Course Title: Case Studies 1- Project Planning and Infrastructure Management

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Case Studies 1- Project Planning and Infrastructure Management

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MANU2132

City Campus

Postgraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Distance / Correspondence

Sem 1 2013

MANU2132

City Campus

Postgraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2011

MANU2132

City Campus

Postgraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face or Internet

Sem 1 2007,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010

MANU2132

City Campus

Postgraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Internet

Sem 2 2012

Course Coordinator: Dr. Arun Kumar

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 4328

Course Coordinator Email: a.kumar@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 57.03.020

Course Coordinator Availability: Monday 1:00 to 3:00 pm


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course introduces students the applications of Systems Engineering methodology in the context of infrastructure development and management. Cases and readings will expose students you to the challenges of developing and managing infrastructure in both the public and private (commercial) domains. Emphasis is on how systems engineering can be tailored to meet the technical and performance needs associated with developing and/or operating new or existing infrastructure systems for telecommunication, energy, water, gas, electricity and transportation industries. This is particularly important in this era of growth, both through global alliances and dealing with issues involved in the long-range strategic positioning of emerging companies.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

a) Have an understanding of Identify how systems engineering is currently being applied professionally to various infrastructure projects and organizations.
b) Learn the concept of tailoring Tailor systems engineering methodology to match the project or organisational need and objectives.
c) Examine the critical issues and systems characteristics associated with tailoring of systems engineering applications by comparing these with the content (“how to”) of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook 2004 v.2 a


see above


Overview of Learning Activities

1. Evaluate the Systems Engineering approach adopted in this case study in terms of:
• Mission Analysis/Needs analysis
• Requirements analysis
• Reengineering a product or service
• Removing limitations
• Change management
• Control Management.

2. Define the Systems Engineering Building Blocks utilized for designing the system model.

3. Examine the key characteristics of System Engineering Design, whether it follows a particular model (e.g. Soft System Methodology, Hard System), standard ( e.g. IEEE 1220-1998) or framework (e.g. TQM, CAD/CAM).

4. Identify and resolve complexity such as the special features of the system developed in terms of:
• Stakeholders involved
• Relationship and interfaces among the subsystems/systems components.

5. Evaluate the Systems Engineering Application, encompassing:
• Effectiveness of methodology
• Appropriateness to the real life
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Tailoring the Systems Engineering approach
• Documentation
• Traceability

6. Summary and lesson learnt
List few key outcomes of your findings of your case study.


Overview of Learning Resources

These resources are available online. You can download them once you are enrolled in the course.
• Doukas, L. Course Guide Notes, MANU2132 Case Studies 1: Project Planning and Infrastructure Management, SAMME, RMIT University, 2005.
• Doukas, L. (Editor), Reading Notes for MANU2132, CASE Studies I: Project Planning and Infrastructure Management, SAMME, RMIT University, 2005.
You can obtain a copy of the handbook (below) either electronically or in hard copy. Purchase directly from International Council of Systems Engineering (INCOSE, US$25) or you can join INCOSE ($10 student membership) and download it for free at http://www.incose.org

INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook v2a (released 2004)

New references:
• Andrew P. Sage & James E. Armstrong, JR. (2000) " Introduction to Systems Engineering", John Wiley & Sons
• INCOSE ( 2007) " Systems Engineering Handbook" Version 3.1, August 2007

Additional Materials
• If you completed the previous Systems Engineering courses (Introduction to Systems Engineering and Systems Engineering Methodology) you can refresh your knowledge for this course by reviewing the RMIT Course Notes (2005) which you may already have.
• EIA 632 Processes for Engineering A system, Version 1.0 28 April 1998. This can be purchased from Global Engineering Documents (Address: 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112-5704 USA or call USA and Canada 1-800-854-7179)URL – http://www.global.his.com 
• IEEE Std 1220 - 1998, Trial-use Standard for Application and Management of Systems Engineering Process, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Inc, New York. . URL – http://ieeexplore.iee.org/iel4/5981/16015/00741941.pdf

RMIT University Library supports students by providing ONLINE RESOURCES.
* access to online data bases
* library catalogue searching
* document delivery service
* online question and answer service
* guides and tutorials for information literacy including referencing
* Full textbooks and journals

For more information visit the RMIT web sites:
* http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/info-trek
* http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/assistance 
* http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/contacts


Overview of Assessment

Assignment 1
Start this assignment in week 5 and submit in week 8.
Select 6 case studies of your choice from the Case Study Program. For each case study evaluate the context in terms of its contribution to the systems engineering body of knowledge by comparing it with the relevant sections in the INCOSE Handbook. Please refer to provided instructions for evaluating any case study. 60% maximum contribution is awarded to the final grade of the course. Limit of 1000 words for each case study, written on A4 pages with a font size of 12.

Assignment 2
Start this assignment in week 9 and
submit in week 13.
Select an infrastructure system or project that you are familiar with and provide details of the current systems development practices and how these are managed. Also state the relative strength and weakness, and compare it with an appropriate case study which you have studied.
30% maximum contribution is awarded to the final grade of the course. Limit of 2500 words on A4 pages with a font size of 12.

Contribution and participation in the Threaded Discussions:
10% maximum contribution to final grade, based on the frequency and quality of the contributions.