Administrative experiments: The experience of fifty-eight engineers and engineering managers

Fifty-eight engineers and engineering managers designed, as part of the requirements of a graduate engineering course, administrative experiments based upon a management problem of their own choosing and the application of methods of scientific experimentation. Their control over the choice of problem increased the likelihood that the problem would be one of immediate importance and relevance to their administrative responsibilities; the use of the methods of scientific experimentation would increase the likelihood of credible results. A definition and explanation of the term `administrative experiments´ is presented, and a description of the experimenters and their experiments, including the changes proposed, the results desired, and the problems encountered, is provided.