Management and Supervisory Practices for Environmental Professionals
Basic Principles, Volume I
📘 About This Book
Based on the lifelong experiences of two authors as supervisors and teachers, the Fourth Edition of this bestseller provides up-to-date information for newly promoted or management-aspiring professionals and engineers in the fields of environmental health, occupational health and safety, water and wastewater treatment, public health, and many others. This first volume explains, through nine sets of tools, the basic principles supervisors need to understand the structure of their organization, what leadership is, how to effectively plan and budget, how to manage other people, and best practices for achieving success in a management position. In addition to those already practicing professionals in their fields, this book is an excellent resource for students interested in learning management skills prior to entering the workforce. Features of the Fourth Edition Helps to understand and utilize organizational structure to facilitate problem solving Offers a practical set of methods, tools, and techniques, all illustrated and easy to understand, for achieving leadership qualities Provides concise but essential discussion material for each topic, using the practical art of communications Includes thorough updates and many new case problems with answers provided Introduces self-testing questions for different situations and practical exercises utilizing an individual’s own work experience for answers
📖 Summary
Management and Supervisory Practices for Environmental Professionals, authored by Herman Koren and published in 2021, stands as the fourth edition of a trusted bestseller drawing upon the extensive lifelong experiences of its authors as seasoned supervisors and educators. Spanning 204 pages, this first volume is specifically tailored to provide up-to-date, practical guidance for newly promoted managers, management-aspiring professionals, and engineers working across critical technical sectors. These fields include environmental health, occupational health and safety, water and wastewater treatment, public health, and various related disciplines where technical expertise must seamlessly blend with administrative competence. At its core, the text bridges the wide gap between technical proficiency and organizational leadership. Engineers and environmental scientists often find themselves thrust into supervisory roles based entirely on their technical merit, yet they receive little to no formal training in how to manage people, navigate bureaucracy, or design budgets. This book directly addresses that shortfall by organizing its foundational principles into nine distinct sets of tools. These tools are meticulously designed to help readers understand the complex structures of modern organizations, define and embody effective leadership, master the intricacies of strategic planning and budgeting, and excel in the day-to-day management of human resources. By breaking down abstract administrative concepts into actionable frameworks, the book demystifies the transition from individual contributor to team leader. Readers are guided through the fundamental responsibilities of management, learning how to structure their workflow, motivate personnel, and implement best practices that drive long-term success within their agencies or corporations. Furthermore, the volume serves as an invaluable academic resource, offering students who are preparing to enter these vital fields a clear preview of the operational realities they will encounter in the workforce. By combining real-world wisdom with structured educational tools, Herman Koren equips the next generation of environmental and public health leaders with the confidence and competence required to manage complex operations effectively and ethically.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Draws directly from the lifelong experiences of seasoned supervisors and teachers.
Provides up-to-date information tailored specifically to technical environmental fields.
Organizes complex management concepts into nine clear, actionable sets of tools.
Serves as both a professional manual for practitioners and an educational resource for students.
⚠️ Cons
Focuses primarily on the foundational principles, requiring complementary reading for advanced enterprise strategies.
Is split across volumes, meaning readers may need subsequent texts for complete coverage of all supervisory topics.
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of this book? +
The book was authored by Herman Koren.
When was this fourth edition published? +
The fourth edition was published in 2021.
How many pages are in this volume? +
The book contains 204 pages.
What specific fields does the book target? +
It targets professionals and engineers in environmental health, occupational health and safety, water and wastewater treatment, and public health.
What core framework does the first volume use to explain management principles? +
It explains management principles through nine sets of practical tools.






