Extending the Student Qualitative Undertaking Involvement Risk Model

Abstract

The Student Qualitative Undertaking Involvement Risk Model (SQUIRM) was designed to facilitate the determination of the impact of using student (or inexperienced) workers, on a project. The model identifies several prospective categories of risk. It, then, discusses the risk potential and source and provides a limited consideration of how to mitigate this risk. The risk sources considered included those specific to student (inexperienced worker) involvement, standard risks and standard risk sources which are enhanced by the use of student (inexperienced) workers. This paper presents a qualitative assessment framework and begins the process of quantifying the model. The difference between the use of students (in an academic or industrial setting) versus inexperienced workers is also considered. The base model is presented and extended by further tracing the risk sources back, using root cause analysis techniques. The application of the base and extended models to various projects is discussed. Considerations in choosing which model to use for a given application are also presented. The paper concludes by presenting a value model for considering student (inexperienced worker) involvement benefits versus associated risks, and the differences in the risk reward ratio between academic, internship and junior worker scenarios.

A suborbital IMU test mission

“…As discussed by the SQUIRM [25] and Extended SQUIRM [26] models, student participation can be sporadic and erratic as students must prioritize competing demands from multiple areas. Problematically, they may lack the knowledge and skills in how to do so.…”

Engineering Methodology for Student-Driven CubeSats

“…Some may be participating in the project only to receive an extra credit. Some may graduate and leave school before completing the project [21].…”