Writing Reflective Case Studies for the \u3ci\u3eEngineering Management Journal (EMJ)\u3c/i\u3e

This paper\u27s intent is to help authors write reflective case studies for the Engineering Management Journal (EMJ). We offer a process to convert an applied research project with an organization to an EMJ manuscript. Writing a reflective case study is a process of abstracting experiences into approaches, processes, tools, challenges, and lessons for a broad audience of engineering managers. This paper serves as a guide for authors to write reflective case studies

Project Management Framework to Organizational Transitions

This paper describes a project management framework and associated models for organizational transitions. The framework contains an integrated set of steps an organization can take to lead an organizational transition such as downsizing and change in mission or role. The framework is designed to help an organization do the right work the right way with the right people at the right time. The underlying rationale for the steps in the framework is based on a set of findings which include: defining a transition as containing both near-term and long-term actions, designing actions which respond to drivers and achieve desired results, aligning the organization with the external environment, and aligning the internal components of the organization. The framework was developed based on best practices found in the literature, lessons learned from heads of organizations who have completed large-scale organizational changes, and concerns from employees at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The framework is described using KSC

Paper Session II-D - Defining Partnership Needs for Florida\u27s Aviation/ Aerospace Industry and the State Educational System

The contribution of this paper is a description of a process to determine partnership needs between FloridaÕs aviation/aerospace industry and university and community college educational system. This process was developed to produce an educational success plan which address two questions: How can the stateÕs education system bring the most value to the aviation/aerospace industry? and How can the aviation/aerospace industry bring the most value to the stateÕs education system? To answer these questions we first define the cyclic nature of the benefits from an industry-education partnership. Second, we define three partnership components: education, research, and technical assistance. Third, a research process to identify partnership needs is described. The process includes face-to-face interviews; a detailed, quantitative, industry survey; and a qualitative survey of researchers. Fourth, lessons learned from developing and applying this research process are given

Identifying Critical Knowledge for Projects

This article is the result of an investigation of the challenge faced by project managers in identifying critical knowledge for projects. Five major areas of project knowledge are identified. The literature defines knowledge as information that has been given meaning. The critical knowledge for projects was identified through the literature and by our experience as applied researchers. Managers of multi-project organizations can use this article as a guide for identifying the critical knowledge that is vital for their projects

Paper Session III-B - Knowledge Management (KM) In a Space Related Environment: A Ground Processing Initiative

Because of the complexity of the Space related processes and the opportunity to record the knowledge obtained from the current assembly of what is being described as the biggest, most expensive and complex International project ever – the assembly of the International Space Station, this investigation focuses on the research question: What are the critical success factors (enablers) associated with Knowledge Management (KM) in an International ground-processing environment? Kotnour [1] defines knowledge management as the group of viable and practical processes that supports an organization in creating, assimilating, disseminating, and applying its knowledge. Description of proposed research methodology and activities related to the knowledge currently being acquired from the assembly activities are going to be presented. This paper can be used by academics and practitioners for advances in knowledge management in an International Space related environment

Strategic management of a transformation in a multi-program technology program involving convergence and divergence of programs: observations from NASA

This paper contributes a framework for dealing with complex, technical program transitions. This paper offers a framework of strategic management tools. Tools such as scenario planning, organisational roadmaps, objectives and measures are integrated into a systematic planning process. Using the KSC response to the new NASA vision for space exploration, this paper offers a framework of strategy tools that leads from initial analysis to the business plan. An engineering manager can use this paper to follow a simple set of steps and tools to help manage strategy for an organisational transformation

Project management office models: a review

Organizations are facing competitive and globalized markets, as well as constant environmental changes that often require an organizational restructuring of the business models in order to boost performance. Project management practices can help to achieve strategic goals and increase value of projects in organizations. The Project Management Office (PMO) is an organizational structure created in order to promote and improve project management practice, by adopting appropriate methodologies to achieve high levels of efficiency and effectiveness. In recent years several models and functions of PMO have been proposed by many authors, varying from the PMO with a sole function of reporting project execution, to the one who participates in the definition of organizational strategies. The main purpose of this article is to present a review of the typologies of PMO. Since the importance of PMO is increasing in organizations, the results of this work are useful to provide guidance to organizations on implementing or restructuring their own PMO

Ethical Decision-Making in Islamic Financial Institutions in Light of Maqasid Al-Sharia: A Conceptual Framework

This article develops a conceptual framework for ethical decision‐making in Islamic financial institution based on the Islamic methodological approaches on ethics. While making use of the similarities between the scientific method and the Islamic jurisprudence method, a framework is developed by means of argumentation and reasoning to integrate Sharia doctrines with the “plan, do, check and act” (PDCA) cycle as a managerial tool. Using Al‐Raysuni's analysis of Al‐Shatibi's work on maqasid al‐sharia, this article develops a framework to assess the ethical aspects of Islamic financial operations, which is then applied to hypothetical cases. This approach can help overcome the methodological deficiencies in measuring ethical performance in Islamic finance by focusing on the process of ethical decision‐making that leads to the outcomes of organizational behavior beyond legality of contracts. The framework outlines the conditions under which an activity that is considered legal and permissible contractually could lead to outcomes that can make it ethical or unethical

Defining the industrial and engineering management professional profile: a longitudinal study based on job advertisements

The engineering professional profiles have been discussed by several branches of the engineering field. On the one hand, this discussion helps to understand the professional practice and contributes to the specification of the competences that are suitable for each function and company culture. On the other hand, it is an essential starting point for the definition of curricula in engineering schools. Thus, this study aims to characterize, in an innovative way based on job advertisements, the demand for competences and areas of practice for Industrial Engineering and Management contributing for the definition of a professional profile. This characterization is based on the analysis of 1391 job advertisements, collected during seven years from a Portuguese newspaper. The data analysis takes into account the job description in which two categories were considered: areas of professional practice (e.g. project management) and transversal competences (e.g. teamwork). Considering the total number of job advertisements, it was possible to identify 1,962 cumulative references for 11 professional practice areas and 5,261 cumulative references for transversal competences. The contribution of this study lies on the identification of the main areas of practice and the main transversal competences demanded by employers.This work was partially funded by COMPETE-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT-UID-CEC-00319-2013

Supporting organizational learning in a manufacturing environment

The contribution of this paper is a description of a process to support organizational learning in a manufacturing environment. This description is based on a field task analysis. First, organizational learning is discussed as an information processing activity for sharing lessons learned. Second, organizational learning and lessons learned for a manufacturing environment are defined. A plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle is defined as the first theoretical step of organizational learning. Organizational learning occurs by the sharing of lessons learned and information between these cycles. The content and format of a lesson learned is given based on a field task analysis of a process to support first-line supervisors. First-line supervisors were studied for the process they use to communicate between shifts. Supervisor\u27s shift-to-shift communication processes are compared to the requirements for organizational learning. Third, recommendations for both practitioners and researchers are given based on the task analysis and the organizational-learning literature