Decisions

1. Generate a precedence table for all components and subsystems that must be made in your design (see table 8.1 of Middendorf and Engelmann)

2. From this precedence table, generate a Matrix of the design order, as in Figure 8.2.

3. Optimize the design order as in Figure 8.3.

4. Use the “critical path method” to optimize the work schedule in your design. You will want to do as much of the work in parallel as possible. Make good use of the four people on your design team so that nobody is idle for any extended length of time. Recall that your design project will include design, testing, modeling, writing, and other components. However, be sure to make your work-flow diagram as specific to your case as possible. (I.e. I do not want to see you turn in something where the nodes are “design, testing, modeling, writing, other components!”).

5. Generate a decision tree (see figure 8.16) to decide whether or not to select Biomedical Engineering as your course major, assuming that the objective is to optimize your job satisfaction after graduation. (Note, I could have asked you to optimize the amount of money you make, but we all know that is far less important than your job satisfaction). You may consider such things as: 1. Likelihood of your completing the degree. 2. Time required for you to complete the degree. 3. Whether or not you will get into graduate school or medical school, or whether you will find a good job in industry. 4. Likelihood of having an acceptable GPA at the end of your undergraduate degree. 5. Likelihood of “burnout.”