Technical Project Management New

This course redefines project management for technical professionals by focusing on the unique challenges and dynamics of engineering-driven projects. Participants will explore the full project lifecycle—from initiation and scope definition to risk management and closure—while applying concepts directly to a real-world project of their choosing. With a blend of structure and adaptability, the course introduces innovative frameworks like living and geometric order to help engineers manage complexity and deliver value.

• Engineers transitioning into project leadership roles.
• Technical professionals managing cross-disciplinary or high-complexity projects.
• Project managers seeking to deepen their understanding of engineering project dynamics.

1 – Project Management Foundations

2 – Strategy, Project Selection and Portfolio Management

3 – Project Initiation, Scope

4 – Team Formation, Team Management and Project Leadership

5 – Project Planning and Scheduling

6 – Managing Project Risks

7 – Managing Project Value and Budgets

8 – Allocating and Managing Constrained Resources

9 – Project Monitoring, Analytics and Control

10 – Project Closure

Susan Ottmann

Susan Ottmann is the Director of Professional Programs for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She leads the non-credit professional programs and teaches courses in technical leadership and technical project management for both credit and professional development programs.

Susan has more than 25 years of industrial engineering experience in multiple engineering, marketing, manufacturing and leadership roles for a number of multinational companies. In the 10 years prior to joining UW-Madison, she led global business for Danaher and Thermo Fisher Scientific. In these roles she was responsible for teams in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Her education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon and an M.S. in Management from North Carolina State University. She is active in the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. In her free time, Susan volunteers with the Goodwill VITA Tax Program and is a board member for the Lake Waubesa Sailing Club.