4 ms·

For those that are not aware, the delays regarding the Berlin Airport are a running joke by now. And to add insult to injury, there are estimations that the new

For those that are not aware, the delays regarding the Berlin Airport are a running joke by now. And to add insult to injury, there are estimations that the new airport may already be too small to handle the projected number of flights to and from Berlin. Just like the Therac-25[1] is used a a case study for proper software engineering, I'm positive the BER will be taught in engineering schools as a cautionary tale one day. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therac-25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therac-25

Someone1234 11y ago
Was it an engineering problem? Why would you teach this in engineering school? Looks like the project was hopelessly mismanagement, so likely above the heads of the engineers.
- csours 11y ago
  Anyone on a project should be able to "pull the cord" [1] and call out project risks. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andon_%28manufacturing%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andon_%28manufacturing%29
- ptaipale 11y ago
  It's a management problem, but managers are eventually recruited from engineers. Or should be. In this case, it apparently were not so (the drastic wrong decisions in project management were taken by politicians who ignored engineers).
- icegreentea 11y ago
  Engineers are often taught some degree of project management in school. Beyond the cynical reasons for offering/requiring this stuff, there are a few possible benefits: a) Engineering school normally requires some degree of (relatively) long-term project work (like a final year project) where some aspects of project management is useful b) Even in a work environment, it's often useful to understand whats going on (note, not expert) on at least a level above and below you. c) Understanding signs of project mismanagement is useful in itself so you can run away d) A lot of traditional engineers will walk a career path that will transition them to something akin to project management. Having some background is useful (but not sufficient obviously). e) In a sufficiently small environment (think startup) your engineers are often dual hatted into project management to some degree.
- weinzierl 11y ago
  There are different opinions but most people don't think it was a engineering problem. From the beginning the project had three responsible managers with different interests: Klaus Wowereit (Governing Mayor of Berlin), Matthias Platzeck (Minister-President of Brandenburg) and Meinhard von Gerkan (famous Architect). Meinhard von Gerkan published a book about the project, offering his view: Blackbox BER [1] [1] http://www.amazon.de/Black-Box-BER-Brandenburg-Gro%C3%9Fbaustellen/dp/3869950609/ref=la_B001JOMZKO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433429865&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.de/Black-Box-BER-Brandenburg-Gro%C3%9Fbaus...
detaro 11y ago
Not one day, I've heard about courses that already look at it.

Someone1234 11y ago

Was it an engineering problem? Why would you teach this in engineering school? Looks like the project was hopelessly mismanagement, so likely above the heads of the engineers.

csours 11y ago
Anyone on a project should be able to "pull the cord" [1] and call out project risks. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andon_%28manufacturing%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andon_%28manufacturing%29
ptaipale 11y ago
It's a management problem, but managers are eventually recruited from engineers. Or should be. In this case, it apparently were not so (the drastic wrong decisions in project management were taken by politicians who ignored engineers).
icegreentea 11y ago
Engineers are often taught some degree of project management in school. Beyond the cynical reasons for offering/requiring this stuff, there are a few possible benefits: a) Engineering school normally requires some degree of (relatively) long-term project work (like a final year project) where some aspects of project management is useful b) Even in a work environment, it's often useful to understand whats going on (note, not expert) on at least a level above and below you. c) Understanding signs of project mismanagement is useful in itself so you can run away d) A lot of traditional engineers will walk a career path that will transition them to something akin to project management. Having some background is useful (but not sufficient obviously). e) In a sufficiently small environment (think startup) your engineers are often dual hatted into project management to some degree.
weinzierl 11y ago
There are different opinions but most people don't think it was a engineering problem. From the beginning the project had three responsible managers with different interests: Klaus Wowereit (Governing Mayor of Berlin), Matthias Platzeck (Minister-President of Brandenburg) and Meinhard von Gerkan (famous Architect). Meinhard von Gerkan published a book about the project, offering his view: Blackbox BER [1] [1] http://www.amazon.de/Black-Box-BER-Brandenburg-Gro%C3%9Fbaustellen/dp/3869950609/ref=la_B001JOMZKO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433429865&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.de/Black-Box-BER-Brandenburg-Gro%C3%9Fbaus...

detaro 11y ago

Not one day, I've heard about courses that already look at it.