is is the assignment:
Scenario Assessment
Introduction
To enable you the opportunity to exercise your learnings from this unit, a scenario simulation has been prepared to provide students the opportunity to make a series of decisions at differing points in the life cycle of an engineering system. The initial objective of this scenario is to allow students to identify the real life stakeholders and explore the application of different frameworks. As the unit progresses your role will change to that of the strategic planning manager for the system and then later switch to that of the engineering manager overseeing design and delivery. The simulation will run under a gaming environment, each week you will receive a change in the scenario parameters. You will need to respond according to your role, making decisions that you believe are the best for sustainability outcomes.
Scenario Background
The concept of a high speed rail system linking each of the East Coast capital cities of Australia, including the national capital “Canberra”, has been discussed and studied for more than 20 years. The most recent Department of Infrastructure and Transport studies are the basis for this scenario. However, the terms of reference for the study are considered by some to be limiting, having put constraints on the type of guided transport technology that could be considered. While you are using this report as a baseline document for the scenario, in the interest of sustainability outcomes be encourage to think outside the square when it comes to innovative technology. This is a transformational project that has long term implications for the whole east coast for the next 100 years. Think about the interregional effect of the Shinkansen on Japan, the TGV on France and more recently the Chinese CRH network for connecting China’s many regions. In terms of intergenerational impact of infrastructure of this scale and longevity, think of projects in Australia that in hindsight we can see the effect of, for example the Sydney Harbour Bridge and its ongoing value for generations of Australians. Have a good look at the HSR Phase 1 Report Executive summary to get you started.
Student Requirements
Each week, students will be required to engage with their peers on the discussion board, including issues identified, and methodologies to resolve them. You will need to fill out a decisions and reflections log, posting it each week prior to the next scenario update. This will enable you to also learn from the experience of other colleagues in the same “gaming” environment. Weekly activities will be the subject of minor assessments, while a review and reflection on the scenario will form a major part of the final assessment due in week 7. A webinar tour will occur in week 1 to familiarise students with the background to the scenario. It is not expected that students need to familiarise themselves in detail with the technical details of railways. It is expected that students will critically evaluate the alternatives before making decisions and reflect on the key sustainability issues, risks and opportunities of the scenario. Students are also encouraged to challenge the underlying assumptions of the scenario in a constructive and engaging manner through discussion boards and submissions. A Decisions & Reflections Log has been provided in the form of an excel spreadsheet for your weekly reflections and for you to use to create your weekly pdf posts in the discussion boards.
The scenario places each student in the following roles for the go ahead of the East Coast High Speed Railway.
Advisor to Federal Government on frameworks (Weeks 1 & 2);
Strategic Planning Manager for the System (Weeks 3 & 4);
Engineering Manager overseeing design and delivery (Weeks 5&6).
The intention is that decisions you make week-by-week will ‘follow’ on to the subsequent weeks.Giving you a ‘thread’ through the entire scenario to follow.Most importantly, each Monday (around 7am), new information affecting your choices for the scenario will be released via the gaming area, so check your notifications for the updates – you’ll need them to undertake the scenario.
Report Requirements
Submission should be in report format, and include a short executive summary
Report be based around the following requirements;
Summarise and expand on the decisions you made each week reflect on them, considering;
the context changes that happened during the course
What was good / bad about the decision you made
What would you do differently now
Review two students’ fully completed Decisions & Reflections Logs (all 6 weeks), consider;
What was the benefits or limitations of their approach
Provide recommendations for change to their approach
What have you learned through this process about decision making and engineering for a sustainable future?
You should consider and frame your submission in light of a framework discussed in this course
Extensive tables, if used, should be included as appendices
You should cite references in support of your approach, investigate /research beyond the materials provided in myContent / myReadings where necessary
Referencing should be in the Harvard or APA style.
Word count is inclusive of tables, but excludes appendices, footnotes and bibliography
Content within the appendices and footnotes will not contribute to your mark (expect as described in next dot point), but may be necessary to support your discussion
Attach your completed Ministerial Briefing Note and Top Level Specification as Appendices
Post your completed Decisions & Reflections Log in the Week 6 Discussion Board so that students have them available for review
