Leadership in multidisciplinary engineering projects: A review of effective management practices and outcomes

Multidisciplinary engineering projects present unique challenges due to the diverse expertise, perspectives, and objectives involved. Effective leadership in such settings is crucial to ensuring successful project execution, promoting collaboration, and achieving desired outcomes. This review explores the critical leadership practices that drive success in multidisciplinary engineering projects, focusing on project management methodologies, communication strategies, conflict resolution, and team dynamics. Key leadership traits such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, and decision-making capabilities are identified as essential for managing diverse teams. Furthermore, the role of leaders in fostering innovation and creativity is examined, particularly in managing interdisciplinary collaboration to integrate varying engineering disciplines seamlessly. The review also addresses the impact of leadership on project outcomes, including efficiency, innovation, and stakeholder satisfaction. Practical insights from case studies of successful multidisciplinary projects are provided to highlight leadership strategies that promote effective collaboration and problem-solving. By adopting a systems-thinking approach, leaders can align diverse engineering goals and resources to meet overall project objectives. This review concludes that successful leadership in multidisciplinary engineering projects requires a balance between technical expertise and soft skills, with an emphasis on clear communication, adaptability, and the ability to foster a collaborative work environment. As the complexity of engineering projects continues to increase, the need for strong leadership capable of navigating multidisciplinary challenges becomes even more critical. The findings from this review contribute to a growing body of knowledge on leadership best practices in engineering and offer practical recommendations for managers and leaders seeking to optimize outcomes in multidisciplinary projects.