ECE361 Engineering Practice Reporting Page 1

Design Process Assures Design will meet Requirements Stage 1 – Problem Definition & Potential Solutions Requirements Specification Brainstorming Trades Preliminary Design Requirements vs. Capabilities Detailed Design Review Stage 2 – Design Implementation Testing Reporting Stage 3 – Verification This process is part of what we call Systems Engineering Deliver = $$$ Page 2

Purpose of Reporting To tell your client what work you have completed To document your design (permanent record) To explain the rationale supporting your engineering decisions To specify your conclusions and recommendations To get a grade Page 3

Final Report Outline Executive Summary Introduction and Overview Design Alternatives Methodology Results Conclusions Recommendations Supporting Materials Page 4

Executive Summary Concise summary (written for your manager) of essential points in the report Purpose or problem Method Results Conclusions Recommendations This summary is all that may be read of your report by decision-makers and “big-bosses” – be sure it is well-written and portrays the work positively For more information, see exec summary hints Page 5

Introduction & Overview Background Problem or need Purpose of report Overview Prior work This provides background for the problem you are solving, introduces the report, and introduces the solution you are presenting Page 6

Design Alternatives Alternatives Considered Evaluation of alternatives Basis for design selected Show due diligence in pursuing the best solution, not just a cool technology or the best you could come up with. This shows your expertise as an engineer. Page 7

Methodology Engineering Design Construction Operation Verification & Testing This section describes the process used to implement and verify your solution. The goal is to show that the solution has been produced by a sound process. Page 8

Results Test Results Comparison with Requirements This is the “sell-off” section, where you show that your solution meets requirements and performs. This is primarily what the technical customer is interested in seeing as proof of your solution working. Page 9

Conclusions Interpretation of Results What does it mean Explain the significance of your results. Show how your design choices were justified in better-than-required performance, for example. Indicate to the customer the value of your solution’s performance. Page 10

Recommendations Based upon system designed Future design recommendations Expand your value to the customer by showing what else could be done with your design or future designs. Page 11

Supporting Materials Appendices for details Technical details Computer code Drawings CD Roms to support report Page 12

Format of Final Report ECE Department Writing Standards are available on Angel – peruse them for more suggestions and information Page 13

A Final Report is NOT a CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD of your DESIGN PROCESS Page 14

Assembling the Final Report I List conclusions and recommendations; Construct a rough outline to support your conclusions and recommendations; Review the outline within the team; Construct and review a topic sentence outline within the team; This is simply a suggested approach for your team… Page 15

Assembling the Final Report II Prepare a rough draft (the writing assignments may be distributed among the team); Revise and rewrite as many times as needed (use only a single editor for final revision); Read the last draft aloud to catch mistakes and poor wording; Prepare final version of report. Page 16

ECE 361 Assignments INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT – Executive Summary due via CPR See description in this presentation – talk this over as a team, but prepare and submit individually Due dates: Start: Monday, 31 Oct, 12:30 pm; Text Entry, Friday, 4 Nov, 12 am; Final, Monday, 7 Nov, 1:30 pm. TEAM ASSIGNMENT - Prepare and submit final project report, one per team, with individual contribution assignments See description in this presentation, follow writing guidelines Initialed hard copy to instructor by 5 pm, Friday, 11 November Reminder: Final Presentations are Tuesday, 15 November, at 1 pm in O201 - Mandatory Attendance Page 17