The aerospace industry

Discussions: 1 session / week, 2 hours / session

This seminar will cover the evolution of the aerospace industry and explore current events with the aim of preparing students for summer internships and post baccalaureate plans. Readings from the recent book Lean Enterprise Value: Insights from MIT's Lean Aerospace Initiative and the weekly publication Aviation Week & Space Technology will form the basis for class discussions, which will also include invited subject matter experts. The course is restricted to juniors and seniors in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Enrollment is limited to approximately 20 students.

Prof. Earll Murman
Jennifer Lynn Craig
Barbara Lechner

16.03-16.04

After taking 16.812, students will be able to:

Students will:

Class sessions will be devoted to small group (4-5 students) and full class discussions based upon two weekly readings:

Subject matter experts (SMEs), drawn largely from the MIT faculty, will be invited to join the class each week to participate in the discussion. The intent of these discussions is to: deepen the student's understanding of the reading material; develop abilities for critical analysis of topical material; develop a sense of the linkages of current events with industrial evolution; prepare students to enter the industry with "situational awareness".

The course faculty will meet after weeks 5 and 10 to review student preparation for and participation in class discussions for the preceding period using the grading guidelines given below. The resulting grades, each worth 25% of the semester grade, will be sent to each student along with tips for improving their performance.

Excellent Performance (23-25)

Demonstrates excellent: understanding of the week's readings; contributions to class discussion; listening abilities for other's contributions; attention to engaging other class members and guests / faculty in the group discussions.

Good Performance (20-22)

Demonstrates good: understanding of the week's readings; contributions to class discussion; listening abilities for other's contributions; attention to engaging other class members and guests / faculty in the group discussions.

Adequate Performance (17-19)

Demonstrates adequate: understanding of the week's readings; contributions to class discussion; listening abilities for other's contributions; attention to engaging other class members and guests / faculty in the group discussions.

Minimally Acceptable Performance (13-16)

Demonstrates minimally acceptable: understanding of the week's readings; contributions to class discussion; listening abilities for other's contributions; attention to engaging other class members and guests / faculty in the group discussions.

Unacceptable Performance (0-12)

Demonstrates unacceptable: understanding of the week's readings; contributions to class discussion; listening abilities for other's contributions; attention to engaging other class members and guests / faculty in the group discussions.

Each student will meet with the course faculty near the end of the semester for a thirty-minute interview to discuss progress for the course learning objectives. Prior to the interview, the student should review the course learning objectives and to what extent they were realized during the semester. Each student will be asked to identify the 4-5 most important things they learned during the seminar, why they were important and what was learned. They will also be asked about their evolving career interests and how the student intends to pursue career opportunities. These interviews will be informal dialog and are intended to help focus the student on "take-aways" from the semester. The interview will account for 20% of the final grade.

Readings from the following textbook and magazine will be assigned:

Murman, et al. Lean Enterprise Value: Insights from MIT's Lean Aerospace Initiative. Palgrave Macmillan, March 2002. ISBN: 0333976975.

Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw Hill.

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