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MXX507

Unit Name PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

Unit Code MXX507

Unit Duration 1 Term (online) or 1 Semester (on-campus)

Master of Engineering (all sub-disciplines)

Award Duration: 2 years  

Year Level 1 st

Unit Creator /
Andrew Stuart
Reviewer

Core/Elective: Core

Pre/Co-
None
requisites

Grad Dip total course credit points = 24

Credit Points (3 credits x 8 (units))

Masters total course credit points = 48

(3 credits x 12 (units) + 12 credits (Thesis))

Mode of Delivery Online or on-campus. 

10 hours per week:

     Lecture - 1 hour
Unit Workload      Tutorial - 1 hour
     Practical / Lab - 1 hour (where applicable)
     Personal Study recommended - 7 hours (guided and unguided)

Unit Description and General Aims

Engineering Management is a particular form of management that is required to successfully lead
engineering or technical personnel in the execution of projects. Engineering Management can be used in
either functional management or project management.
The purpose of this unit is to provide students with the opportunity to develop professional engineering
attributes in alignment to the Washington Accord.
The successful engineering manager must have the skills necessary to coach, mentor and motivate
technical professionals in such a way as to both to achieve the objects of the organisation and to satisfy
the personal drivers and needs of the individuals.
This unit will introduce business knowledge and communication skills and adds technical knowledge

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necessary to lead engineering teams and execute complex solutions.

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

1. Define and evaluate information to facilitate the coordination and management of engineering
works
   Bloom’s Level 5.
2. Utilise knowledge from a range of Engineering and Business sub-disciplines to coordinate and
manage projects that require engineering control,
    Bloom’s Level 6
3. Evaluate and use suitable and appropriate engineering project management tools and techniques
in the control of engineering works
   Bloom’s Level 5
4. Demonstrate leadership, professional behaviour and ethical practice in the context of managing
engineering projects
    Bloom’s Level 6
5. Communicate effectively to all stakeholders using appropriate engineering project management
systems and techniques in the control of engineering activities
Bloom’s Level 5
6. Practice engineering management with a global perspective and apply appropriate international
standards
   Bloom’s Level 6
7. Perform self-reflective assessment on alignment to Washington Accord Professional Graduate
Attributes
    Bloom’s Level 5
8. Demonstrate communication, interpersonal and literacy skills
   Bloom’s Level 6

Student assessment

When
Assessment Type
assessed Weighting Learning
(e.g. Assignment - 2000 word essay (specify topic) (% of total Outcomes
(eg Week
Examination (specify length and format)) unit marks) Assessed
5)

Assessment 1

Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer

questions / Role Play / Self-Assessment /
After Topic 
Presentation 15% 1, 2, 3, 8
5
Example topic: Selecting optimal leadership,
communication and management strategies (topics
1-4).

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Assessment 2

Type: Report / Group work / Short answer questions /

Case study
Progress report utilizing literature review, hypothesis,
and methodology with some discussion and After Topic 
25% 2, 3, 5
conclusions 8
Word length: 2000
Example topic: ‘Application and advantages of using
Engineering Management principles for both large and
small project execution’ (topics 5-8).

Assessment 3

Type: Report / Site Visit / Problem analysis

Report introducing safety, commercial legal and
organisational and industry factors. Extend the report
by adding sections on: alternative methodology,
implementation / evaluation, verification / validation,
conclusion / challenges and recommendations / After Topic  1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
40%
future work. 12 6, 7, 8
Word length: 4000
Example topic: “Report analysing the uses and
effectiveness of Engineering Management across
industries and countries with regard to cost-
effectiveness, efficiency and human relations”
(topics1-12).

Practical Participation

E.g. Team up and prepare a 2-4 slide presentation on

a problem in your industry, and assess how the team Continuous 15% 5, 6, 7, 8
would go about solving it using professional
engineering attributes.

Attendance / Tutorial Participation

Example: Presentation, discussion, group work, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Continuous 5%
exercises, self-assessment/reflection, case study 6, 7
analysis, application.

Prescribed and Recommended Readings

Required textbook(s)

• Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), 6th Edition. Project Management
Institute, 2017. ISBN: 978-1523112326
• J. Nicholas, H. Steyn, Project Management for Engineering, Business, and Technology. Routledge,
2016. ISBN: 9781317384809

Reference Materials

Number of peer-reviewed journals and websites (advised during lectures). Some examples are listed
below.

• Management by Stoner J.A. and Freeman R.E.

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• Great Ideas in Management by Parkinson C.N., Rustomji M.K. and Sapre S.
• Management: Principles and Practice by S.K. Mandal
• Strategic Corporate Management for Engineering, 2000 Oxford University Press
• Human Side of Project Leadership 2007 Project Management Institute, Inc. (PMI)
• Project Leadership: From Theory to Practice 1998 Project Management Institute, Inc. (PMI)
• Demystifying Marketing - A Guide to the Fundamentals for Engineers, 2007, Institution of
Engineering and Technology
• Effective Team Leadership for Engineers, 2009, Institution of Engineering and Technology
• Effective Communication Skills for Scientific and Technical Professionals, 2000, by H.E. Chambers
• The Ten Commandments for Business Failure, 2011, D.R. Keough
• The Management Gurus: Lessons from the Best Management Books of All Time, 2008, by C. Lauer
• Technical Writing A-Z: A Common-sense Guide to Engineering Reports and Theses, by T.M. Young
• Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer (pdf), by Engineers Australia

Unit Content
One topic is delivered per contact week, with the exception of part-time 24-week units, where one topic is
delivered every two weeks.

Topic 1: Communication Skills

1. Written, Oral and Non-Verbal Communication

2. Active Listening
3. Emotional Quotient
4. Conflict Resolution
5. Persuasive Language and Psychology

Topic 2: Leadership And Team Dynamics

1. Leadership
2. Management Models
3. Team Dynamics
4. Organizational Structure
5. Human Resources Management

Topic 3: Engineering Management

1. Engineering Management
2. Engineering Performance Indicators
3. Problem Solving Tools
4. Standards in Engineering Management

Topic 4: Project Management 1 (Introduction)

1. Introduction to Project Management

2. Systems Engineering
3. Development Lifecycle
4. Integration In Systems Development Projects
5. Scope management, Specification and Work Breakdown Structure

Topic 5: Project Management 2 (Time and Cost Management)

1. Activity-on-node (AON)
2. The Critical Path
3. Scheduling With Resource Constraints
4. Program Evaluation & Review Technique (PERT)
5. Cost Estimates and Escalation
6. Monte Carlo Analysis

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Topic 6: Project Management 3 (Communication, Contracting and Procurement Management)

1. Project Communication Management

2. Project Contracting
3. Procurement Management
4. Stakeholder Management

Topic 7: Project Management 4 (Risk and Quality Management)

1. Risk Assessment
2. Risk Response Planning
3. Risk Analysis Methods
4. The Concept of Quality
5. Quality Management

Topic 8: Engineering Documentation

1. Technical Writing
2. Engineering Documentation, Preparation, Review and Approval
3. Logic diagrams and Flowcharts
4. Engineering Management Plans and Procedures

Topic 9: User Requirements, RFP and Reporting

1. Request For Proposal (RFP)

2. Need Definition
3. User Requirements
4. Proposal Selection
5. Reporting

Topic 10: Commercial, Legal and Organizational Engineering

1. Contract Review and Development

2. Tender and Its Preparation
3. Business Process Improvement
4. DMAIC Methodology
5. Economics and Investments
6. Intellectual Property, Business Law, and Entrepreneurship

Topic 11: Negotiation

1. Types of Negotiations
2. Negotiation Analysis
3. Develop Relationships and Power
4. Psychological Tools in Negotiation

Topic 12: Case Study

1. Problem Solving Using DMAIC

2. Project Planning

a. Stakeholders
b. Tasks
c. Team
d. Deliverables
e. Schedule
f. Cost
g. Risk Analysis

Engineers Australia
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The Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards for the Professional Engineer, approved as of
2013. This table is referenced in the mapping of graduate attributes to learning outcomes and via the
learning outcomes to student assessment.

Stage 1 Competencies and Elements of Competency

1. Knowledge and Skill Base

Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical

1.1
sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline.

Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and

1.2
computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline.

In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering

1.3
discipline

 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering

1.4
discipline.

 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the

1.5
engineering discipline.

Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of

1.6
sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline.

2. Engineering Application Ability

Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem-

2.1
solving.

2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.

Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering

2.4
projects.

3. Professional and Personal Attributes

3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability.

3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.

3.3 Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.

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3.4 Professional use and management of information.

3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct.

3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership.

Software/Hardware Used
Software

• Software: N/A

• Version: N/A

• Instructions:  N/A

• Additional resources or files: N/A

Hardware

• N/A

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