Teaching
The following courses are offered by Dr. Zangeneh in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary.
The two graduate courses are designed as specialized subjects in project management, tailored to address contemporary challenges within the industry and profession. Currently in their second iteration, these courses are offered as independent studies.
Graduate courses
ENCI 619.x - Bayesian Methods for Risk Modelling
ENCI 619.x - Strategy in Projects: Game Theoretic Approach
Undergraduate courses
ENCI 400 - Application of Civil Engineering Design Concepts
Bayesian Methods for Risk Modelling
In today's complex world, understanding and mitigating risks are critical components of managing high-stakes engineering projects and systems. This course, "Bayesian Methods for Risk Modelling," offers an in-depth exploration of Bayesian Networks and Bayesian Statistics as essential tools for making better-informed decisions, even in situations where data is sparse or incomplete.
Bayesian methods provide a robust framework for integrating various types of information, from empirical data to expert judgment, allowing for optimal use of limited information. By blending theory with practical application, this course aims to equip students and practitioners with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of modern risk modeling in engineering projects and systems.
The course is structured into twelve sessions spanning a total of 24 hours. It can also be adapted into an intensive four-day format for organizations. Below is a high-level overview of the curriculum.
Intro to Probabilistic Risk Modelling
Bayes Theorem and Conditional Probabilities
Bayesian Networks: Representation and Algorithm
Bayesian Networks: CPTs and Noisy Gates
Modelling Definitional and Operational Risk
Bayesian Inference and Belief Updating
Bayesian Conjugate Pairs and Application
MCMC: Markov Chain Monte Carlo Algorithm
MCMC: Implementation JAGS, STAN
Hierarchical Models: Definition
Hierarchical Models: Model Comparison
Generalized Linear Models
Strategy in Project Management: Game Theoretic Approach
This course offers an overview of game theory and its application in project management. Game theory is a mathematical framework designed to analyze strategic decision-making where multiple parties are involved. Project managers frequently encounter scenarios requiring decisions that affect not only their goals but also those of other stakeholders. In such instances, game theory can offer valuable insights for making better decisions, especially in situations characterized by uncertainty and incomplete information.
The course was created as Strategy in Project Management: Game Theory Approach to fill a gap in civil engineering education. Currently, the engineering curriculum trains the students to use engineering tools and methods, but they are rarely taught to think about how other stakeholders might react to their decisions. This course makes that gap explicit and introduces game theory as a bridge between engineering analysis and strategic management traditions such as Mintzberg’s schools, the Resource-Based View, and Dynamic Capabilities. The focus is on helping students connect analysis to strategy, negotiation, and decision-making in multi-stakeholder projects.
Therefore, the course is built around a central question: How can engineers learn to anticipate stakeholder responses in real project situations? To answer this, students work with real project cases where stakeholders pursue different but connected goals under uncertainty.
The course will start with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of game theory, such as players, strategies, payoffs, best response and Nash equilibrium. Subsequently, we will delve into the application of game theory in project management, focusing on areas such as project selection, contract negotiations, resource allocation, and risk management. Each session follows a “play → model → apply” cycle. It begins with a simple classroom game, then moves to the theory behind it, and finally connects the theory to a project-management problem.
For example, a Lender–Borrower game leads into discussion of sequential-move games, credible commitment, and collateral, which then ties into project financing schemes. This cycle helps students understand concepts through experience and see their direct relevance in definition and management of large engineering projects.
The course connects these strategic concepts to real megaproject by reviewing the lifecycle of industrial and infrastructure megaprojects. Students examine how project shaping, early-stage decisions, and the alignment of incentives among diverse stakeholders influence long-term outcomes. Case studies are a central element of this approach. By dissecting both successful and challenging projects, students learn how strategic thinking and reasoning can reveal alternative decision paths, highlight overlooked risks, and suggest strategies that might have altered outcomes.
The course is structured into twelve sessions spanning a total of 24 hours. It can also be adapted into an intensive weeklong format. Below is a high-level overview of the curriculum.
Introduction to Game Theory
Dominant Strategies, Best Response, and Equilibriums
Strategic Interactions among Stakeholders
Strategizing Against Project Complexity
Collaboration and Collaborative Contracts
Mechanism Design and Incentives
Resource Allocation
Risk and Opportunities Management
Bayesian Games and Incomplete Information
Auctions and Bargaining
Conflict and Negotiation
Bonus: Board Game Theory
The reading list balances accessible books and advanced texts. Examples include The Art of Strategy (Dixit & Nalebuff), The Strategy of Conflict (Schelling), Strategy Safari (Mintzberg), and Competitive Strategy (Porter). To support learning, reviews and summaries of these readings were prepared and shared with students as part of course materials.
ENCI 400 - Application of Civil Engineering Design Concepts
The course if offered to 3rd year Civil Engineering Undergraduate students and serves as a hands-on exploration of real-world civil engineering practices. Designed around a group term project, students will act as owner's engineering consultants tasked with developing a comprehensive design basis document for one of three specified projects commissioned by the University of Calgary.
Each week, the course will focus on a specific civil engineering specialty field, discussing the applications of design principles within disciplines such as geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, environmental engineering, water resources, transportation, and construction. This thematic approach allows students to develop a comprehensive understanding of how design principles are applied across subfields, and aims to guide students in identifying the interests and better navigating their education and carrier paths.
Weekly lectures guide students through the development process, integrating evolving insights into a provided design basis template
A cornerstone of ENCI 400 is the use of real-world reference case studies to inform project design. Each group of five students selects a unique building in Calgary, aligned with the occupancy type of their assigned project, to evaluate and analyze. These case studies form the basis for developing the design criteria, helping students bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application.
The course emphasizes the application of design principles in a professional, collaborative setting, preparing students for roles in design engineering. By engaging in comprehensive investigations and design exercises, students learn to navigate real-world constraints, communicate complex engineering concepts effectively, and deliver solutions. ENCI 400 offers an experiential learning environment that highlights the dynamic and interconnected nature of civil engineering design.