AGSM 439 / September 29, 2011

1. AGSM 439 / September 29, 2011 • Announcements: • HW #8 due 10/19 • HW #9 due 10/25 • Initial background report • Today’s topics • Background reports

2. Past Observations from HW5 • Team members seem to describe different problems • Need to view the problem description as a contract between team and client • Leaving off sections to be evaluated in the rubric • Lack of section headings

3. Past Observations from HW5 • Including descriptions of potential solutions; not part of the problem statement • Need data to conduct an independent analysis of the targets that clients present

4. Faculty Advisors • Reminder: contacted your faculty advisor soon. • 2 points will be added to overall course average for each SUCCESSFUL meeting • Maximum of 6 points will be added • A successful meeting is defined as: • Scheduled appointment in advance • At least 2 team members present • In-depth discussion of project • The faculty advisor will judge if meeting was successful

5. Interim Report Outline • Problem description • Problem constraints • Background section • Description of potential solutions • Selection process • Identified solution for future work

6. HW8 – Background Sources • Document submitted must communicate effort invested to gain information • Number of sources expected to well exceed the minimum • If all sources are web pages, you have not done enough work!

7. HW8 – Background Sources • Report and assignments must follow ASABE format, and references must be as well • Refer to the ASABE author style guide as we discussed before

8. HW9 Background Section • Most critical part of Interim report • Provides basis and justification for potential solutions considered • Demonstrates knowledge of the subject matter • Leads into the decision process used to select optimum solution for future work

9. Background Reports • Purpose: To identify and discuss the important topics that will impact your solution. • You need to become very knowledgeable very quickly in “key areas” to develop a solution • The only way to do this is through research • Use HW#8 – Background Information Sources as the basis of the Background Report

10. Background Reports • What are the key areas for your project that you need to become experts?

11. Background Reports • Sources of information: • Clients • Experts, e.g. faculty advisors • Government agencies and associations • Web (be careful to use reputable sources) • Library • ASABE and similar publications • Peer reviewed, standards • Similar solutions in the same industry or other industries

12. Background Reports • Grading criteria: • Uniqueness of your problem (10 pts) • Similar solutions (10 pts) • Standards / practices that should be followed (10 pts) • What regulations apply? (10 pts) • Did you utilize multiple sources of information? (10 pts) • Did you correctly site the references in ASABE format? (10 pts) • Use ASABE style guide as discussed earlier.

13. Background Reports • Grading criteria: • Did you include figures / tables with captions? (10 pts) • Did you a use a business writing style? (10 pts) • Grammar, spelling, clarity (10 pts) • File name (10 pts)

14. Background Reports – Past Projects • San Antonio River Authority Project • Retrofit existing office building with Low Impact Development technology • Goal is to reduce the amount of storm water from the building / parking areas

15. Background Reports – Past Projects • H-E-B Meat Plant Project • Reduce downtime in meat packaging line • How to effectively manage downtime • Develop an information system to keep track of downtime on a real-time basis • Automatically monitor equipment • Develop procedures for both manual entries • Use the information system to generate downtime reports

16. Class Wrap-up • HW#8 Due 10/18 • HW#9 Due 10/25 • Initial background report • Contact your faculty advisors