Program Director Contact Details:
Name: Associate Professor Indra Gunawan
Email: indra.gunawan@adelaide.edu.au  

Teaching staff:
Name: Dr Carmen Reaiche


Dr Carmen Reaiche’s main expertise is in Systems Thinking and Project Management. Carmen has held a number of senior management positions as well as academic appointments, where she has coordinated various undergraduate and postgraduate courses. In industry she designed and project managed the implementation of information systems and policy processes for businesses such as Mobil, IBM, Centrelink and Business SA. In 2006 Carmen completed her PhD in the area of Self-organising Systems, has published over 40 refereed articles and supervised 6 PhD completions. Her present research interests include systems thinking, policy making systems, social network aspects of business management models.

Email: carmen.reaiche@adelaide.edu.au

Semester 1
Thursdays, 2nd March to 6th April 2017
Thursdays, 27 April to 1st June 2017
12pm - 3pm
Nexus10, 601, Teaching Room

The overall objective of this course is to introduce students to research project activities.

Research topics must be negotiated with the lecturer in charge.

The research project report should demonstrate that you have been able to:

1. research a topic of interest in the project management,
2. identify, select and critically analyse relevant information for your report,
3. synthesise the key points/findings and communicate them in a clear, concise and professional report,
4. appreciate the benefits of continuing personal and professional development in the rapidly developing and increasingly complex field of project management research,
5. appreciate ethical, social and cultural issues and an understanding of the implication of these issues in the pursuit of project management research.

Saunders, Mark N.K., Lewis P. and Thornhill, A. 2015. Research Methods for Business Students PDF eBook (7e) : 9781292016641

Useful texts include:

• Pawar, B.S. 2009. Theory building for hypothesis specification in organizational studies, Response Books, New Delhi.
• Neuman, W.L. 2008. Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches, Pearson Education.

A list containing supplementary readings will be provided before the course start date via MyUni.
It is also recommended that you read relevant journal articles. In particular, you are encouraged to read the following journals:

• International Journal of Project Management;
• Project Management Journal;
• Journal of Project Management

MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. It is used to support traditional face-to-face lectures, tutorials and workshops at the University. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments for each online course of study (see: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au)

MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. It is used to support traditional face-to-face lectures, tutorials and workshops at the University. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments for each online course of study (see: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au)

This course is offered in blended learning mode with the face-to-face component offered as a brief workshop, consultations with the lecturer and the participation in recommended workshops which can help students to improve their research activities.

Research workshops are available three times a year through the Researcher, Education and Development (examples: taking a critical approach, critical reading, reviewing literature, writing a proposal, and so on).

As a guide, a 3 unit course comprises a total of 156 hours work (this includes face-to-face contact, any online components, and self directed study).

This is a draft schedule and session content are a guide only. The timetable may be changed during the course delivery if necessary.

Schedule

Week 1	Introduction : Taking on a Research Project - how to approach the challenges of project work
Week 2	Project Plan: Choosing a Research Topic
Week 3	Project Plan: Content design – Project Proposal	Formative Assessment
Week 4	Research Formulation & Process: How to structure a formal research. Introduction to Business Canvas. Ethics Process
Week 5	The Research Process: understanding your philosophy and approach. Qualitative or Quantitative ?	Summative Assessment
Week 6	Researching the Literature	Formative Assessment
Week 7	Communication Plan: Project Report & Presentation. How to report on your project research using standard structure and content
Week 8	One-to- One session: How to organise your work effectively
Week 9	Self-directive learning: Writing a Research Proposal http://www.adelaide.edu.au/carst/online-modules/	Summative Assessment
Week 10	One-to- One session: Linking your data to your project
Week 11	Writing with Argument
Week 12	One-to- One session: Synthesis evidence
Week 13	Self-directive writing.	Summative Assessment

 An overview of the course assessment appears in the following Table. Details appear in the following section:

#	Assessment	Length	Weighting	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
1	Project Proposal	2000 words	15%	See MyUni	1-5
2	Online Proposal: 1. Presentation (two components: presentation + participation)	10 - 15 minutes presentation	15%	See MyUni	1-5
3	Final Research Report	32000 + words	70%	See MyUni	1-5
	Total		100%

Students must complete all course assessment requirements to be eligible to pass the course.

Assessment 1: Project Proposal
Weighting: 15%
Due Date: Week 5
Submission Details: Online through MyUni

Task: Project proposal
The aim of the assignment is to assist you in developing your research report. It is required that students prepare a proposal for the lecturer™s consideration.

The proposal should include the following:

Background, aims and significance.
Background: the theoretical or practical basis or proposition for your research project. The background will lead to elaborate research questions. Students also should address why this research project is important.
Aim: what is the purpose of your project?
Objectives: this section includes research questions to be addressed.
Design: to determine the activities to be undertaken throughout the course of your research project
Methodology: what type of methodology the student will employ?
Milestones and budget: When it will be done, and in what order, and how much it will cost to do it (only in case your research has funds).

Possible outcomes (when is it applicable) / limitations

Length and Presentation:
Approximately 2,000 + words addressing the points explained in the task (above).

Criteria by which your assignment will be marked is connected with your ability to:
1. identify and summarise the problem/question to be investigated,
2. identify existing, relevant knowledge and views connected with your selected topic,
3. propose appropriate methodology for your research report,
4. present some references which shows some understanding on the topic.




Assessment 2: Online Proposal Presentation
Weighting: 15% (peer review assignment and participation component)
Due Date:
During Week 9 online presentation submission
During Week 9 and 10 online questions
Friday Week 10 by 5:00pm final peer reviewreport

Submission Details: Online through MyUni

Task:
The Online Proposal Presentation will be completed by students individually. Each student should upload a PowerPoint slide with voice record or a video with the research project presentation. The presentation should be between 10 and 15 minutes. Other students should review each of the presentations and pose at least two questions at the website which should be answered by the presenter.

Online proposal presentation:
The student will present to the class online seeking feedback and approval to proceed with the final report.

The online proposal preparation should:
1. be as professional as possible
2. have the right content
3. wrap up all the relevant information
4. contain a clear action plan.

Length and Presentation:
10 - 15 minutes presentation

Criteria by which your assignment will be marked:
1. identify critical issues,
2. show reasoning behind statements or ideas,
3. use general or technical language in an appropriate manner,
4. stimulate interest for the audience,
5. plan details of research activity,
6. cope with questions and arguments,
7. use of time-limit and visual aids.

Further information will be provided on MyUni.




Assessment 3: Final Research Report
Weighting: 70%
Due Date: Week 13
Submission Details: Online through MyUni

Task:
A research report addresses:

1. Introductory elements (cover sheet, title page, words count, abstract, acknowledgement, table of contents).
2. Introduction (background of the research, gaps, research problem and research questions, key definitions; research contributions, justification for the research, methodology overview, research limitations, report outline, and summary).
3. Literature review and contextual foundations.
4. Methodology.
5. Empirical / theoretical results and implications.
6. Conclusions.
7. References.
8. Appendices.

Length and Presentation:
32,000 + words.

Criteria by which your assignment will be marked:
1. ability to present your findings clearly and succinctly,
2. application of key relevant theories and concepts,
3. research skills and use of data to support the analysis,
4. recommendations identified in the analysis,
5. presentation: word limit, layout, adequate structure, referencing and bibliography.

All text based assignments must be submitted via MyUni.
Please refer to step by step instructions: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/tutorials/files/AssignmentStudentSubmission.pdf

There are a few points to note about the submission of assignments:

• Assignment Submission:  Assignments should not be emailed to the instructor; they must be lodged via the MyUni Course site (unless specified to do both). Note that assignments may be processed via TURNITIN, which is an online plagiarism prevention tool.
• Cover Sheet:  Please submit, separate to your assignment, the completed University of Adelaide Assessment Cover Sheet providing details of yourself and your team members (if applicable), your assignment, the course, date submitted, etc. as well as the declaration signed by you that this is your (your team’s) work.  Note that the declaration on any electronically submitted assignment will be deemed to have the same authority as a signed declaration.
• Backup Copy of Assignments:  You are advised to keep a copy of your assignments in case the submitted copy goes missing.  Please ensure that all assignment pages are numbered. If your assignment contains confidential information, you should discuss any concerns with the Course Lecturer prior to submission.
• Extensions of Time:  Any request for an extension of time for the submission of an assignment should be made well before the due date of the assignment to the Course Lecturer.  Normally, extensions will only be granted for a maximum of two weeks from the original assignment submission date.  Extensions will only be granted in cases of genuine extenuating circumstances and proof, such as a doctor’s certificate, may be required.
• Failure to submit: Failure to submit an assignment on time or by the agreed extension deadline may result in penalties and may incur a fail grade.  Note that a late penalty of 5% of the total available marks for that assessment item will be incurred each day an assignment is handed in late (Unless otherwise stated in 'Assessment Related Requirements' or 'Assessment Detail' above).  Assignments handed in after 14 days from the due submission date will fail even if a 100% mark is granted for the work.

Resubmission & Remarking
Resubmission of an assignment for remarking after reworking it to obtain a better mark will not normally be accepted.  Approval for resubmission will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds.