Planning your Project Managing your 333T project is like managing any professional project

Project Tasks (next couple of weeks)  Define the problem or need (and client)  Forecast solutions  Identify research questions (define scope)  Establish evaluation criteria (define scope)

Audience Most important questions for the engineering communicator:

Broad Types of Audiences Most of your audiences will fall into one of three general categories: Decision-Makers Decision-Makers Advisors Advisors Implementers Implementers

Defining a Project: Stage 1 Define the problem or need for a client Forecast solutions Project idea Post project idea on “Message Board” by 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 26! Respond to another idea by Thurs. the 27th.

Defining a Project: Stage 2 (Project Description)  Choose specific solutions (be as specific as possible)  Identify the research questions (scope), as much as possible.  Establish some selection criteria. Sample project description

Defining the Problem or Need Dams in Brushy Creek are out of compliance with current regulations.

Forecasting Solutions General Solution: Upgrade the dams Specific Solutions?? State the most likely possibilities in your Project Description!

Identifying the Research Questions 1. What are ways to “update” dams?  Answering this question enables you to choose alternative solutions  Answer this question in project description.  In sample project description, possible solutions are spillways and outlet works.

Identifying the Research Questions   Once you identify possible solutions, you can begin to outline scope of work.   Identifying specific solutions leads to further research questions: 2. What are the costs and complexity of constructing these particular upgrades?

Establishing Selection Criteria Critical to all decision-making. Where will you have lunch today?

Criteria are Measuring Tools: Measure Feasibility of Solutions  Standard categories of selection criteria: Time to implement Time to implement Cost Cost Size/Weight/Other physical aspects Size/Weight/Other physical aspects Adaptability/Compatibility Adaptability/Compatibility Efficiency Efficiency

Determining Scope  What information do I read?  Where will I look for it? On web or in print? On web or in print?  To whom will I talk?  What will I observe?  Will I do testing?  Will I administer surveys? Problem topic

Project Description: Scope The scope of my project involves evaluating the selected dam and the area around it and assessing possible solutions to meet TNRCC dam-safety regulations. I will research the TNRCC code requirements for such dams, look at different ways to update an already existing dam structure, and rank the pros and cons of each solution. The two alternative solutions that look the best right now are spillways and outlet works.

Project Description: Limitations I will not consider the technical calculations involved in evaluating the dam structure itself, nor will I examine the amount of loss possible if the dam failed. I will assume the dam being considered is typical of earthen structures used for such purposes. I will choose one of the dams classified as high hazard in order to propose solutions specific to the dam in question.

Project Framework (graded assignments) Define the problem Forecast solutions Identify the research question Establish selection criteria Establish final research methods Research and interpret information Reach conclusions Arrive at recommendation Memo Proposal Oral Progress report Report draft Final report Presentation

You can use writing to plan and develop your project! Writing in stages helps answer many critical questions: What is it you really want to say? What is it you really want to say? What will convince your audience? What will convince your audience? What data/info. do you still need to What data/info. do you still need to collect? collect? Does your methodology hold up? Does your methodology hold up?

Possible Research Methods Conduct tests Observe Solicit expert opinion Collect and synthesize information from published and unpublished sources Make calculations Create preliminary designs

Guidelines for Projects  Don’t do a design project  You may use design to come up with solutions. Sometimes you have to design in order to figure out results (e.g., cost), especially for a feasibility project.  Use design this way: Design Solutions Evaluation

Don’t Use Design this Way Solutions Design CriteriaDesign as final product

More Guidelines  Start with client: a decision-maker (usually upper management)  Try not to have relatives as the actual client. Use the relative’s problem and try to create a less personal audience/reader.

Definitions  Constraints: legal and regulatory requirements Research these first Research these first  Criteria: ways of comparing and measuring possible solution (s)  Scope: areas of your investigation Based on the possible solutions you will investigate and the criteria you have chosen to measure and compare those solutions Based on the possible solutions you will investigate and the criteria you have chosen to measure and compare those solutions  Limitations: what you will not research... but might be expected to. You may not have any. You may not have any.

In lab this week... Team discussions of individual projects. Work on project descriptions. Instructions on developing and writing project descriptions (due Monday).