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Session 2142

KEY ELEMENTS IN DEVELOPING AN ONLINE GRADUATE COURSE IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT P. B. Ravikumar Professor, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department University of Wisconsin, Platteville, WI

Abstract The University of Wisconsin - Platteville offers a completely online Master of Engineering program. The curriculum consists of core courses, technical emphasis courses, and elective courses. The curriculum is enhanced consistently through improvements in existing courses and the introduction of new courses. A course on Systems Engineering Management is being developed by the author and will be offered online beginning in 2004. The Master of Science in Project Management program is also exploring the possibility of including the course in its curriculum. Key elements in the development of the Systems Engineering Management course are addressed. They include an overview of the Master of Engineering curriculum, background of Systems Engineering Management, the role of Systems Engineering Management in the curriculum, major topics planned for coverage in the course, strategy for teaching / learning, and addressing other factors relating to the online mode of offering the course.

Why Systems Engineering Management in the Program? The American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) defines Engineering Management as “the art and science of planning, organizing, allocating resources, and directing and controlling activities which have a technological component”1. This definition is followed by the sentence: “Engineering Management is rapidly becoming recognized as a professional discipline.” Engineering managers are distinguished from other managers by the fact that they posses both an ability to apply engineering principles and a skill in organizing and directing technical projects and people in technical jobs”. The Systems Engineering Management course uses a systematic approach to both the system design / engineering and management aspects. In addition, the course offers the link between the system design and management functions. The focus on system level functions is consistent with the demands imposed by the design and development needs of new systems and/or the re-engineering of current systems. Current trends indicate that, in general, the complexity of systems is increasing, with constantly changing requirements and the introduction of new technologies on a continuing and evolutionary basis. It is now apparent that the new era of global transportation, global communication, global competition, and even global turmoil is not only different in type and direction, it is unique technologically and politically. It is a time of restructuring and invention, of architecting new products and processes, and of new ways of thinking about how systems are created and built.2 It is now more important than ever to ensure that the principles and concepts of system engineering are properly implemented in both the design and development of new systems and/or the re-engineering of existing systems. 3

Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education

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Ravikumar, P. (2004, June), Key Elements In Developing An Online Graduate Course In Systems Engineering Management Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13201