BEng Mechatronic Engineering / Course details

This unit will cover the following topics:

• An introduction to project management and the project life cycle
• An understanding of different roles within an engineering team
• A basic understanding of how to estimate project costs and time
• A basic understanding  of,  and  ability  to  undertake,  at  a  fundamental 
  level:  project  planning  and  scheduling  of  resources  and,  project  control  using earned  value  analysis  (Gantt  Charts  and  Project  Plans).
• Understand the  many factors  that  may  affect  the  outcome  of  a  project,  i.e. risks  and;  provide  the  tools  to  mitigate  or  transfer  these  risks  (Risk  Registers).
• Engineering ethics
• Legal Requirements (Introduction to the law and legal issues; The Concepts of Standard Forms of Contract; Employment law and liabilities; IP rights)
• Health and safety legislation

The course unit aims to:

• Provide a basic knowledge of management of Engineering Projects
• Provide the practical skills to be able to produce a project plan and associated Gantt chart
• Provide an introduction to current legislation affecting or related to Engineering projects

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

ILO 1 - Summarize the key concepts in project management, including the theoretical principles and practical implementation key elements. [Developed] [Assessed]

ILO 2 - Formulate a simple gantt chart for a team project, taking into account work breakdown and allocation of resources. [Developed] [Assessed]

ILO 3 - Assess the quality of a Gantt chart in terms of its breakdown of tasks and balanced allocation of resources, where the fundamental question is whether effort/cost for each task can be properly determined. [Developed] [Assessed]

ILO 4 - Discuss the general principles of project management. [Developed] [Assessed]

ILO 5 - Create Health & Safety assessment documentation and risk management plans. [Developed] [Assessed]

Online Examination:

This examination makes up 50% of the course unit assessment.

Blackboard Assignments:

This consists of 3 assignments at 10% each and one assignment at 20% of the course unit assessment.

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Project management for engineering, business and technology

Fifth edition

John M. Nicholas (author), Herman Steyn (author)