BSC109C

Unit Description and General Aims

The primary objective of this unit is to develop the student’s professional and personal attributes whilst enhancing their exposure to engineering practice so that they may effectively function, in their professional capacity, as engineering technologists during their industrial experience units and after graduation in their careers.

The coursework in this unit is designed to foster the students’ abilities in effective oral and written communication, learning strategies, critical and objective thinking, creativity, proactivity, innovation, information management and use, self and project management, professional conduct, ethics, effective team membership and team leadership.

This unit is aligned to the AQF Level 7 criteria, Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Engineering Technologists and the Sydney Accord. Students will be required to prepare for, investigate, report and reflect on instances of professional practice within the technical engineering workplace; exploring equipment functionality, instrumentation, machinery, technological processes, the role of an engineer, professional responsibilities, accountability and engineering workplace challenges as related to their discipline; while familiarising themselves with the intricacies and requirements of the industrial professional environment.

The students will achieve these objectives through a combination of course work, live presentation, assessments, group work, proctored testing, and a reflective industrial site visit.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Investigate, research, report and reflect on instances of professional practice in the workplace
   Bloom's Level 4
2. Explore the nature of professional responsibilities and challenges faced by engineers in an industrial environment
   Bloom's Level 4
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the working of the various equipment and machinery related to their discipline, along with the technologies and processes involved
   Bloom's Level 2
4. Appreciate a range of industry issues relating to the engineering practice
   Bloom's Level 2
5. Gain access to, and interact with industry experts and practicing professionals
   Bloom's Level 3
6. Develop good communication and interpersonal skills
   Bloom's Level 3
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the coordination and management of engineering works
   Bloom's Level 2
8. Apply knowledge from a range of Engineering and Business sub-disciplines to further personal and professional development
   Bloom's Level 3
9. Determine and apply optimal learning strategies as well as critical thinking and objective analysis processes.
   Bloom's Level 5

Student assessment

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• (Suggested)  https://www.draw.io/ (for management drawings)  
• (Suggested) Loom or Open Broadcaster Software (for homework presentation recordings)  
• (Suggested) Microsoft Planner, Word, and PowerPoint online via office.com (student account login)

Hardware

• N/A 

Prescribed and Recommended Readings

Suggested Textbook

• N/A 

Reference Materials

• The Making of an Expert Engineer 1st Edition by James Trevelyan
• IEEE referencing guide
• Engineering Project Management for the Global High Technology Industry 1st Edition by Sammy Shina
• Engineering Management: Meeting the Global Challenges, Second Edition 2nd Edition by C. M. Chang
• Effective Communications for Project Management, Auerbach Publications, Taylor & Francis Group, by Kliem, R.
• People Management: Everything you need to know about managing and leading people at work Paperback – January       8, 2016, by Chad Halvorson
• A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), 2013 Edition, Publication by Project Management         Institute, USA Pennsylvania
• Various exemplary submissions (covered in tutorials)

Unit Content

Topic 1

Introduction to Industrial Experience Research

1. Introduction
2. Engineering disciplines, basic technologies and processes
3. Visualizing the work environment and preparation for industry
4. Basics of researching the industrial workplace
5. Responsibilities of a professional engineer
6. Investigation of workplace practices and industrial relations

Topic 2

Objective Analysis Skills

1. Decision Making
2. Critical thinking
3. Logic and rationality
4. Inductive and deductive thinking
5. The scientific method
6. Cognitive Biases
7. Logical fallacies

Topic 3

Learning Skills

1. Demonstrating and measuring learning outcomes
2. Key performance indicators
3. Bloom’s taxonomy
4. Memorization techniques and cognitive association
5. Self-reflection technique
6. Ongoing personal and professional development

Topic 4

Introduction to Communication Skills

1. Introduction to Communication
2. Communicating Information
3. Communication Models
4. Written and Oral Communication
5. Non-Verbal Communication
6. Active Listening

Topic 5

Introduction to Managing Communication

1. Emotional Quotient
2. Cultural and Personal Factors
3. Conflict Resolution
4. Persuasive Language
5. Communicating Ideas and Psychology
6. Professional Communication and Terminology

Topic 6

Presenting, Debating and Brainstorming

1. Making an effective presentation
2. Discussion and debate techniques
3. Brainstorming sessions

Topic 7

Introduction to Self-Management and Professionalism

1. Personal Information Management Skills
2. Problem Solving Tools (including heuristic, algorithmic)
3. Idea Generation and Systems Thinking
4. Evaluating Solutions
5. Ethics
6. Engineers Code of Ethics per Engineers Australia

Topic 8

Introduction to International Leadership and Team Dynamics

1. The Role of Leadership
2. Management Models
3. Team Dynamics and organisational structure
4. Cultural Dynamics in Teams
5. Team Management Strategies
6. People, Conflict and HR Management
7. Legal Issues in HR
8. Organisational Structures and Behaviour

Topic 9

Introduction to Project Management and Engineering Management – Processes and Activities

1. Project Management Overview
2. Engineering Management Overview
3. Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
4. Key Engineering Management Processes

Topic 10

Introduction to Project Management and Engineering Management – Managing Projects

1. Project Integration management
2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
4. Planning and Critical Path Method (CPM)
5. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
6. Systems Engineering and Development Life Cycle
7. DevOps

Topic 11

Communication and Reporting

1. Communication Skills
2. Technical Documentation
3. Reports
4. Benchmarking
5. Referencing

Topic 12

Introduction to Engineering Finance and Contracts

1. Cost Engineering
2. Finance for Engineers
3. Procurement
4. Contracts

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• (Suggested) https://www.draw.io/ (for management drawings)

• (Suggested) Loom or Open Broadcaster Software (for homework presentation recordings)  

• (Suggested) Microsoft Planner, Word, and PowerPoint online via office.com (student account login)

Hardware

• N/A