Senior Design

The Fall 2012 Senior design course will include presentations and discussion of the following along with the project selection, definition and actual implementation work:

• Several class sessions on "Getting the Job Done" which will look at planning for success in project teams. Book of the above name by Randolph and Posner used as a reference.
• One session on development of good team communication skills with demonstration video showing some of the ways small groups fail in their attempts to communicate
• An introduction to the concept of team dynamics with emphasis on what you can expect when groups of people come together to work on a new project, and what can be done by team members to encourage true team effort.
• An introduction to the idea that individuals have different social styles and what that implies in a group environment
• Discussion of conflict. Why it is good and how to work toward appropriate resolution. Humorous conflict resolution video will be shown.
• The Quality Function Deployment formalism as a model for truly understanding your customers needs and guaranteeing that you product design meets these needs.

All groups will be required to give project status reports during the semester. At about two thirds of the way through the term each group will be required to participate in a design review of their project with their fellow students serving as a board of technical experts. Final project presentations (given during the last week of classes) will be evaluated by the faculty, peer group, and others.