjust and refine. This helps keep projects within budget.
Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Monitoring KPIs can help in making budget adjustments. Examples of common KPIs include actual cost (project expenditures), planned value (estimated costs of planned activities), and earned value (budget for activities completed). Careful selection of KPIs depends on the specifics of an engineering project. Engineering managers should be creative and consider developing unique KPIs that measure performance from the viewpoints of all stakeholders.
Skills for Managing Engineering Project Budgets
Engineering managers who develop expertise beyond engineering’s technical aspects can enhance their chances of successfully guiding projects within the boundaries of a project budget. Gaining a foundation in finance, for example, can enable engineering managers to select the best KPIs to monitor a budget and understand a project’s financial aspects.
Engineering managers who develop their communication skills can improve a project’s chances of success. These skills enable managers to better understand stakeholders’ needs and effectively communicate a budget’s parameters. Strong analytical skills are also essential. These enable managers to identify setbacks before they occur and develop contingencies that can improve the likelihood of a project’s success.
When engineering managers develop leadership and organizational expertise, they can become more capable of steering engineering projects in ways that align with project budgets.
Learn More About Enhancing Your Engineering Management Expertise
For individuals who seek to enhance their engineering management expertise, Ohio University offers an online Master of Engineering Management (MEM) degree and online Engineering Management graduate certificates.
Through courses such as Project Management, Applied Accounting and Finance for Engineering Management, and Lean Thinking Methods, students can obtain skills that will help them keep an engineering project on course and on budget.
