Written by: James Rink, EdD, Director, QRM Center, UW–Madison Operational excellence isn’t very excellent all that often. That may sound blunt, but it reflects a pattern I have seen across industries. Organizations invest heavily …
Leadership
Why Smart People Struggle with Communication – and What to Do About It
Written by: Trevor Manning, Consultant, Author, Trainer, and Instructor, UW–Madison John leaned forward for effect and repeated his point, “Sally, I am just stating the facts. Bill is not pulling his weight and you …
Engineering Skills Beyond the Technical
Why Communication, Influence, and Leadership Matter as Much as Technical Expertise Written by: Susan Ottmann, MS, BS, Director of Professional Programs, UW–Madison For many engineers, career success has long been defined by technical skill, designing, …
Interview with Tony Orzechowski
Artificial intelligence is all around us. When it comes to using this tool in the workplace, it can be hard to know where to start. We sat down with Tony Orzechowski, instructor and retired professional …
The Dual Challenge of Being an Engineering Project Manager
By: Heather Smith Navigating the dual role of an engineering project manager (EPM) is a unique and challenging journey. Imagine being at the crossroads of technical innovation and strategic planning, where every decision you make …
Rescuing Troubled Projects: Tools, Tactics, and the Courage to Course-Correct
By Shawn D. Belling, Ed.D., PMP, PMI-ACP, CSP, RS@SP Even the best-planned projects can go off the rails. Timelines slip. Scope creeps. Stakeholders disengage. Too often, as I’ve seen repeatedly across industries and project …
UW-Madison Sponsors Students to Attend the 2025 National Society of Black Engineers Conference
UW-Madison College of Engineering – Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) is proud to share our continued engagement with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Through establishing powerful connections with a professional development session for UW–Madison’s …
Root Cause Analysis – An Underutilized Catalyst for Culture Change
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is the process of identifying the source(s) of a problem to provide corresponding solutions at the root level. Often, this tool is limited to a specific aspect of the operation, however, by expanding RCA throughout your organization, you can prevent the reoccurrence of systemic issues. In this article from Jon Wellik, we cover three recommendations for sustaining a problem-solving culture in your team with RCA.