Business Management for Chemical Engineers

This paper describes the revision of a subject that attempts to give final year and course-work postgraduate chemical engineering students an awareness of the technical and non-technical challenges facing their business success (and increasingly, survival). The main steps taken have been electronic access to all material and to a large database of e-links, a greater focus on business analysis tools such as PEST, benefit-cost and fixed and variable cost, and improved information searching. Some of the lessons learnt so far, as well as mistakes to avoid, are included. The possible use of the subject as a model for other disciplines is suggested.