Application of Critical Path Method scheduling to research plan and management of graduate students' research project in engineering education

Abstract

Full research graduate degree programmes in engineering and science are a unique set of coordinated scientific activities with definite starting and finishing points to meet specific performance objectives within defined schedule, cost and performance parameters. Often in graduate engineering programmes, little emphasis is placed on proper research management before and during execution. This leads to improper management and overshooting deadlines, culminating in unnecessary stress on budgets, resources and time. In this article, we present a case study application of critical path method (CPM) scheduling without resource constraints in planning and managing a typical graduate chemical engineering research project. The case study describes a full MSc research degree programme that considers the synthesis and performance evaluation of a carbon nanotube-polyaspartamide (CNT-PAA) composite material for carbon dioxide capture from coal-fired power plants. Based on the approved project proposal, the scheduled ...