Senior Design Discussion March 26 & 27, 2008

Outline How It Works Course Objectives Project Requirements Challenges Project Pre-Proposal Your Next Steps Summer Schedule

How It Works Engineering design experience  You (team of 5-6 ISyE students)  Find & execute an IE project Guidance is available  Faculty advisor for each team Evaluation (i.e., grading) at the end  Senior design coordinator

Senior Design Objectives Experience IE professional practice  Define problem  Collect, analyze and validate data  Develop and implement strategy  Demonstrate value to client Learn to work in a team environment  Dr. Blake Cherrington (ILE) Enhance communication skills  Workforce Communication Lab  Feedback and practice on presenting and writing

Project Requirements Must be a challenge Must apply IE methods Must add value Must contain significant design components  Design (or redesign) a system  Not just “design” a simulation, optimization, etc. Advice: One of two most important decisions you will make! Don’t settle; stretch!

Challenges Design Challenges  Problem not clearly defined  Data unavailable or hard to obtain  Strategy not apparent (even to your advisor) Course Challenges  Time  Compressed schedule  LARGE commitment necessary…  …but not sufficient (grades based on quality & value)  Group dynamics/conflict No dying whales, please!

Challenges Professional Challenges  Emulate workplace setting, not classroom setting  Deadlines are real  “Mandatory” means mandatory  Anything hard is your responsibility  Communications must be:  Correct (spelling, grammar, accuracy, etc.)  Respectful and appropriate (language, content, and amount)  Faculty/client time has greater value than student time  Feedback may be blunt and negative  High stakes + high pressure  Ethical decisions required  NO DROPS ALLOWED (unless approved by Associate Chair for Undergraduate Programs)

Project Pre-Proposal Convince me this project is appropriate  Significant IE design content  Significant difficulty  Significant value You will ONLY be admitted into senior design if your pre-proposal is APPROVED by the senior design coordinator.

Project Pre-Proposal Cover page with contact information  Designate team leader for contact purposes  Indicate Fall ’08 graduating seniors Extensive project description about Company Problem Design Value Site visit required Due Date: June 26 (summer!)

Your Next Steps Two sections (MWF 12-2 & 6-8, or TR 12-3 & 6-9)  Form team of 5 or 6 in same section  Prerequisites ISyE 3044, 3133, 3232; LCC 3401 Appropriate elective(s) for your project Find potential clients  Company postings on ISyE website  Past senior design teams  Internships and co-ops  Cold-calling

Project Tips Find a company or organization you’re interested in Find something to do – don’t just ask for something Bad: What does the client say they want? Good: What is really useful/what do they really need? Good: What might they not realize is useful/needed until you tell them?

Your Next Steps (Con’t) Select excellent project and company  Accessibility  Cooperation  Disclosure Reports and presentations are public GT policy: Only students can sign non-disclosure agreement Prepare high-quality pre-proposal for review Submit pre-proposal draft June 26, 4pm  Turn in hard copy (outside Dr. Sokol’s office)  copy to Dr. Sokol Label file “Name_of_Company Pre-Proposal.doc” Take initiative and be professional

Summer Schedule Evaluation by senior design coordinator  Project and proposal accepted or rejected Consultation with senior design coordinator  Sign up for time slot July 1-3  Be available for possible subsequent meeting(s) Revision or new pre-proposal due August 4 (Mon) Be available for possible meeting August 5-7 Notification of permit by August 8 (Fri)

Summer FAQs Do I have to show up for summer meetings?  Yes, unless you live/work outside of driving distance. What if I live/work far away?  You’re still expected to contribute to the project-finding and pre-proposal effort. Shirkers will be penalized. What should we bring to meetings?  Be prepared: come with your best work and focused questions. “Here’s a bad draft; read it and tell us what to do” is NOT acceptable. “Is this good?” is NOT acceptable. Will you have summer office hours?  Yes, periodically; I’ll announce them in advance.

Project Pre-proposal Warning You will ONLY be admitted into senior design if your pre-proposal is APPROVED by the senior design coordinator.

Questions? Contact information  Dr. Joel Sokol Rm 418 Groseclose Resources: Do NOT contact other faculty without prior approval from senior design coordinator