Department of Engineering

ASSESSMENT BRIEF- Individual Assignment No.2

Module Title:
Engineering Management
Module Code:

5ET004

Component Number:

1of 2

Weighting:

30%

Element Number:2

of

Learning Outcomes to be assessed:

Learning outcome 1: D Design
D3: to be able to Identify and manage cost drivers
Learning outcome 2: S Economic Social and Environmental Context
S2: to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the management techniques which may
be used to achieve engineering objectives within that context
S2m: knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their
limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues
S4: to demonstrate the awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing
engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental
risk) issues.
Learning outcome 3:
P Engineering Practice
P3: Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations
and management, technology, and development)
P5: to demonstrate the awareness of the nature of intellectual property and contractual issues
Marking Criteria For Assignment:
To pass this component it is necessary to produce (using IT skills) a written report
consisting of:
i. 1500 words, double spaced word processed
ii. thorough investigation of issues in compliance with the Assignment brief.
The above report should include references presented in appropriate format discussed in
the students handbook.
In order to achieve a minimum pass grade (D5) students are expected to produce a report in
line with guidance provided here, showing a basic understanding of the project initiation phase
of project management in the context of engineering projects.
In order to achieve an A16 (highest grade) a students report should include an extensive
analysis/discussion, demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of the facts and
ideas involved with the use of appropriate references to substantiate points made.
Note: To pass the module you must achieve a minimum grade of D5 in each component. This
assignment is one of the two elements of component 1. You will pass component 1 if you
achieve a minimum grade of E4 for this element and an average grade of D5 for the whole
component.
Assignment handed out:

25th March 2015

Latest date for submission:

5th May 2015

Assignments submitted after the deadline and without an authorised extension of time will be
marked F0. The assignment must be handed in to Student Registry at Telford (room SC002).
Please mark your assignment for the attention of: Prof Chris Nwagboso
A signed receipt must be obtained when the assignments are submitted. You should keep your receipt
in a safe place. You are advised to keep your own electronic & hard copy of any work submitted.

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Department of Engineering
ASSESSMENT BRIEF- Individual Assignment No.2

Individual Assignment 2
Assessment Brief: Preparing a Project Proposal.
Introduction
Project Initiation is the first phase of any project, where the project is defined and authorised for
implementation. The Project Definition Document or Project Proposal or Terms of Reference is
the output of the Initiation Phase. This assignment is concerned with producing a project
definition- document for a project.
You will shortly have to decide upon a project to undertake during the final two Semesters of your
course. You will be asked to select a project from the list of projects being introduced by
members of staff at Engineering Department, and to produce a project specification and
execution plan for the particular project you have chosen. Your project specification and plan
should be submitted to a member of staff for his/ her approval and hence his/her acceptance of
supervision of your project. Without such approval, the school does not allow you to start
executing your project.
The Department of Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton requires level 6 students to
provide the following information in their individual project specification form:

Title of Project:

Objectives:

The title should indicate the aim of the project

The steps to reaching the project aim

Proposed Programme of Work (include a detailed work plan, typically a

Gantt Chart):
How the objectives are to be achieved

This assignment intended to help you in producing project proposal and plan for execution of your
project.
Assignment Requirements
You are required to
i)
ii)
iii)

Select a project of your own choice, and;

Prepare a project definition document for the project you have selected, and;
Write a report of no more than 1500 words presenting your project definition
document in the format required by this assignment, outlined below.

To select a project, you can refer in the first instance to the list of the past or present individual
projects currently available on module 6ET011 on wolf . The list can also be acquired from
Professor Kevin Kibble, the project module leader.
Those students who work in Industry can select a project that is available at their own workplace
but this should be in consultation with the module leader (Prof Chris Nwagboso) to ensure the
suitability of the chosen project for fulfilling the requirements of this assignment.
Students can also search appropriate engineering journals to obtain ideas that could help them in
developing new suitable projects if they wish so.

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Department of Engineering
ASSESSMENT BRIEF- Individual Assignment No.2
For the report of 1500 words, you are expected to present your project definition document under the
following headings:
1- Title of the Project (The title should indicate the aim of the project)
2- Statement/Definition of the project Objectives: The steps to reaching the project aim.

Make sure that objectives are as SMART as possible. ( remember the Criteria of good
objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable (but challenging), Realistic, Time-based)
Make sure that all elements of the Title/Aim statement are reflected in the Objectives listed.

3 Discuss the scope of the project and any constraints

4 A concise statement of Programme of Work (include a detailed work plan which explains
How the objectives stated in 2 are to be achieved)
5-

Illustrate the work plan using a Gantt Chart.

Estimate the period of implementation for each element of the work programme stated in 4
and present them on a Gantt Chart.

6- Cost of the project: What costs are associated with the project?
7-

What are the benefits arising from the project.

Marking Criteria:
1- Develop/state the title of the Project
2- Define the project Objectives:
3- Discuss the scope of the project and any constraints
4- A concise statement of Programme of Work
5- Develop a Gantt Chart presenting the work plan.
6- Indication of the costs associated with the project.
7- Statement of the benefits arising from the project.

10%
20%
10%
30%
10%
10%
10%

Note:
A glance at literature may reveal that organizations use different methods for presenting a project definition
document. This is particularly true in cases where an organisation that funds the projects oblige the
applicants (project investigators/ project managers) to fill a research proposal form provided by that
particular funding organisation. An example of such a form is the Research proposal form, EPS (RP),
provided by EPSRC, the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council. EPSRC funds the
collaborative research projects proposed by a network of industry and academia. Click on the following
website to obtain EPS (RP) research proposal form:
http://osam.eee.nottingham.ac.uk/optics/downloads/forms/theforms/epsrc_rp1.pdf
As can be seen in the EPSRC research proposal form (shown at the above website), the applicants are
required to give details of their proposed project in section 1 of the form under the heading of 1 DETAILS
OF PROPOSAL, providing the following information about their project:

Title of Research project (not to exceed 108 characters.)

Objectives (List main objectives of the proposed research in order of priority.)

Summary (Describe the proposed research in about 200 words.)

The form also requires additional information such as Beneficiaries.

An example of a completed EPSRC research proposal form is shown in the following website:
http://www.le.ac.uk/eg/tcp1/avlsi/a/warwick.pdf

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