MSc Project How to Get Started

Admin Do you know who your supervisor is? Do you have a blog? If not email s.j.wade@hud.ac.uk

First Blog Entry What type of project: Title Problem Product Investigation Design Development Something else Title Problem Product Evaluation

Role of Blogs Publically available Staff + students can read and comment A means to identify people working on related projects Evidence that you are using your time well

Second Blog Entry Aims and Objectives Think of Aims and Objectives as being a Solution to a Problem Aims What problem does your project represent? Objectives How are YOU going to solve the problem?

Dodgy Aims & Objectives What is the current security strategy of Social Networks (SN) such as Facebook, Google+ etc. for protecting personal privacy? Outline the current business model of internet advertising based on new techniques and how these affect personal privacy. Is a privacy protection strategy more important to SN business or to users’ socializing? How could the protection strategy have been improved? Most of these are questions and not a suggestion of a solution.

The Problem You need to describe the problem Propose a research question A one or two sentence summary of what you intend to achieve. For example (The problem): The business model for internet advertising conflicts with the need for privacy on social network sites.

The Research Question Alternative questions for the same problem Can privacy be maintained on social networks without restricting the current business model? Can an alternative business model be found that will not compromise privacy on social networks?

Solution (Aims) Your Aims are your proposed solution to the problem. For example: The intention of this project is to propose a set of recommendations for maintaining privacy without serious restriction to the current business model. The intention of this project is to propose an alternative business model that will not compromise privacy on social networks.

Solution (Objectives) The Objectives are the means by which you will solve the problem. For example: Research and Analyse the business strategy of internet advertising; Evaluate the security strategy of Social Networks (SN) for protecting personal privacy? Establish the parameters of the current business model of internet advertising. Research and Analyse privacy issues on social networks; Determine the effects of the business model on personal privacy. Establish if a protection strategy is more important to SN business or to users’ socializing? Survey internet usage/users/business etc. Establish what is of relevance/importance to the stakeholders.

Deliverable You also need to discuss what the output from your project will be. A plan of action with recommendations A management report Something else

Formative Assessment Students will be provided with feedback on their progress in achieving the desired learning outcomes during the module through two early project milestones: the Proposal and the Terms of Reference. The Proposal will provide a brief indication of project direction and scope but will be sufficient to assess project viability at the earliest stage. Discuss these with your supervisor!

Formative Assessment your name and number a project title a brief description of the problem details of the intended product the names of any staff involved/consulted details of any external people involved resources required to undertake the work risks involved in the project timetable, with milestones justification for the choice of project

Formative Assessment The Terms of Reference (ToR) is a more detailed document. The ToR will be formally submitted, summarising the background to the project, details of the project's aims and objectives, an action plan showing how these will be achieved and, where relevant to the project, preliminary research and/or a specification of the product to be produced.

Relationship to the course: Context: to enable the reader to gain general understanding of the problem situation. Aims: what the project is intended to achieve, in terms of what aspects of the problem situation are to be addressed or a specific problem that is to be solved. Objectives: How you are going to solve the problem. Deliverables: what the project is expected to produce - this is variable and may include a management report and/or an action research report and/or a software product and/or user support documentation. Relationship to the course: the knowledge and skills that you have learned on the course and expect to use/extend further in the project, and new knowledge and skills that you need to acquire to complete the project. Project Plan: the project tasks to be performed in order to achieve the aims of the project, with an indication of the timing, sequence, interdependencies and duration of the activities - the use of a chart or network may be useful. The activities should be based on an understanding of your chosen methodological approach - you are not expected to anticipate every possible development in the project. People: what is the expected involvement of other people in the tasks outlined in the project plan, e.g. in terms of how much of their time will be taken up by you consulting them, interviewing them, holding meetings with them, involving them in testing your ideas, models, designs, prototypes or software. Resources: including sources of information, hardware, software and any other materials required to undertake the work. Potential constraints on the availability of resources should be indicated. General Guidance: When writing the Terms of Reference, do not forget the features which make a document easy to use and easy to maintain, e.g. list of contents with page numbers, glossary of terms, etc.

Supervisor Will not Will Write the report Spell check the document Write your code Debug your program Give you an extension Be available whilst on holiday Will Provide feedback prior to submission Provide formative feedback on terms of reference, draft chapters etc.

It’s never too early to look at this The Marking Scheme It’s never too early to look at this

Project Contents - ISM Abstract, Introduction, A one page summary (max. 400 words) of the Intent, work undertaken. Introduction, An overview of the problem being tackled, justification for the project and (for example) proposed methodologies and a summary of the contents. Re-state the Aims and Objectives

Project Contents Research Investigation/Analysis Output/Findings/Recommendations Professional issues Evaluation Conclusion Appendices Terms of Reference Other

Research – Discuss with Supervisor Is there sufficient background research of the immediate subject area? Has the student discussed the subject area in a wider context? Are there any secondary areas of research that should have been addressed? Has the student analysed the research and applied it to the project?

Investigation and Analysis The student should apply their own investigation and analysis of the subject area. How has the problem been investigated – was it appropriate for this project? How has data been gathered – was it appropriate for this project? Has data been analysed and presented in an appropriate way? Is there sufficient cross-referencing to the research and the solution, recommendation or output?

Research Method Has an appropriate research method been used for the investigation? Has the method been discussed and justified against the use of other methods? Is there evidence of the method being applied?

Solution/Recommendation/Output Any solution, recommendation or output from the project should be derived from the research and investigation. Has evidence been provided that supports the solution, recommendation or output? Is there sufficient cross-referencing to support the solution, recommendation or output?

Evaluation/Review Evaluation should be discussed in terms of the aims and objective. If the aims and objective have been met has the proof been supplied by cross-referencing and/or referencing. If the aims and objectives have not been met, why? Solution/Recommendation/Output (Product if there is one) should be evaluated. Self performance should be evaluated. Client evaluation if appropriate.

Academic Standards Is the project worthy of an MSc? Is the dissertation complete? See slides 2 and 3. Is it appropriately structured and well written? A beginning a middle and an end. Section numbering Page numbering

Professional Issues Should be connected to the project/product/output. Consider: Professional Responsibilities Duty of care Legal issues Intellectual Property and Copyright Privacy and Confidentiality Computer Contracts Safety issues Computer Misuse Ethics

Presentation Have questions been answered to the satisfaction of the examiner? Is the student knowledgeable of the subject area? Has the student managed the project effectively?

Project Contents - ACS Abstract Introduction, Research Requirements Analysis Professional issues Product description and documentation.

Project Contents Software design documents providing at the very least a description of (a) The logical structure of the system stating how the system has been designed and how its overall function has been partitioned amongst the various components of software. (b) Interfaces to define the communication channels between the various sub-systems. Software documentation should also include important/novel algorithms.

Project Contents Appendices (i) Functional Specification if not in the main body of the report (ii) Description of code implementation including some code implementation of important or novel algorithms if appropriate. Proposal Terms of Reference (previously agreed). Any other required documentation.

Research and Analysis Is there sufficient background research of the subject area? Research for a development project needs to reflect the contribution the product will make to the environment for which the product is being developed. Has the student discussed existing products?

Research and Analysis Has the student discussed the subject area in a wider context and not just in terms of the product? Are there any secondary areas of research such as Change Management or Knowledge Management that should have been addressed? Has the student analysed the research and applied it to the project?

Development Lifecycle Has the development lifecycle been followed in sufficient detail? As a minimum the lifecycle should cover: A development method (discussed and justified against other methods)

Development Lifecycle Requirements Specification, which should cover: User Requirements, Tools, Programming Languages, Persistence (Database Requirements), Software, Hardware, Skills/Knowledge required. System requirements (functional and non functional, including usability concerns such as HCI issues.) Design. Implementation. Testing. Maintenance (work in progress, future enhancements).

Product Is the product fit for purpose and complex enough for an MSc project? Is there evidence that the development lifecycle has been followed

Sample Projects Good ones on the web page Bad ones at the next workshop

How to fail your MSc Project Next Workshop How to fail your MSc Project