Alisha D. Youngblood

A Preliminary Assessment of the Relationships Between Project Success, System Engineering, and Team Organization

Abstract: Demand for improved functionality in modern aerospace systems has resulted in increased project complexity. Managers are finding it even more difficult to balance cost, schedule, and performance. Often, system engineering is proposed as a means to balance these demands; however, guidance on tailoring system engineering and team organization to effectively deploy team assets is often incomplete. This paper reports on the development and testing of a methodology to assess the relationship between project success, system engineering, and team organization. The initial work is showing promise in revealing correlations. Data is currently being gathered and analyzed on additional projects, relative to the initial project requirements as well as other similar projects. It is hoped that there will be sufficient data to statistically evaluate these relationships. The longterm goal of this project is to look at statistical relationships so that a project team can effectively tailor their system engineering processes.

Considering Risk Within Net Present Value: Calculations for Government Projects

The vision for space includes Shuttle retirement by 2010 and development of new launch vehicles; however, budget increases are not projected. To control costs additional insight into cost factors early in the system life cycle is needed. This article reports on a new launch vehicle upper-stage engine trade study where insight into cost factors was gained by using net present value and applying a set of risk factors to incorporate the risks inherent to key system life cycle phases. A matrix is presented that provides a general framework for assessing these risk levels. This approach shows the effects of various cost factors on the system cost and requires modest resource expenditures for the analysis itself.

Professional Development Training for Engineering Managers

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to assist engineering managers in developing a better understanding of how to meet the number of professional development hours (PDHs) required by state engineering licensing boards in order to become a registered professional engineer. A study was conducted to identify the total number of PDH units for all engineers across the United States and individual state requirements. The article discusses the various methods that can be used by engineering managers to satisfy PDH units toward state engineering registration. State laws regulating professional development as well as particular engineering management focus areas are identified in this article.

Aligning Strategy and Capital Allocation Decisions: A Case Study

Abstract: This article presents a case study on the use of multi-criteria decision analysis tools to improve the alignment of strategy and capital allocation decisions. A questionnaire was used to test for consistency of priorities regarding capital allocation decisions among managers. There was a significant divergence of opinion regarding ranking of attributes used for comparison of investment alternatives. This suggested that the strategy at the strategic business unit (SBU) was not resulting in a consistent vision of priorities regarding investment decisions. Additionally, a case study of four investment alternatives was presented to managers at the SBU. A comparison was made between the decisions made using non-structured decision-making methods characteristic of those employed at the SBU and those using traditional scorecard, payback, rank sum, and rank reciprocal multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques.