Project Management - Topic Assessment Answer

Topic How effective is a project manager at meeting the expectations of NEET Group in the UK Question What makes a Project manager effective at managing a NEET group Research Methods ASSESSMENT TITLE AND WEIGHTING Coursework 70% Weighting 1. MSc Construction Project Management and BIM - Construction Management and Economics 2. MSc Engineering Management - Journal of Management in Engineering 3. MSc Mechanical Engineering - Journal of Mechanical Design 4. MSc Project Management – International Journal of Project Management 5. MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies - Environmental Science and Technology Based on the requirements specified by MACEET, the aims of the research project proposal is: 1. To identify specific areas of research activity that have been published in one of the research journals listed above (you should select a journal that is based on the title of your named Northumbria University award) and to carefully select one journal article that encapsulates a novel contribution to the discipline that is of most interest to you; and 2. To critically evaluate and deconstruct the theoretical and methodological framework of the selected journal article. This forensic examination must give detailed and careful consideration of the study’s research goals; the rationale for the study; the theoretical framework; the research design; research data collection and analysis methods; and conclusions and recommendations arising from the study. Consideration must also be given to any theoretical or methodological assumptions or irregularities that limit the study’s application; and 3. To propose a new, original, and exciting research project that fully recognizes its theoretical and methodological heritage and that builds upon the findings of the forensic examination of the above. Given the range of activities undertaken by engineering, construction, and project management professionals worldwide, it is not expected that the MACEET research project will seek to assess all of the possible areas in which researchers can make a contribution to knowledge. Rather, the intention is the MACEET research project will focus on a single area of professional practice/existing knowledge. Those bidding for the MACEET research project are required to provide a full and detailed critical LD7030 Research Methods Page 3 of 7 evaluation and justification of the specific area they have identified as being worthy of further investigation, focusing on: 1. the potential for making a meaningful contribution to engineering, construction, and project management knowledge; and 2. the potential for making a valuable recommendation to engineering, construction, and project management professional practice. It should be noted that, while the intention is to focus on a specific area of activity/knowledge, it is very much the desire of the Trustees that the successful research project proposal could take a global perspective. 3.2 INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED The MACEET research project proposal shall provide the following data within the Research Project Proposal submission that is outlined in Section 3.6 Research Project Proposal Structure below: 1. Detailed forensic examination of one research article published in one of the journals listed is Section 3.1 MACEET Research Project above; 2. Evaluation and justification of the research design and method to be adopted during the MACEET research project; 3. Procedure or method statement of the MACEET research project, which includes a critical evaluation and justification of the proposed research instruments and data analysis techniques; and 4. Expanded literature review, which supplements the material provided as a result of the forensically examined research article. The literature review must include fresh and up-to-date literature sources derived from Northumbria University’s Library Search tool (material derived from the Web, Google Scholar, etc. will not be accepted). 3.3 RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION You are required to submit your research project proposal using the TurnitinUK tool in the Blackboard course. Your summative assessment feedback will be released to you using the GradeMark facility in TurnitinUK. The QuickMark and Rubric Score Card tools will be used to provide consistent summative assessment feedback for all students enrolled on the module. You will also be given a single opportunity to submit your draft research project proposal using the revision opportunity of the TurnitinUK tool in the Blackboard course. The result of this submission will provide you with formative feedback with respect to your ability to cite accurately and avoid potential academic misconduct as a result of plagiarism. This submission will therefore not be summatively assessed. The research project proposal will be designed to unite your tutor-guided and self-directed independent learning in order to demonstrate your achievement of specific module learning outcomes, i.e., MLOs #3, #4 and #5. 3.4 RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL DESIGN Crotty (1998) has suggested that when designing a research proposal, a researcher must consider four fundamental elements of inquiry which illustrate the interrelated levels of the decisions that he/she must make during this process. These four elements of inquiry include: 1. What epistemology informs the research? Crotty is suggesting in this question that the researcher considers the theory of knowledge embedded in the theoretical perspective of the intended study, e.g., objectivism, subjectivism, etc.? 2. What theoretical perspective lies behind the methodology in the research question? Crotty is suggesting in this question that the researcher considers the philosophical stance behind the chosen methodology, e.g., positivism and postpositivism, interpretivisim, critical theory, etc. LD7030 Research Methods Page 4 of 7 3. What methodology governs the selection of research method(s)? Crotty is suggesting in this question that the researcher considers the strategy that links the research method to the outcomes of the study, e.g., experimental research, survey research, ethnography, etc. 4. What research method(s) does the researcher intend to use during the study? Crotty is suggesting in this question that the researcher considers the techniques and procedures that he/she will use in order to gather primary data, e.g., questionnaire, interview, focus group, observation, etc. 3.5 ASSESSMENT TASKS Using Crotty’s four elements of inquiry, you (the researcher) are required to generate a research question and to design a research project that would enable you to answer your question. Your research question must be constructively aligned to the ethos of your master’s programme of study. You should write a research project proposal which captures this process and includes an evaluation of the techniques that could be used. The research project proposal should be written in an academically acceptable format in which all bibliographic citations in the running text and references listed in the bibliography are fully referenced using the Cite The Right version of the Harvard referencing system. The absolute word limit for the Research Project Proposal is 2000 words (see Section 3.6 Research Project Proposal Structure below). 3.6 RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL STRUCTURE Rudestam and Newton (2007) have provided the following outline of key issues for researchers to consider when structuring and writing a research project proposal. 3.6.1 Literature Review The literature review is a systematic investigation of the subject, aimed at uncovering new information and/or interpreting relations among the subject’s variables. It is normal practice for the literature review to include an analytical account of the relevant literature and to carefully summarize any relevant secondary data. It must also include an appropriate rationale for the study. 1. The classic, definitive or most influential pieces of research in this area are . . . 2. The study relates to the larger, ongoing dialogue that exists within the scholarly literature by . . . 3. The study contributes to the existing knowledge base by . . . 3.6.2 Purpose Statement This is a statement of the question being examined in the study in its most general form. It orients both the researcher and the reviewer to the central intent of the study, and from it, all other aspects of the research will generally follow. 1. The intellectual problem the research will address is . . . 2. The research project will aim to accomplish . . . 3.6.3 Research Question and/or Hypothesis These are a series of signposts that narrow the purpose statement and establish the central direction of the study. This results in the researcher stipulating a specific exploratory question that will be addressed throughout the work or a substantive prediction that will be tested during the analysis. 1. The independent and dependent variables that will be investigated by the research are . . . 2. The independent and dependent variables relate to each other . . . 3.6.4 Research Methodology This is the strategy of inquiry that will inform the research procedures for the study. This should include an evaluation of the relevance of qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods approaches to the study. The presentation of the research design strategy should be simple and logical, with clear definitions of terms, LD7030 Research Methods Page 5 of 7 study parameters, inclusion criteria etc. Be certain that the research design is appropriate for the research question and that the data generated will answer this question. Avoid sweeping, controversial assumptions. Critique the study design. 1. The approach adopted during the research project is . . . 2. This approach is the most appropriate for the study because . . . 3. An alternative to the chosen research approach is . . . 3.6.5 Research Procedure(s) This is the method to be adopted for conducting the research and gathering the primary and/or secondary data. The chosen procedures will depend on the nature of the investigation and the type of data and information that are available and are required. The methods being used should be described in sufficient detail to enable the reviewer to clearly understand how the study is to proceed, including an explanation of how the data will be sorted and interrogated. Be certain that the proposed data will be adequate to address the research question. Where applicable, use established instruments. 1. The reasons why the chosen method is appropriate for the research question/hypothesis are . . . 2. The potential weaknesses of the chosen method include . . . 3. Prior studies that have been carried out that use the proposed method include . . . 4 FURTHER INFORMATION 4.1 MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES (MLOS) ASSESSED BY THE RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL On completion of the coursework, i.e., research project proposal, you will be able to: 4.1.1 Intellectual/Professional Skills and Abilities 3. Critically review the literature and engage with what others have written through evaluative discourse. 4. Plan and execute a research project and formulate research questions. 4.1.2 Personal Values Attributes 5. Develop and exhibit the professional and research ethics characteristics of a Northumbria University postgraduate student. 4.2 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA The coursework will be marked according to the following four criteria: 4.2.1 Conceptualization (30% weighting) 1. Does the title reflect the focus, nature and purpose of the study? Does it include key variables? Are the key variables correctly chosen and in the proper order? 2. Has the proposal defined a clear purpose for the research? What is the major problem or issue to be investigated? Is the problem or issue clearly defined and is it related to appropriate, good quality literature sources? Does the problem recognize the appropriate boundaries of the literature? 3. How clearly are the key theoretical concepts defined and explained? What types of literature sources are used to define and explain them? Have critical judgements been made about what literature should be excluded in order to create tightly focused theoretical concepts? Are the identified concepts appropriate to the study? Does a relationship exist between them and is it correctly constructed? 4.2.2 Theoretical Framework (30% weighting) Strategies will generally include a research hypothesis or question; they may occasionally include both. 1. Is there an interesting and novel research question? Does it justify the position for the argument or investigation? Does it relate to the key theoretical concepts? LD7030 Research Methods Page 6 of 7 2. Has a research hypothesis been clearly defined? Is the hypothesis structured using key theoretical concepts? Are the key concepts correctly chosen and in the proper order? Does the hypothesis express the right relationship between the stated theoretical concepts? 4.2.3 Research Design: Methodology and Procedure (30% weighting) 1. Does the strategy demonstrate an awareness of the methodological approaches that can be brought to bear on the object(s) of analysis? Which research approach is to be adopted? Is the approach appropriate? Why was this approach chosen? How is the approach to be implemented? 2. What type of fieldwork research tool is to be used? Is the tool appropriate? How is the tool to be used? Why was this tool chosen over all others appropriate to the study? Has any consideration been given to the ethical issues surrounding the acquisition of data? 3. Does the research design adequately control for extraneous variables, i.e., to what extent have any external factors, which might influence the study, been considered? Has any attempt been made to consider bias? Have the sample size and requirements for valid results been considered? 4. Is a project plan for the proposed research investigation clearly presented in an appendix to the proposal? Is the project plan considered in the core text of the research project proposal? Does the plan present key tasks that will be executed during the research investigation, including the identification of milestone events? Are the durations for each task realistic, given the research design, methodology and procedures? 4.2.4 Academic Authority (10% weighting) 1. Is the strategy concisely and imaginatively written with a sense of academic authority? Does it construct and sustain a well-structured argument embedded in theory? Is the strategy accurate in terms of spelling, punctuation and grammar? 2. Are the bibliographic citations in the running text correctly referenced using the Harvard (Northumbria) referencing system? In the bibliography, are the references arranged in one alphabetical list? Are the information elements of the bibliographic entries correctly arranged? Have any of the elements been omitted? 3. Is the project plan for the proposed research investigation clearly presented? Does the plan present key tasks that will be executed during the research investigation, including the identification of milestone events? Are the durations for each task realistic? 4.3 REFERENCING STYLE The coursework should be written in an academically acceptable format in which all bibliographic citations in the running text and references listed in the bibliography are fully referenced using the Cite Them Right version of the Harvard referencing system. 4.4 EXPECTED SIZE OF SUBMISSION The actual word count is to be declared on the front of the coursework. The absolute maximum word limit for the coursework is 2000 words. The absolute maximum word limit includes the following elements: • The main body of text • In-text citations, e.g., (Smith, 2011) • Direct quotations from primary or secondary source material The following elements are excluded from the absolute maximum word limit stated above: • The abstract (200 words are the absolute maximum word limit for the abstract) • Keywords (6 keywords are the absolute maximum keywords limit) • Title and contents pages • Tables, figures, illustrations and footnotes • Reference list • Bibliography • Appendices, including Project Plan [see Section 4.2.3 Research Design: Methodology and Procedure (30% weighting) above]. The absolute maximum word limit for the Project Plan’s accompanying description/explanation is 200 words. • Glossary LD7030 Research Methods Page 7 of 7 • Footnotes You will be penalised if your coursework exceeds the absolute maximum word limit according to the table of penalties set out in the Northumbria University Policy on Word Limits, which is available to you via the University website. The coursework does not include the ‘up to 10% over word limit’ allowance. 5 REFERRAL The Referral Attempt opportunity will normally take place after the end-of-level Progression and Awards Board (PAB). If you pass the module following a Referral Attempt, you will be awarded the Module Pass Mark for Level 7 modules, i.e., 50%. If you become eligible to complete a Referral Attempt but are subsequently unable to undertake the opportunity when required, you will be permitted to Re-sit the module at the next scheduled sitting of the Module Assessment. This will normally entail suspension of your progression on your programme of study until such time that you have successfully completed the Level and become eligible to proceed. When granted a Referral Attempt of the module, you will be required to complete and submit a new attempt, i.e., a re-working, of the assessment tasks outlined in this Module Assignment Specification. Your Programme Support Coordinator will confirm the date and time of the Referral Attempt submission. 6 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT You must adhere to the university regulations on academic conduct. Formal inquiry proceedings will be instigated if there is any suspicion of plagiarism or any other form of misconduct in your work. Refer to the University’s Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards if y