Francois Jacobs Teaching Area

Francois Jacobs Teaching Area 2010

My industry, teaching and research experience allow me to instruct within the following class selections as listed below.

Undergraduate Courses:

CON 101: INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: This class informs the foundational underpinning of subsequent classes I have taught during 2008 – 2009. I would embrace the opportunity to teach this class to incoming students.

CON 151: CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS: This class supports the foundation platform for Estimating I, which I had a great time teaching for two consecutive semesters.

CON 265: CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING I: I enjoyed the privilege of teaching the lab sessions for two consecutive semesters on this class and would love the opportunity to teach this class in the future.

CON 267: CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PRE-INTERNSHIP: Providing students with a framework for their internship experience is crucial in terms of their expectations, professionalism and readiness. I have experienced the positive as well as negative elements associated with interns firsthand during my career in the industry.

CON 317: SAFETY MANAGEMNT: Safety is an unavoidable reality facing the construction industry. I can defiantly infuse my industry safety experience as a practical component in teaching this class.

CON 365: CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING II: I taught the lab session for this class for two consecutive semesters and would love to build upon this experience in teaching this class in the future.

CON 367: CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS/ PROJECT ADMINISTRATION: My industry and educational background in U.S policy, international law and international trade provides me with the needed foundation to teach this class.

CON 462: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION: Twelve years of financial experience in the construction industry as well as an International MBA will allow me to teach this class from a practical and academic standpoint.

1 Francois Jacobs Teaching Area 2010

Graduate Courses:

CON 500: MODELS OF DICIPLINED INQUIRY: I believe research paradigms are an essential element to be acquainted with during graduate course work regardless of discipline. I would love the opportunity to teach graduate students of the different research paradigms in relation to their future research agendas.

CON 560: APPLIED PROJECT MANAGEMNT: This course speaks to the discipline of planning, organizing and managing resources to bring about successful completions of projects. Based on my past experience and course work in Organizational Performance and Change I would welcome the opportunity to teach this course.

CON 561: APPLIED PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT: Productivity improvement is a crucial aspect in construction. My current research emphasis pivots around quality and productivity improvement models within lean construction. I would like to instruct on this subject matter.

CON 562: ISSUES AND TRENDS IN CONSTRUCTION: Trends and technology are driven by management initiatives in the construction industry. Providing graduate students with a platform to balance between these variables are important. I would embrace the opportunity to teach this course based on my industry experience.

CON 600: RESEARCH METHODS: Research is the cornerstone in any discipline including construction. Graduate students should know of the different research methods applicable to construction. I find myself equally capable among qualitative and quantitative frameworks and would embrace the opportunity to teach this class.

Proposed Electives:

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION INITIATIVES: The public sector is a major client of the construction industry and is responsible for contributing to a third of all construction activity. For this reason sustainable construction initiatives are imperative in reducing the environmental impact building and infrastructures have on the environment. My interest in sustainable initiatives started more than 20 years ago growing up in Sub-Saharan Africa, where photovoltaic, wind and solar served as our only source of energy. I would like to construct and teach a course on the many uses of these energy alternatives by introducing students to, and engaging them in the various national energy networks I am actively part of. These networks include the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), American Solar Energy Society (ASES), and Renewable Fuel Association (RFA).

LEAN IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: Lean construction has struggled to gain momentum over the last 20 years. The lean operating platform in construction is quite different from the lean operating platform in manufacturing. Providing students with an understanding around the theoretical foundation of lean is essential in allowing them to become future

2 Francois Jacobs Teaching Area 2010 innovators of lean in construction. I would love to develop a course around lean directives as it relates to the construction industry.

PROFICIENCY AND CHANGE FACILITATION IN CONSTRUCTION: Proficiency of workers in construction lags behind that of other industries. It is a known fact that change facilitation in construction is a slow process. I would like to develop a course that speaks to the process of change and management facilitation within the construction industry.