Pioneers in Engineering Team Management Workshop Gary Chang 1

structure of the workshop 1.Schedule 2.Tips on Team Management 2

Sample Schedule Week 1: Brainstorm and Design Week 2: Prototype Week 3: Finalize Design, Order Parts, Build Week 4: Build, Integration Week 5: Test Weeks 6-7: Make Fixes, Improvements; Driver Practice

Realistic Schedule Week 1: Brainstorm and Design Week 2: Design Discussions Stall Week 3: Apathy Sets In Week 4: Finally Settle on a Compromise Week 5: Build Week 6: Figure out that Compromise Solution Doesn’t Work Week 7: Frenetically Take Apart and Rebuild

How to stick on the schedule Freeze the schedule Work HARDER! Cut unrealistic parts off 5

Team management Leader ≠ Dictator Safety!!! Keep track the progress Motivate your team members and get them involved Team cheers 6

Hold meeting effectively Have agenda in advance. Discuss with in a framework. Record all ideas Weigh pros and cons/ Voting Combing similar ideas 7

Brainstorm and Design Before any brainstorming, everyone should read rules carefully. Do brainstorming on strategy ONLY. Do NOT talk about robot (neglect feasibility) and try to narrow down solutions afterwards. Repeat the process for design. Make sure everyone engaged 8

Some Tips (1) A.Make sure everyone understands why you are meeting. B.Identify what it is you are going to accomplish and establish criteria for agreement. It may help to write it down so everyone stays focused on what “it” is. C.Use brainstorming techniques to get input from everyone, and write down all ideas. D.Weigh alternatives against objective criteria previously established. Some common techniques are weighted voting, combining similar ideas, testing the feasibility of an idea, and group consensus. 9

Some Tips (2) E.Avoid the “we have always done it that way” mindset. F.Write down any decisions and state what you want to implement. G.Be sure to and ask if there is anyone who does not understand the solution/plan. H.Implement the selected solution, and make sure what you put into practice meets the original intent. 10

What’s next Talk to your mentors to decide the time of the first meeting. Read rules/manuals carefully before the meeting. 11