LO1. Evaluate the risk evaluation theories and practices associated with the management of projects for the production of current and developing technology

Assignment Brief

Unit 35: Professional engineering management

LO1. Evaluate the risk evaluation theories and practices associated with the management of projects for the production of current and developing technology.

LO2. Produce an engineering services delivery plan that meets the requirements of a sector-specific organization.

LO3. Develop effective leadership, individual and group communication skills.

LO4. Develop personal commitment to professional standards and obligations to society, the engineering profession and the environment.

Project theme – Safety

Unit 35: Professional engineering management

Safety “There is no such thing as an accident, only a failure to recognise the hand of fate” (Napoleon Bonaparte). Safety in engineering is integral to the profession and involves building products/ systems (e.g. CNCs, inject moulding machines, pneumatic power systems, communication networks, electric systems etc.) that behave as expected, good to use and provide acceptable levels of safety when the components fail. Safety as a design feature involves studying, identifying, analysing, evaluating, and controlling hazards in human-machine systems (artifacts, equipment, or facilities) that contain a potential to cause injury to people or damage to property. Safety could be broadly categorised as passive and active, with active systems focusing on ‘functional safety’ which require further risk assessments. Safety reviews are increasingly becoming mandatory in engineering risk management strategies. While several small to medium failures (i.e. the person losing a finger while operating or repairing a machine in the local engineering company or an accident that could occur at a railway crossing if the barriers fail) attract less publicity, the major industrial failures such as Chernobyl and Space Shuttle Challenger constantly remind us of the various facets of the safety issues (i.e. from flawed design errors to lack of ethical safety culture / human error) and as we know now, the consequences of some of these failures have serious repercussions spanning generations. These incidents serve as ‘the lessons to learn’ in eliminating injuries and work towards a drastic reduction of serious accidents by promoting ‘safety as a value’ through legislation (e.g. HASAW Act, OSH Act, OHS Act, EU-OSH, JISHA:OSH, LEGOSH), safety standards (e.g. ISO 14122, ISO 14118, ISO 14119, IEC 61508), policies, innovation, workplace practices and culture, and training. Unit 35: Professional engineering management. Safety continues to improve around the world and some notable recent changes in the sector include the new Health and Safety at Work Act in New Zealand, stricter sentencing guidelines in the UK and technological explosion in producing worker safety devices based on GPS and cellular technology. The theme will enable students to examine the broad ranging aspects of safety in the context of the project(s) that they undertake as part of Unit 35 Professional Engineering Management, from the standpoint of a professional engineer. For example, (a) designing out risk in a product/ machine/ system and (b) carry out Hazard and Risk Assessments (HARA) to ensure safety in design and safe ways of working. Students will be able to analyse engineering functions and their impact on the health, wellbeing, and environment. What does it take to be a successful project manager? Identify issues and factors that impact the successful management of your project. The theme will facilitate students to gain a broader understanding of how to combine the approach of ‘design for safety’ with the conduct / duties placed upon them as the student engineers.

Project Scenario: Unit 35: Professional engineering management

You are working for an electric and electronic company and your job involves carrying out research in order to improve the safety within the company and develop the standards and to employ the latest technological advancements. As part of your training programme, your line manager has asked you to manage a chosen project to improve system safety, which involves using all your management skills. Your choice of project must be approved by your line manager both practically and ethically. You will be leading the team that will carry out the project and you will be the sole person who is responsible about all the different steps and processes of carrying out this project.

2- With advance of new technologies, the engineering profession becomes vibrant. To stay standstill is not an option as our knowledge becomes obsolete as time passes. Evaluate and provide justifications on why it is necessary to be active and up to date with the engineering profession’s new developments and discoveries. Also from what you learnt on the project explore the ways in which an engineer can engage in continuing professional development. What does it take to be a successful project manager? Identify issues and factors that impact the successful management of your project.

Guidelines for assignment submission

1. The assignment must be submitted on time to be considered for a Merit or Distinction grade.
2. The assignment should not exceed 40 pages- up to 25 pages ( single space, font 12) for the report and up to15 pages for presentation).
3. c.    The assignment will be subject to PLAGIARISM checks. PLAGIARISM is a serious academic offence and will automatically lead to ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT PROCEDURES. In the event of COLLUSION (similar/identical submissions) please note that both students will automatically be subject to ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT PROCEDURES.
   1. When IPADS/TABLETS/MACS are used please make sure documents are saved as .doc. Otherwise the submission will not be valid and may not be marked.

The grades are awarded holistically according to the table included at the end of this assignment.

1. To achieve a Pass grade the learner must complete all the pass criteria (P1-P9).
2. To achieve a Merit grade the learner must complete all the pass criteria + M1,M2,M3 & M4.
3. To achieve a Distinction grade the learner must complete all the pass and merit criteria + D1, D2, D3, and D4

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

LO3 Develop effective leadership, individual and group communication skills

D3 Critically evaluate effective ways for the coaching and mentoring of disillusioned colleagues or of a poorly performing team

P5 Describe the steps for effective persuasion and negotiation

P6 Explain the steps for managing effective group meetings

P7 Outline the steps to delveraneMective presentation

M3 Evaluate leadership styles and effective communication skills using specific examples in an organisational context