MSc Engineering Project Management / Course details

• Critically analyse the processes that are used to manage innovation in engineering projects from idea to product launch.
• Explain how innovation can involve improvements to a product, a process and/or a service to enable a company to remain competitive in its market.
• Analyse the factors that are internal and external to a company that create the opportunity to improve. 
• Explain components of the innovation process including: idea generation, problem definition, external factors analysis, technical capabilities assessment, concept development, modelling, testing, prototype testing, standards and approvals, commitment to production and market launch.
• Explain how intellectual property is protected and exploited through Patent, Trade Mark, Copyright, Registered Design and licence.
• Develop critical analysis of case examples of product and service innovation to help to illustrate how theoretical models apply in practical situations.
• Develop information searching, analysis, referencing and presentation skills assessed through structured, written individual reports.
   

Explain the processes involved in managing an innovative engineering-based project.
Explain how an innovative project typically involves evaluation of complex scenarios, novelty and uncertainty which can lead to more challenges for the project team.
Illustrate how innovative engineering projects require a wide range of technical and market factors to be analysed.
Analyse the management processes of innovation in an engineering project, with reference to current innovation models and case study examples.
Evaluate a wide range of engineering and market topics to produce a critically evaluated plan for a specific innovation development projects.
 

Describe how internal and external factors influence innovation in engineering projects.

Explain and critically evaluate the main stages and activities to be managed in product, process and service engineering-based innovation projects.

Identify and summarise relevant regulatory requirements relating to an engineering innovation. Assess how knowledge may be protected and exploited through innovation in engineering projects.

Use a range of appropriate information search skills in an integrated way to undertake an investigation to develop a structured report. 

Plan and execute a research activity based on published sources of information into a specific innovation topic.

Apply personal time management and other study skills over several weeks to manage the process of researching, developing and submitting a report.

Evaluate sustainable development concepts in the context of an innovative engineering project. 

Use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies in the context of innovation in engineering projects.

USe knowledge, understanding and skills to work with information that may be incomplete or uncertain to critically evaluate innovation processes used in engineering projects.

Week 1: Unit Overview and An Introduction to Innovation

An overview of the unit aims and learning outcomes.

Definitions of Innovation, reasons for Innovation, accurate definition of the problem.

Week 2: Drivers of Innovation

Case study examples to analyse various types of innovation driven by changes in the market and or changes in technological capability.

(Formative : Propose a Company & an Engineering Product/Service for Individual Assignment/Coursework)

Week 3: External Factors Analysis

External Factors analysis, consideration of factors that are beyond the direct control of the company that create opportunities to innovate.

Introduction to appropriate search techniques to identify published information from a variety of sources that are reliable, up to date and relevant to the innovation opportunity. Introduce a personal system of reading and note making to support critical analysis.

Week 4: Market Intelligence

Segmenting the market, defining the customer, evaluating customer needs and wants. Search and use of secondary market information from reliable and relevant sources.

Week 5: Innovation Strategy

Case study examples of incremental innovations leading to small, regular improvements compared to innovations that have suddenly disrupted markets.

Week 6: Idea Generation and Selection Process

Ideas tool kit, generating new ideas, rationalising, refining and selecting concepts to develop.

Developing and refining a specification of performance requirements

(Summative : Submission of Individual Assignment/Coursework)

Week 7: Management of an Innovation Project

Discuss how innovation projects may be organised within a company, the role of supply network partners, how stage gates may be used, how innovation teams may be formed and managed. Comparing and contrasting linear and iterative development models, traditional and agile approaches, relating these to uncertainty and cost in innovation projects.

(Formative : Propose a Clothing Product for the Group Assignment/Coursework)

Week 8: Sustainable Innovation

Case study examples of innovations that have been to the benefit or detriment of various stakeholders. Three pillars model. Innovation critically evaluated through application of different sustainability, ethical and societal criteria (or “lenses”).

Week 9: New Product Development (NPD) and Prototyping

Development stages to test aspects of the innovation – to reduce risk and uncertainty. Models, rigs, 3D modelling and simulation, prototypes, testing, standards and approvals processes.

Week 10: Protection and Exploitation of Innovation

Identification and protection of Intellectual Property (IP) arising during the innovation process.

Explanation of protection afforded by Patent, Registered Design, Copyright and Trademark, analysis of possible exploitation of IP through licence agreements and technology transfer.

Week 11: Industry 4.0 and Innovation

Students learn about the history of industrial revolution from 1.0 to 4.0, the necessity and drivers of change for industrial revolution over time, the concept of industry 4.0, relevant terminologies and what these mean to innovation in businesses in the current setting, scope and specifications of the Industry 4.0 projects, the critical role of project management and the required project management skills, examples of major Industry 4.0 projects in different business/industrial sectors, and future trends.

Week 12: Unit Review and Add-ons (CV + Career Advice)

A review of all lectures from week 1 – week 11, and sharing extra information about innovation management (career opportunities etc.) with stud

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