Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Management (PhDEM) Program Goals and Objectives The main goals and objectives of the doctoral program in Engineering Management are: 1. To prepare graduate engineers from various specializations for successful research careers that combine depth in engineering research methodologies with broad knowledge of the socio-economic implications associated with major engineering decisions and technology innovations. 2. To prepare graduate engineers to assume leading roles in researching current and new approaches to effectively manage change and leverage technological innovations. 3. To enhance the creative abilities and confidence of its students in finding original solutions to pressing and complex problems; 4. To raise the level of awareness of its students with respect to long-term sustainability factors associated with the adoption of new engineering process or technology. 5. To prepare its students to be leaders in disseminating new knowledge and in imparting new concepts and ideas to members of the public. Student Learning Outcome By the end of this program, student should be able to acquire: 1. Knowledge and skills for conducting independent research for making original contributions to existing knowledge. 2. Advanced knowledge and skills to conceptualize, formulate, analyze, and solve complex engineering problems with multiple interrelated variables, both deterministic and probabilistic. Such problems may cross the boundaries of one engineering discipline and involve social, economic, and sustainability factors. 3. Advanced knowledge and understanding of the concepts and application of good management practices to deal effectively with change and innovations and their socio-economic impact. 4. Ability and know-how to disseminate research results in archival publications and through participation in scholarly and professional societies. 5. Communication skills to effectively correspond with members of the community and the public. Graduate Catalog 2013-2014 165
Program Components The program requires a satisfactory completion of 45 credits of course and research components. The course component includes 9 credits of compulsory courses, 9 elective credits, and a zero -credit seminar. The research component consists of a six credit research proposal and twenty one-credit thesis. The research of the thesis could be either industrialoriented or theoretical, or a combination of both. Course Coding System Consistent with the University policies, the PhD in Engineering Management (PhDEM) courses are assigned numbers of the form (0475-ABC), where: 04: College of Engineering 75: PhDEM program A: 7 for Ph.D. level courses B: Areas (as follows) 0: General 5: Information Systems 1: Operations Research 6: Engineering Management 2: Statistics 7: Infrastructure and construction 3: Production Systems 8: Special Topics 4: Human factors 9: Seminars, projects and thesis C: Sequence number within area Academic Courses The program compulsory courses are as follows: Course Code Course Title Credit 0475-760 Leadership and Innovation Management 3 0475-723 Decision Making and Analysis 3 0475-762 Total Quality Management 3 0475-791 PhD Seminar 0 0475-709 Qualification Exam 0 0475-792 PhD Research Proposal 6 0475-799 PhD Thesis 21 166 College of Graduate Studies & Research
Selection of the electives should be based on the following criteria: 1. At least one course should be taken from the following PhDEM elective Courses: 0475-711 Advanced Engineering Systems Optimization 0475-722 Engineering Design of Experiments 0475-763 Advanced Engineering Project Management 0475-765 Management of Technology 0475-781 Special Topics in Engineering Management 2. Subject to approval of the supervisor and program coordinator, no more than two courses maybe taken from the following courses: Graduate Courses offered by other departments in the College of Engineering Graduate Courses offered by the MEM program Graduate Courses offered by the College of Business Administration Study Plan The program study plan is as follows: Year 1 2 Course Code Courses/Project Credit Hours 0475-760 Leadership and Innovation Management 3 0475-723 Decision Making and Analysis 3 0475-762 Total Quality Management 3 Elective Course 1 3 Elective Course 2 3 Elective Course 3 3 0475-791 PhD Seminar 0 0475-709 Qualification Exam 0475-792 PhD Research Proposal 6 Total Credit 3-4 0475-799 PhD Thesis 21 21 12 12 Total Credit Hours 45 Time Limit: The minimum period of study for the degree is six semesters, whereas the maximum period is 10 semesters for full time or 14 semesters for part-time students. Graduate Catalog 2013-2014 167
Program Procedures: The program supervisor(s) are identified upon admission to the program. Once a student is registered in the program, the supervisor(s) in consultation with the dean or associate dean shall form a supervisory committee that will monitor and assess the progress of the Ph.D. student. In addition, it provides valuable advice when needed. Such a committee consists of the supervisor, and a co-supervisor from the collaborating university (if a dual degree is sought) and at least two faculty members from the academic unit of the student and one faculty member that is external to the program. The supervisory committee shall meet the Ph.D. student at least once a year to assess the student s progress and to provide advice on future work. The supervisory committee prepares a report detailing its observations and recommendations. The student is given the opportunity to respond to the supervisory committee and to respond to the committee s report. Copies of the report are given to the student and filed with the academic unit. As for grading, the courses are evaluated according to the policies in place at University of Sharjah. For the comprehensive exam and Ph.D. proposal, grading is determined by the supervisory committee. Qualification (Comprehensive) Exam: The joint supervisory committee shall be responsible for conducting the qualification (comprehensive) examination according to ETS requirements for dual degree option or the bylaws and regulations of graduate studies at UoS (Articles 66-72) for the single degree option. Joint Student Supervision: Students enrolled in the joint doctoral program will be working under joint supervision of a faculty member from the University of Sharjah and one co-supervisor assigned from ETS or from another University selected by the supervisory committee. The joint supervisors will agree on the thesis topic, monitor and guide the student through the thesis research phase, and participate in the thesis defense examination by attending the oral defense examination in person or via video teleconferencing. Upon completion of the courses required, the student registers for the comprehensive examination (the 3-step synthesis examination to be taken at ETS if a dual degree is sought). It is expected that the joint supervisors will meet jointly with the student during the course of supervision at university sites to be determined by the supervisory committee. 168 College of Graduate Studies & Research
Course Descriptions 0475-723 Decision Making and Analysis 3:3 Topics include basic theory of decision making under uncertainty; rationales of decision makers; the concept of the value of information; the Bayesian approach to decision making; decision trees, elicitation methods for model building, multi-attribute utility models; multi-criteria decision making; use of decision making software. 0475-760 Leadership and Innovation Management 3:3 This course focuses on the classical and modern aspects of organizations and the role of managers as leaders. The main focus of the course is to provide students with knowledge and skills on different approaches to leadership. The course deals with different forms of leaderships in a corporate setting, and their importance in achieving the organization s strategies. The course also focuses on main issues in innovation management. It equips students with tools and techniques for managing innovation. It includes basic terms related to innovation; development of innovation strategy; factors influencing innovation; sources of innovations, managing intellectual property, development of new product and services within a firm; strategic alliances and networks; contemporary issues in innovation management; case studies. 0475-762 Total Quality Management 3:3 This course introduces definitions, history, dimensions, and principles of Total Quality Management (TQM); quality management philosophies and pioneers (Deming, Juran, Crosby, Ishikawa, Taguchi, Feigenbaum); customer satisfaction and customer relationship management; quality awards (Deming, EFQM, Malcolm Baldrige); SPC tools, benchmarking, QFD, and use of software. 0475-711 Advanced Engineering Systems Optimization 3:3 This course presents advanced techniques presented in engineering optimization. In addition to advanced non-linear programming techniques, it presents topics related to dynamic programming, integer programming, stochastic programming, and metaheuristics. 0475-722 Engineering Design of Experiments 3:3 Review of regression analysis; principles of experimental design; randomized complete block designs; Latin square and Graeco-Latin square designs; general factorial designs; 2k Factorial designs; response surface methodology and robust design; planning, performing and analyzing industrial experiments; Taguchi s methods Graduate Catalog 2013-2014 169
0475-763 Advanced Engineering Project Management 3:3 This course includes a review of project management concepts including planning and scheduling; strategic planning for project management; human resources management, managing multiple projects, contemporary issues in project management; case studies. 0475-765 Management of Technology 3:3 This course examines a wide range of topics and issues involved in the management of technology including planning tools and techniques in strategic planning for different technologies, technology capability assessment, technology forecasting; the development environment and infrastructure, R&D management, product development process; technology transfer; licensing, joint venture and other forms of alliances; technology protection; case studies and project. 0475-781 Special Topics in Engineering Management 3:3 This course examines advanced and emerging topics in engineering management. The course may be offered as an independent study to suit the academic need of the student based on the supervisor recommendation and the program coordinator approval. 0475-791 Ph.D. Seminar 1:0 Students are required to attend seminars given by faculty members, visitors, and graduate students. Students must submit reports of the seminars they attended. They are also required to present one seminar on a timely research topic. 0475-709 Qualification (comprehensive) examination 0:0 The examination aims to measure the student s ability to understand and demonstrate a general understanding of his/her discipline, show the ability of critical, analytical, and creative thinking and employ them in solving problems and proposing appropriate solutions. It is not another test in the courses studied by the students. This exam consists of both written and oral parts. Pre-requisites: Completion of at least 9 credits and approval of the program coordinator. 0475-792 Ph.D. Research Proposal 0:6 Students must submit a research proposal topic under the supervision of a faculty member. The proposal should layout the literature survey of related work to the proposed research topic to be undertaken. Methodology and expected results should be presented in the proposal. The proposal should be approved by the supervisor and defended before an examination committee. Recommendation of the committee should be considered in the implementation phase of the thesis. Pre-requisites: 0475-709 Qualification (comprehensive) Examination. 170 College of Graduate Studies & Research
0475-799 Ph.D. Thesis 0:21 Students must undertake and complete and independent industrial-oriented and/or theoretical research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are required to submit a thesis documenting their research and defend it in an oral examination before a committee. The thesis work must make a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of engineering management and innovation. Students are required to produce at least one refereed publication of their work before defending the thesis. Pre-requisites: 0475-792 Ph.D. Research Proposal Graduate Catalog 2013-2014 171