431-451 Project Mgt & Product Commercialisation

Upon completion of this subject, the student should understand the role of an engineer in coordinating a multidisciplinary project; understand what is necessary to ensure delivery of projects on time, to the specified quality and within budget; demonstrate skills in forecasting, planning and communicating with management; demonstrate a knowledge of the commercialisation requirements for new products with an emphasis on innovation.

The content covers the study of project management and commercialisation of new products within the context of the modern high technology enterprise, structure and integrated strategy; coordinating marketing and engineering; coordinating marketing and production; coordinating production and engineering; assuring quality; financial return and its effect on growth; general management and personnel policies; formulation of an integrated strategy; reporting and control processes; development of rigorous project management and communication; system engineering approach to project management; planning, estimating, financing and controlling projects using PERT/CPM; cash flow and cost control; cost and schedule control systems (CSCS); design for manufacture; quality assurance management; total quality management; international safety and regulatory requirements; and development of an understanding of processes essential to effective commercialisation of new products, difference between an idea and a business opportunity; innovation and product improvement; protection of intellectual property; product life cycles; venture capital; case studies; industry, and Federal and State government support for product commercialisation.

One 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (70%); assignment, mid-semester test and/or project report not exceeding 20 pages including appendices, diagrams, tables, graphs and computer output (30%). The relative weighting of the assignment, mid-semester test and/or project report will be specified in the first lecture and on the subject web page at the start of semester.