Mar 21, 2008 - Claremont, Calif. - Donald S. Remer, Oliver C. Field Professor of Engineering at Harvey Mudd College, delivered the keynote address, “Cost and Schedule Estimation Greatly Impacts Project Management,” at the 75th Annual Technical Management Program at UCLA, a six-day conference on essential training for leaders being held March 23-28, 2008.

The program is designed for managers, engineers, scientists and other technical professionals from around the world, and provides a practical blend of technical and managerial information to improve personal and organizational performance. Professionals from many countries and all parts of the United States will be attending.

For a half century now, the Technical Management Program has been a valuable resource for all types of organizations—large and small, public and private sector—where people with technical backgrounds can obtain the skills to lead, manage and empower others. The program addresses the newest trends and paradigms in today’s volatile business world and provides engineering managers with a repertoire of methods to solve problems, plan strategies and motivate colleagues.

Presented each March and September, this program allows participants to shape a curriculum of four courses from more than 20 different offerings that address the following management questions:

• How can I carry out my managerial role in the face of major change in my organization?
• How can I prepare myself for emerging trends and an uncertain future?
• How can I use technology as one of the drivers of organizational change?
• How can I do more with less?
• How can I enhance the employability of both my subordinates and myself?
• How can I develop realistic cost estimates?
• How can I lead a diverse workforce?
• How can I avoid large contract overruns?
• How can I express my opinions, ideas, criticisms, attitudes, suggestions and appraisals in an effective manner?

Remer, who is recognized as one of the world’s leaders in the area of project cost and schedule estimation, has published more than 50 papers and received numerous awards for his work in cost estimation, capital investment evaluation, and engineering and project management. This is the second time he has been honored by being invited to give the keynote address at this Technical Management Program, which is considered by many to be one of the most prestigious leadership and management training programs in the world.

Remer is a former director of the American Society of Engineering Management, and was recently selected to be a charter member of a new Engineering Management Honor Society. The International Society of Parametric Analysts named his paper on cost modeling the outstanding paper of the year in the Journal of Parametrics.

Remer's talk addressed today’s cost-conscience and increasingly complex business environment where accurate project cost and schedule estimates are critical to staying competitive and optimizing organizational resources. He focused on decision makers to help them develop the insights and skills needed to prepare, review, approve and use cost and schedule estimates in research, development, design, operations and project management.