MECH4660: ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
FINAL EXAM
INSTRUCTIONS
The end of term assessment for MECH4660/AMME9601 is scheduled as a 2-hour examination.
It is worth 50% of the final mark for the overall subject. The individual exam questions are drawn
from lecture information provided and covered within the entire course, content inclusive of
information presented by guest speakers.
Students will be required to submit via TURNITIN only 2 x prepared answers (individual
submissions) to questions that are circulated prior to the end of term. There will be 5 specific
questions that will be issued separately well before the end of term. Students can prepare
solutions to these five questions during the term and including the exam day period. No
assistance or tutorial advice is offered, and students should note that this an individual
assessment. It is not a group exercise and sharing/ collaboration is completely prohibited. If any
transgression is identified, then it will be handled according to the university polices.
The exam answers be submitted via TURITIN. The exam will present two only of the five
questions during the semester will require “uploading” in Pdf format. Instructions will be issued
how to upload responses. Therefore, students should ideally prepare answers to all five
questions, well in advance of the exam. These two selected questions will be assessed and
marked. Students are only required to upload two answers/solutions issued during the semester
or alternatively, prepare and upload solutions during the 2 hour exam period. Please note that
the two questions are selected by the examiner and not selected by the student.
Students should make a genuine effort to consider all course inputs and factors to construct a
genuine individual response to questions. It is expected that the response to questions
submitted can, if desired, include non-text input.
The lecturer is unable to provide general guidance and interpretation or assistance with these
exam questions.
Students must submit a “readable text“ response to each question i.e. a typed Pdf submission.
Reponses can include diagrams etc, that can be read by TURNITIN. It is expected that each
answe
solution maybe 3-4 single space A4 pages in length. References and bibliographies are
not required.
QUESTION 1 (ANSWER SHOULD BE 3 TO 4 PAGES)
Engineers are often tasked with numerous project management responsibilities. The role and
scope can be varied to include internal projects, external & third projects as well as contractual
client-based projects.
Outline, discuss and comment on some aspects of effective project management such as risk
and standard commercial imperatives. Explain the ove
iding principles and rules of good
project management. When does a project start and finish? What are some of the contractual
lessons that have been highlighted within the course content? Please overview the critically
important attributes of an effective project manager.
QUESTION 2 (ANSWER SHOULD BE 3 TO 4 PAGES)
Undertaking a business venture and/or embarking on an independent career usually involves
careful strategic considerations. Discuss and comment on some of the various business
structure alternatives that might be prudent for a professional engineer in the first 5 years of
independent activities. What are the inherit technical and commercial risks that should be
considered and some sensible actions that can be put into place? Are there other
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societal considerations and activities that impact stakeholders and third parties? Comment and
explain. Measurement and performance of business entities requires monitoring and reporting.
Comment on the interpretation of the key functions of standard financial statements used to
assess organisation performance.
QUESTION 3 (ANSWER SHOULD BE 3 TO 4 PAGES)
Effective management in organizations is essential for long term success. What do you
understand as the essential characteristics of an effective manager? Can you comment of the
ole of a leader versus a manger? Comment on direction setting and values in virtual teams as
opposed to conventional organisational structures? Communication skills are important
attributes for leaders and staff. Comment and discuss how this is best achieved.