Project Management
Successful engineering projects require more than just technical skills. They depend on planning, organization, and communication.
In the Booming Bass project, you will practice these project management skills by creating a structured plan, maintaining clear documentation, and managing your time effectively as a team.
Purpose¶
Project management ensures that your group:
Works in a coordinated and efficient way.
Completes all deliverables on time.
Distributes workload fairly among members.
Keeps track of decisions, progress, and risks.
Maintains an archive of all project materials.
These are core professional skills you will use throughout your studies and future career. You have probably been in a team where one or more of the points above did not go to plan. Well-developed poject management skills help you be able to recognise issues and make sure action is taken in time. This will help your group to reach their full potential.
The Project Plan¶
Early in Quarter 2, your group must write a project plan, which serves as both a roadmap and a working agreement for the project.
It is developed together with your tutor and submitted for approval.
Your project plan should include the following elements:
Introduction and Background
Briefly describe the Booming Bass project, its objectives, and what your team aims to achieve.
Explain how the plan is structured.
Project Activities
List the main tasks required to complete the project (e.g., power supply design, amplifier simulation, filter testing).
Assign responsibilities to team members and define roles during meetings (chair, secretary, archivist, etc.).
Create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) showing how the project is divided into smaller tasks and deliverables.
Define the project’s scope and limits (what is included and what is not).
Organization and Schedule
Present a timeline or Gantt chart showing the order and duration of tasks, including milestones and deadlines.
Show how your schedule aligns with the IP-1 calendar and Brightspace deadlines.
Highlight activities that are critical for progress (dependencies, bottlenecks, or long-lead items).
Risk Analysis
Identify potential risks that could delay or impact the project (e.g., technical issues, absences, limited experience).
Describe preventive measures or backup plans to manage those risks.
Assign responsibility for monitoring specific risks.
Conclusion
Summarize how your plan ensures that the team can work efficiently and meet all learning goals.
Include signatures or acknowledgements from all team members.
Your project plan will be reviewed and approved by your tutor, and it must receive a Pass/Sufficient to complete the course.
Meeting and Documentation Practices¶
Merge this with teamwork section?
As you have read in the teamwork section, you will hold structured meetings every week (typically on Tuesdays).
To manage them effectively:
Prepare an agenda before each meeting.
Assign a chairperson to lead the meeting and a secretary to write concise minutes.
Record all key decisions, deadlines, and action points.
Store all documents (minutes, reports, data files, schematics) in a shared MS Teams folder or another secure platform accessible to all members.
A well-managed archive allows everyone to trace progress, retrieve information, and maintain consistency across reports and presentations.
Archiving and File Management¶
Proper documentation is essential for teamwork and professional engineering practice.
Your group must establish a clear system for file storage and version control, including:
A structured folder hierarchy (e.g.,
ProjectPlan,Reports,Simulations,Measurements,Presentations).Consistent file naming conventions.
A designated archivist responsible for maintaining order and ensuring all files are backed up.
Separation between drafts and final submissions.
Always store files in the private channel of your MS Teams group.
This ensures that only your team and tutors can access them and prevents confusion between groups.
Tools and References¶
You are encouraged to use the following tools to support your project management:
LTspice for simulations (mandatory for all circuit designs).
Overleaf (LaTeX) for collaborative report writing.
MS Teams for communication and file sharing.
Project Management by Roel Grit for guidance on planning, meetings, and reporting.
The TU Delft ETV store provides access to online versions of both Project Management by Roel Grit and Writing for Readers with Little Time by Elling et al.
Assessment¶
Project management performance is evaluated as part of your teamwork and individual tasks components.
You must demonstrate that your group:
Has a clear and approved project plan.
Conducts structured meetings with documented outcomes.
Keeps an up-to-date archive of materials.
Works according to the timeline and adjusts when necessary.
Good project management will help your team avoid last-minute stress and produce higher-quality results. It is a key factor in achieving an excellent overall grade.
Key Takeaway¶
Effective project management turns a complex, technical task into a controlled and collaborative process.
By organizing your time, documenting your work, and communicating clearly, you ensure that the Booming Bass project runs smoothly, just like a real engineering project.