Engineering Management Midterm

Research

This area of engineering function is where the engineer is engaged in the process of learning about nature and codifying this knowledge into usable theories

Design and development

This area of engineering function is where the engineer undertakes the activity of turning a product concept into a finished physical item

Testing

This area of engineering function is where the engineer works in a unit where new products or parts are tested for work abilit

Manufacturing

This area of engineering function is where the engineer is directly in charge of production personnel or assumes responsibility for the product

Construction

This area of engineering function is where the construction engineer is either directly in charge of the construction personnel or may have responsibility for the quality of the construction process

Sales

This area of engineering function is where the engineer assists the company’s customers to meet their needs, especially those that require technical expertise

Consulting

This area of engineering function is where the engineer works as consultant of any individual or organization requiring his services

Government

This area of engineering function is where the engineer may find employment in the government performing any of the various tasks in regulating, monitoring, and controlling the activities of various institutions, publ

Teaching

This area of engineering function is where the engineer gets employment in a school and is assigned as a teacher of engineering courses

Management

This area of engineering function is where the engineer is assignees to manage groups of people performing specific tasks

Level One

In classification of organizations according to the degree of engineering jobs performed, this level are those with minimal engineering jobs like retailing firms

Level Two

In classification of organizations according to the degree of engineering jobs performed, this level are those with a moderate degree engineering jobs like transportation companies

Level Three

In classification of organizations according to the degree of engineering jobs performed, this level are those with a high degree of engineering jobs like construction firms

Engineering Management

refers to the activity combining “technical knowledge with the ability to organize and coordinate worker power, materials, machinery, and money

Management

may be defined as the “creative problem solving-process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling an organization’s resources to achieve its mission and objectives

Planning
Organizing
Directing (or leading)
Controlling

Enumerate the process of management

Ability
Motivation to manage
Opportunity

Enumerate the three general preconditions for achieving lasting success as a manager according to Kreitner

Managerial ability

refers to the capability of an engineer manager to achieve organizational objectives effectively and efficiently

Effectiveness

refers to a description of “whether objectives are accomplished” (Higgins)

Efficiency

is a description of the relative amount of resources

Decision-making

may be defined as “the process of identifying and choosing alternative courses of action in a manner appropriate to the demads

diagnose problem
analyze environment
articulate problem or opportunity
develop viable alternatives
evaluate alternatives
make a choice
implement decision
evaluate and adapt decision results

Enumerate the decision-making process according to David H. Holt

Problem

exists when there is

internal and external

What are the two major concerns of the environment

Internal environment

refers to organizational activities within a firm that surrounds decision-making

External environment

refers to variables that are outside the organization and not typically within the short-run control of top management

Value of the alternatives

refers to the benefits that can be expected

Cost of the alternatives

refers to out-of-pocket costs, opportunity costs, and follow-on costs

Risk characteristics

refer tot he likelihood of achieving the goals of the alternatives

Choice-making

refers to the process of selecting among alternatives representing potential solutions to a problem

Implementation

refers to the carrying out the decision so that the objectives sought will be achieved

Feedback

refers to the process which requires checking at each stage of the process to assure that the alternatives generated, the criteria used in evaluation, and the solution selected to implementation are in keeping with the goals and objective originally specified

Control

refers to actions made to ensure that activities performed match the desired acitivites or goals, that have been set

qualitative evaluation and quantitative evaluation

What are the two approaches in solving problems

Qualitative evaluation

This term refers to evaluation of alternatives using intuition and objective judgement

Quantitative evaluation

This term refers to the evaluation of alternatives using any technique in a group classified as rational and analytical

Inventory Models

consist of several types all designed to help the engineer manager make decisions regarding inventory

Economic order quantity model

This type of inventory model is used to calculate the number of items that should be ordered at one time to minimize the total yearly cost of placing orders and carrying the items in inventory

Production order

Back order inventory model

This type of inventory model is an inventory model used for planned shortages

Quantity discount model

This type of inventory model is used to minimize the total cost when quantity discounts are offered by suppliers

Queuing Theory

is on e that describes how to determine the number of service units that will minimize both customer waiting time and cost of service

Network Models

These are models where large complex tasks are broken into smaller segments that can be managed independently

The Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT)

This network model is a technique which enables engineer managers to schedule, monitor, and control large and complex projects by employing three time estimates for each activity

The Critical Path Method (CPM)

This is a network technique using only one time factor per activity that enables engineer managers to schedule, monitor, and control large and complex projects

Forecasting

may be defines as “the collection of past and current information to make predictions about the future”

Regression model

is a forecasting method that examines the association between two or more variables, it uses data from previous periods to predict future events

Regression analysis

may be simple or multiple depending on the number of independent variables present

Simple regression

a type of regression where one independent variable is involved

Multiple regression

a type of regression where two or more independent variables are involved

Simulation

is a model constructed to represent reality, on which conclusions about real-life problems can be used

Simulation

it is a highly sophisticated tool by means of which the decision maker develops a mathematical model of the system under consideration

Linear programming

is a quantitative technique that is used to produce an optimum solution within the bounds imposed by constraints upon the decision

Sampling theory

is a quantitative technique where samples of populations are statistically determined to be used for a number of processes, such as quality control and marketing research

Decision theory

refers to the “rational way to conceptualize, analyze. and solve problems in situations involving limited, or partial information about the decision environment

Bayesian Analysis

the purpose of this is to revise and update the initial assessments of the event probabilities generated by the alternative solutions

Bayes Criterion

selects the decision alternative having the maximum expected loss if he is working with a loss table

Plan

the output of planning, provides a methodical way of achieving desired results, it serves as a useful guide

Planning

refers to “the management function that involves anticipating future trends and determining the best strategies and tactics to achieve organizational objectives” (Nickels and others)

Planning

defined as “the selection and sequential ordering of tasks required to achieve an organiz

Planning

defined as “deciding what will be done, who will do it, where, when and how it will be done, and the standards to which it will be done” (Cole and Hamilton)

Top management level

planning activities undertaken in this level involves strategic planning

Middle management level

planning activities undertaken in this level involves intermediate planning

Lower management level

planning activities undertaken in this level involves operational planning

Strategic Planning

refers to the process of determining the major goals of the organization and the policies and strategies for obtaining and using resources to achieve those goals

Strategic planning

the top management of any firm is involved in this type of planning, the whole company is considered, specifically its objectives and current resources

strategic plan

the output of strategic planning is called _________

strategic plan

this spells out “the decision about long-range goals and the course of action to achieve these goals

intermediate planning

refers to “the process of determining the contributions that subunits can make with allocated resources

intermediate planning

this type of planning is undertaken by middle management, this is designed to support the strategic plan

operational planning

refers to “the process of determining how specific tasks can best be accomplished on time with available resources

operational planning

this type of planning is a responsibility of lower management, it is performed to support of the strategic plan and the intermediate plan

setting organizational, divisional, or unit goals
developing strategies or tactics to reach those goals
determining resources needed
setting standards

enumerate the planning process

goals

may be defined as the “precise statement of results sought, quantified in time and magnitude, where possible”

strategies

the ways to realize the goals are called _____-

strategy

may be defined as “a course of action aimed at ensuring that the organization will achieve its objectives”

tactic

a short-term action taken by management to adjust to negative internal or external influences

tactic

they are formulated and implemented in support of the firm strategies

tactical plan

the decision about short-term goals and the courses of action are indicated in the _____

standard

may be defined as “a quantitative or qualitative measuring device designed to help monitor the performances or people. capital goods, or processes”

functional areas, time horizon, and frequency of use

Plans are of different types. They may be classified in terms of _____, ______, and _____.

Marketing plan

the type of functional area plans that is the written document or blueprint for implementing and controlling an organization’s marketing activities related to a particular marketing strategy

Production plan

the type of functional area plans that is a written document that states the quantity of output a company must produce in broad terms and by product family

Financial plan

the type of functional area plans that is a document that summarizes the current financial situation of the firm, analyzes financial needs, and recommends a direction for financial activities

Human resource management plan

the type of functional area plans that is a document that indicates the human resource needs of a company detailed in terms of quantity and quality and based on the requirements of the company’s strategic plan