Module: Engineering Management and Engineering Economic Analysis

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Engineering Management and Engineering Economic Analysis
Module Code	MEC1078
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

The purpose of this module is to provide students with a engineering management principles and financial decision-making relevant to Mechanical Engineering. This includes understanding organisational structures, commercial governance, basic legal principles and contractual arrangements, management of resources (including human resources). The student will acquire particular knowledge of economic analysis to support decision making.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the principles and concepts of engineering management including a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles, theories, and concepts of engineering management, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling functions. An understanding organizational structures, commercial governance and relevant legal principles and contractual arrangements
2. Apply management techniques to effectively plan, schedule, and allocate resources for engineering projects. An understanding of the importance of resource management, particularly human resource management, and stakeholder management. Students should understand the principles of sustainability and their application in engineering management. They should be able to integrate sustainable practices into engineering projects and make informed decisions that consider a balance of commercial, environmental, societal, and economic impacts.
3. Develop a convincing project proposal (within a large organization) or business plan (start-up) for development of a minimal viable product. An understanding of product development lifecycle, customer requirements (including market research), cost benefit analysis, and risk management and mitigation will be demonstrated.
4. Analyze engineering economic decisions with a clear understanding of quantitative techniques such as net present value (NPV), annualized analysis, internal rate of return (IRR), and payback period. They should be able to assess the financial feasibility and viability of engineering projects.
5. Evaluate various methods of cost estimation such as cost indexes and power-laws for engineering projects.
6. Describe the financial issues around capital equipment. Understand topics such as book value vs actual value, depreciation, annual operating costs, and replacement analysis.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	36	In class lectures
Tutorial	12	No Description
Independent Study	140	No Description
Total Workload: 188

Section Breakdown
CRN	11954	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	30%	Examination Weight	70%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	David Kinahan	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	Create an internal project proposal (or a business plan in case of a start-up) to address the development of a new product including lifecycle, market research, cost benefit analysis, projected income, and viability. Present proposal as written report in a standard expected by companies and a 3 minute ‘elevator pitch’ presentation (recorded as a video).	30%	n/a
Formal Examination	Exam made of two parts. Part 1 – Answer 1 of 2 questions – a case study or problem statement addressing LO1 and LO2 (essay style) Part 2 – Answer 3 of 4 questions – financial (numerical) style questions (LO4, LO5, LO6)	70%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

New product development / business development plan
Customer requirements, customer specifications, cost benefit analysis

In class tutorials
Tutorials addressing financial calculations

Lecture Materials
Fundamental principles, theories, and concepts of engineering management, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling functions. Organizational structures, commercial governance and relevant legal principles and contractual arrangements. HR management, stakeholder management, industrial relations, risk management and mitigation. Sustainability and societal issues. Financial management including interest rates, valuation, rate of return, depreciations, and replacement analysis.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Donald G. Newnan, Ted G. Eschenbach, Jerome P. Lavelle: 0, Engineering Economic Analysis,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None