Workshop

Understanding the project process

Outline
What is project Purpose of project Actors Process Project planning Report writing Assessment

A project
Something that is planned It has a specific purpose Lasts only for a limited time with a clear start and finish and It is undertaken with finite resources with respect to personal, money and equipment

Purposes of projects
Learning more: The project is an opportunity for studying a subject in detail Preparation for working life, by practising your skills and knowledge on real-world problems Preparation for graduate studies, by exploring a research problem and learning about the research process.

Two further purpose/ univ student

Educational
This can be viewed as a test to show that you have mastered previously attained knowledge and skills, and How can be applied to a problem that is more realistic than those normally presented in course

Research
This depend on your understanding of the subject area, and contribute to the common knowledge and understanding of the subject area It help you not to repeat the work of other

Actors in the project

Three main actors
Student Supervisor Examiner

Of the three actors, you (student) are the most important, since you are the one who moves the project forward

The three actors and how they are related

Process
You have to structure your work in order to achieve the goals. The process involves the following steps
Developing your project proposal Developing your problem description Following the objectives Presenting and analyzing your data Drawing your conclusions and identifying future work Presenting and defending your work orally Preparing the final version of your report

Project Proposal Form (PPF)

Based on your initial research

Very brief and concise problem statement with the main aim and specific objectives
Anticipated methodologies and artefact Anticipated resource requirements - making sure they are available to you Signed by yourself

Project Planning

Milestones - Key Activities

Project Proposal Form (PPF) Research Detailed project definition and planning

Project realisation
Project progress day Project report submission Presentation

Research
General background to the subject

Current state, applications and problems

Studies on specific issues related to the project (e.g. considerations and approaches to design, implementation and testing) Contemporary technologies / software tools for implementation

Discussions and analysis of existing work (e.g. comparative / case studies)

Detailed Project Definition

Clear problem definition

Main aim and specific objectives

Proposed methodologies Technologies / software tools to be used - Confirm their availability to you Expected artefact / outcomes

Project Planning
Use the generic milestones / key activities and project schedule as your framework Incorporate specific tasks (e.g. research, structuring, implementation, testing, evaluation, writing up) and completion dates into the framework

Schedule activities in parallel where possible

Gantt chart should be prepared

Leave room for revision / unexpected changes

Thesis Writing

General structure
Abstract Acknowledgments Contents page Introduction Literature review (a very focused and well referenced review of about 1,0001,500 words) Research design/methodology Primary research work models, artefact design Technical Details and artefact development/implementation

Testing and evaluation

Conclusions (limitations, further recommendations, self appraisal) Rreferences Appendices

Thesis Writing-up
Introduction - The problem
- Main aim and objectives - Methodologies and outcomes - Thesis structure

Research - General background to the subject

- Specific studies on the subject (i.e. details closely related) - Relevant technologies for implementation - Case studies - comparative analysis of existing work / examples

Thesis Writing-up (continued)

Project realisation - Technical requirements (e.g. through interviews / questionnaires) - Design / structural formation - Data acquisition - System implementation - Testing and analysis of results - Improvement - Overall evaluation -Conclusions and recommendations Academic context and value of project

Thesis Writing-up (continued)

References - Sources - Published literature books, conference papers and journal articles (best) - Organisations and experts (good) - The Internet (poor)

References - Citation - Appropriate citing the references is important. It acknowledges others work and avoids plagiarism suspect. - It is not sufficient to just list a website in the reference section. The actual page (not just the homepage) must be referred in the main text.

Report Writing-up (continued)

Appendices - what is included - Project plan - Rough work - Important source code - Test data

Appendices - what is not included - Materials that are closely about the project (e.g. test results and analysis; these should be in the main text) - Materials that have little direct relevance to the project (e.g. product manuals - these should be excluded from the report)

Writing Style
Font size, 14 Font type, Times New Roman Font style, Justify Line spacing, 1.5 Margins, 1cm top, right, left and down All heading, should be bolded Pages must be numbered, you can make header or footer (optional) Binding, should be bounding or spiraling -For degree, Black cover and For diploma, Blue cover Page counts, Diploma from 30 pages to 60 pages and Degree from 50 pages to 100 pages

Artefact (Software, simulation ..)

All files and data for the artefact should be - organised logically (e.g. by functions and use of folders), and - saved on a CD. Where possible, you should endeavour to prepare the artefact that can be run from the CD.

It is always a good idea to include a file containing instructions on how to run the artefact.

Submission of Thesis
2 identical printed set is required - Cover sheet with your name, ID, programme and project title and signed consent form - The Report - CD containing all files (PPF, Report, artefact, etc) - Other materials Deadline (submission to announcement bourd - Department) - Specified in Your Project Schedule: date here

Failure to submit the thesis in a manner different than the above may result to significant delays. Late submission will not be accepted!

Project Viva (Presentation)

Supervisor, second marker, lecturers and student to attend Brief and concise presentation of project - Overview, not too much detail (10-15) Questions and answers (10-15)

Total duration: typically 20

Dates: Specified in Your Project Schedule

Assessment
Project management

Time management
Research and literature review

Project progress
Final report

Presentation

Any Question (s) ?