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ENGI45220: Business and Engineering Systems

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Engineering

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • This module is designed solely for students studying on the MSc Energy Engineering Management.
  • To carry out in a group a design of a complex engineering and business system relating to the programme of study.
  • To develop students' understanding of system design.
  • To introduce team-working in the context of modern, interdisciplinary business and design teams.
  • To apply the theory and knowledge gained in lecture courses to a complex engineering and business problem.

Content

  • Literature/market search for existing products/techniques.
  • Identification of requirements for this design, including a business module to support it.
  • Generation of possible solutions and identification of 'best' solution.
  • Splitting of tasks to each student by group under supervision.
  • Detailed analysis and design of each component by individual students.
  • Preparation and delivery of design presentation as a team.
  • Production of initial and final design reports as a team.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • An awareness of the relationship between engineering and business within an energy system context.
  • Understand the stages in the design of an engineering system, from problem conception to detailed design.
  • Understand the importance of information flow within the design team environment.
  • Understand how specialised, theoretical knowledge supports the design process.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health and safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards (AHEP 4 M5 Learning Outcome)

Key Skills:

  • Function effectively as an individual and as a member or leader of a team. Evaluate effectiveness of own and team performance (AHEP 4 M16 Learning Outcome)
  • Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used (AHEP 4 M17 Learning Outcome)

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module will be implemented by selecting a group of students, and setting the group a design and business task that will use skills relevant to the programme of study.
  • The group will be supervised by one or more members of staff, and guided through the various stages of design. At appropriate points, work will be divided up to group members under staff monitoring. By this means, each group member will have to contribute work to the final design which is clearly their own.
  • Assessment will be by submission of a feasibility report, the delivery of a group design presentation, and the submission of a detailed design report. The quality of the final design and business model, the individual contributions and the groups team-working ability will contribute to the assessment. The report must demonstrate the consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures51 hour5 
Project Review Meetings10Typically 1 per week1 hour10 
Preparation, design work and reading185 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Feasibility ReportGroup report of typically 10 pages (2500 words) length20 
PresentationGroup presentation typically 30 minutes in duration20 
Final ReportGroup report of typically 30 pages (7500 words) length60 

Formative Assessment

Feedback will be given to the group and individual students on a weekly basis as the design project progresses.

More information

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Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.