Teaching the Qualities of Leadership and Management in the Age of Sustainability

Infrastructure is the backbone of nations. A society’s inventory of systems and facilities allows it to function properly and smoothly. This paper summarizes the content of a course for engineering students and students from other disciplines that was developed to explore the progress humanity has achieved in developing infrastructure facilities and the present move toward sustainability. The course describes methods, materials, processes, technologies, practices, and operations required for maintaining a healthy environment and efficient infrastructure, all essential components of management. Aspiring engineering leaders must comprehend the intersection between the policies necessary for sustainable infrastructure and political, economical, social, societal, and cultural factors. This paper presents the issues that both engineers and nonengineers should be aware of and familiar with to successfully operate under the paradigm of the “new economy” in which the public takes excellent services for granted.