Project Management
-Engineering Design,
Project Planning and Team
Work
Lijun Wang
Biological Engineering Program
North Carolina A & T State University
January 13h , 2010
Outline of Today’s Lecture
[Link] design
[Link] and objectives of a project
3. Project planning and evaluation
4. Team work
2
Engineers and Engineering Design
1. Engineers-Who are we?
An engineer is a person who posses the knowledge of
mathematics and natural sciences,
and through the principles of analysis and design,
applies this knowledge to the solution of problems and
the development of devices, processes, structures, and
systems for the benefits of all humans.
2. Engineering design-What do we do?
• Engineering design is a systematic process by which
solutions to the needs of humankind are obtained.
3
Design is a continuous, cyclic and iterative
process
New
discoveries,
additional
data and
previous
For the experience
best with similar
solution!!! problems will
result in
several
iterations for
the best
4
solution.
Projects
1. A project is to make difference between the current
situation and future.
2. The difference between where we are (current
status) and where we want to be (goal) is what we
will do (objectives or activities and action plan).
Keywords:
• Current status
• Goal
• Objectives
• Action plan
Goal of your project
A goal is where we want to be.
A goal briefly describes the overall direction a
project is taking. A goal is a broad statement of
purpose or intent of a project.
Example: NC A&T in collaboration with xxx company propose
this project to spark the development of an integrated catalytic
process for efficiently and economically converting biomass-
derived syngas into alcohol fuels as a gasoline alternative.
Objectives of your project
Objectives are what we will do.
Objectives indicate what behaviors or activities it
takes to reach the desired outcomes.
Example:
Objective 1: Development of novel catalysts for the converting reactions,
Objective 2: Experimental optimization of reaction conditions,
Objective 3: Construction and testing of an integrated catalytic process
with the developed catalyst, and
Objective 4: Mathematical modeling and economic analysis of the
integrated catalytic process.
•Avoid stating your objectives in a passive manner
•State objectives in a logical sequence and in a priority
order
Project Planning and Scheduling
Planning consists of identifying the key
activities in a project and ordering them in
the sequence in which they should be
performed.
Scheduling consists of putting the plan into
the time frame of the calendar.
Strategy for Project Planning and Evaluation
-Targeting Outcomes of Your Project-a
Planning Evaluation
Outcomes
Planning
Outputs
Inputs
Strategy for Project Planning and Evaluation
-Targeting Outcomes of Your Project-b
1. Identify social, economical
and environmental needs
2. Assess needs within a
broad need area
Planning
3. Evaluate knowledge,
attitudes, skills and aspiration
to target the needs
4. Evaluate public responses
(public reactions)
5. Form a team (participation)
6. Specify activities
7. Arrange resources (time
and money)
Strategy for Project Planning and Evaluation
-Targeting Outcomes of Your Project-c
7. Identify social, economical
and environmental outcomes
6. Assess specific changes
5. Evaluate changes in
Evaluation
knowledge, attitudes, skills
and aspiration to target the
needs
4. Evaluate changes in public
responses (public reactions)
3. Evaluate the team
(participation)
2. Evaluate activities
1. Evaluate resources (time
and money)
Strategy for Project Planning and Evaluation
-Targeting Outcomes of Your Project-d
Needs and
outcomes are
important in
project planning
and evaluation.
What are planning and scheduling?
Needs
identification
and
assessment
Planning consists of identifying the key
activities in a project and ordering them in
the sequence in which they should be
performed.
Scheduling consists of putting the plan into
the time frame of the calendar.
Why planning and scheduling?
It make sure the events are accomplished with a
minimum of time delay.
For large construction and production projects,
detailed planning and scheduling is a must.
Your graduate engineers:
Over-emphasis on technical perfection of the
design and not enough concern for completing
the design on time and below the estimated
Major Decisions of a Project
Performance (activities): Generate satisfactory
specifications to test the performance of
prototypes and production units.
Time: Estimate the length of time required;
Scheduling to ensure that sufficient time is
available.
Cost: Keeping cost and resources within approved
limits.
Risk: Risk are inherent in anything new; Establish
acceptable levels of risk.
Steps in Developing a Plan
•Identify the activities that need to be
controlled.
•Start with the entire system and identify the
activities that are critical (10-20 activities)
•Larger activities are broken down into sub-
activities until tasks can be performed by
single person.
Planning and Scheduling
-Bar (Grantt) Chart
•The activities are listed in the vertical direction, and elapsed time is recorded
horizontally.
•Show clearly the date by which each activity should start and finish
Task Name FY 2009 FY 2010
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Study 1 Catalysts development
Analysis of catalyst options for the syngas
reforming, FT and hydration reactions
Preparation and characterization of catalysts 1
Study 2 Selection of catalysts and : milestones
optimization of reaction conditions
Prepare the testing unit and experimental plan
Conduct experiments
Analyze the experimental data 2
Study 3 Construction and testing of an
integrated bench-scale catalytic process
Design the units of the integrated process
Order parts and construct the system
Test the system with syngas
3
Analyze the experimental data
Study 4 Mathematical modeling and
economic analysis of the integrated system
Mathematical modeling of the integrated processes
4
Analysis of the catalytic process with the model
Requested funds to be used (1,000 US$) 36.87 11.85 30.15 38.8 56.7 19.53 2.5 2.5
The Laws of Time Estimation for
Professional Success
Law 1. Every thing takes longer than expected.
Law 2. If you’ve done the same task before on a different project,
estimate the amount of time required to finish the task. The
actual amount of time required will be about twice as long.
Something will always be different in the current project.
Law 3: If you’ve worked on something similar before, estimate the
amount of time required to finish the task. The actual amount of
time required will be about five times as long.
Law 4: if you’ve never worked on something similar before,
estimate the amount of time required to finish the task. The
actual amount of time required will be the next highest time
unit. For example, something estimated to take an hour will
really take a day; something estimated to take a day will take a
week. 18
Team Work
•Team members
•Team leader
•Team meetings
Characteristics of an Effect Team
•Team goals are as important as individual goals;
•The team understands the goals and is committed
to achieve them;
•Trust replaces fear and people feel comfortable
taking risk;
•Respect, collaborative, and open-mindedness are
prevalent;
•Team members communicate readily; diversity of
opinions is encouraged;
•Decisions are made by consensus and have
acceptance and support of the members of the
team.
Effective Team Meeting
•Pick a regular and proper meeting location and try not
to change it.
•Regular meeting times are not as important as
confirming the time of meeting, and send an e-mail
reminder to team members just before the first of several
meetings
•If you send materials out in advance of a meeting, bring
extra copies
•Start on time, or no later than 5-7 min from the stated
starting time
•Pass out an agenda at the beginning of the meeting and
get the team’s concurrence to the agenda
Effective Team Meeting-Cont.
•Rotate the responsibility for writing meeting summaries
of each meeting.
•Notice members who come late, leave early, or missing
meeting.
•Observe team members who are not speaking.
•Occasionally use meeting evaluations to gather
anonymous feedbacks on how the group is working
together.
•Do not bring guests or staff support or add team
members without seeking the permission of the team;
•Avoid canceling of meetings;
•End every meeting with an “action check”
•Follow up with any person who does not attend.
Team Work
-Be an Effective Team Member
1. Take responsibility for the success of the team
2. Be a person who delivers on commitments
- Consider membership on the team as something worthwhile
- Willing to rearrange your job and personal responsibility to
satisfy the needs of the team
3. Be a contributor to discussions
-Asking for explanations to opinions, guiding the discussion
back on track, and pulling together and summarizing idea
4. Give your full attention to whomever is speaking and
demonstrate this by asking helpful questions
5. Develop techniques for getting your message across to
the team
-Thinking things through briefly in your own mind
before you speak. Always speak in a loud, clear voice.
Have a positive message.
6. Learn to give and receive useful feedback
Characteristics of a Good Team Member
1. Respects other team members without
question
2. Listens carefully to the other team members
3. Participates but does not dominate
4. Self-confident but not dogmatic
5. Knowledgeable in his or her discipline
6. Communicates effectively
7. Disagrees but with good reason and in
good taste
Three Leadership Types
Summary of Today’s Lecture
[Link] design
[Link] and objectives of a project
3. Project planning and evaluation
4. Team work
26