SHM 4542 - ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT PROJECT PAPER: Plan and Instructions

Due Date:30.5.2013: THURSDAY: BEFORE 5 PM

GRADING: The Project Plan will make 20% of your course grade. Working in groups of 3 to 5 students, you are required to independently find a real project for which knowledge would be available for the analysis. The group assignment can also be based on the analysis of a public project for which information is publicly available. The project may be a project of a firm or a project of a public organization, i.e. you can choose a company, non-profit organization, government body or any other institution or organization. There is no criterion for the type of the project; that is a product development project is an s applicable as a delivery project. However, the project should be ongoing or already completed. The project you choose to work on must be approved by the instructor for feasibility and appropriateness. Use your management, project management, engineering economics, and financial management knowledge and skills to critically analyze an ongoing or already completed project. You will need to meet with the company to gather the information you need to understand their objectives, resources, priorities, constraints etc., so make sure to choose a company that is highly motivated and committed to supporting you in your project. Project Selection Criteria: The project must require a minimum of 3 individuals to complete it. The project must have a specific start and end date. The project must be tied into the companys strategic plan in some way. Project Plan Grading Criteria: Your project plan handout will be graded based on your ability to do the following: (100 marks) A quality, professional project plan: look, layout, organization, formatting. Tables, 10
charts, graphs & other visual support. Executive Summary Appropriate and measurable goals and objectives and project scope definition Project priorities, constraints & deliverables

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 20 100

Appropriate project structure and team, detailed resource allocation Communications Plan and other recommendations Identify specific risks, assess them and develop contingency plans Accuracy and reasonableness of detailed and rolled up time and budget estimate Detailed budget, Resource allocation, Milestones & activities & time line = Gantt Network Diagram - Other reports TOTAL

Sample student projects from previous terms: Development of the Business Admin web site Renovation of a an apartment Development of an e-commerce web site Finding, renovating and opening of a new storefront Public project: - Transportation and communication: airport, highway, satellite, telecommunication or highway - Basic Facilities: electrical power, water supply, recreation, mosque, etc - Education: school, centre for training, college, university, etc - Public security: police service, army, court, etc

- Health: Hospital, clinic, etc Components of the Project Plan The following are some components you may wish to include in your project mini-plan. A good handout is normally between 10 and 15 pages. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Provide an Executive Summary of the project (who, what, where, when, why, how Include a detailed description of the project Indicate the strategic importance of the project to the company (reasons for doing it, benefit to be derived) Identify criteria for selecting this project as a priority Description of project goals and objectives Project Scope definition Identification of project team what resources and skills are required and available Agreement on the project priorities Identification of specific project constraints and assumptions Selection of and justification for the project structure to be used to optimally complete the project Identification and description of specific project deliverables Identification of risks and development of contingency plans Accurate detailed and rolled up time and budget estimate Include a detailed Project Plan which includes milestones, activities, time schedule, cost estimates, resources and responsibilities. Include Gantt chart, Network Diagram and other reports.

Use any charts, graphs or other visuals you can think of to make the project plan look more professional. TEAM WORK STUDENT EMPOWERMENT: Group projects, when they are properly managed, provide participants with the opportunity to explore ideas and generate discussions. You have the energy of several contributors and the experience is generally enjoyable and educational. Grades are usually better than when the student works alone, reflecting the group synergy. When group conflict occurs, however, the experience can turn negative. Participants feel that events are out of their control. Usually, these conflicts centre around unequal participation, or, in extreme situations, the non-participation of a member. The participating members of the team feel resentful that a non-performer will be graded on their work In order to reduce this form of conflict, all groups are empoweredto discipline non-performing members and to ask them to leave the group, if necessary. The process is as follows: 1. As soon as performance/attendance problems become apparent, it is incumbent on the group to verbally advise the offender that his/her performance is substandard and how he/she can correct the situation. 2. If the problem is not corrected, the group is to provide a short memo to the offender stating what is expected to avoid expulsion from the group. A copy of the memo is to be provided to the instructor. 3. Finally, if satisfaction is not received, the group may write another short memo expelling the offender and outlining the reasons. A copy is to be provided to the instructor. The offender will be required to complete the assignment on his/her own. No additional time will be provided and no teamwork points will be awarded for the projects completed by the non-participant.

Please keep your lecturer informed at all times. If your team is experiencing conflict, your lecturer is available to help.