| Unit name | Research Methodology and Project Management |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EFACM0004 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Theo Tryfonas |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Engineering Faculty Office |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
This unit will cover two areas. Firstly it will introduce students to generic aspects of research methodology. This will enable them to successfully design and manage research projects of various types including those associated with engineering technology development and/or business and management issues. The unit will introduce them to the basic research paradigms, discuss the required breadth and depth of Masters level research, explain basic research methodology, review approaches to problem and hypothesis definition, outline strategies for conducting literature surveys and examine techniques for gathering and analysing data of both quantitative and qualitative types. The unit will also address the contents and style of the final report, the presentation of the research findings and the criteria to be used in assessment of the final report. Secondly, it will give students an understanding of project management techniques as applied to engineering research or development projects. Project management is an integrative topic, which brings together, in a practical situation, many of the strands of management theory. For the engineer, project management skills are essential if commitments to customers, suppliers and employers are going to be achieved in today&)s competitive business environment. Topics covered will include defining a work breakdown structure, use of basic project planning tools, control of projects to meet targets of cost, quality and delivery, identification and management of project risk, contract strategy and project organisation. The unit design is based on active, flexible and student-centred learning approaches, with a mixture of lectures, case studies, seminars and discussion sessions.
