MN690 - Research Methods and Project Management

Credit points: 20 credit points

Workload: 60 hours

Prerequisite: Four core units of the MNet

Co-requisite: N/A

Aims & objectives

This is a core unit out of a total of 12 units in the Master of Networking (MNet). This unit addresses the course learning outcomes and complements other units in a related field by developing students’ specialised knowledge of project management, research methods and project design. For further course information refer to: https://www.mit.edu.au/study-with-us/programs/master-networking. This unit is part of the AQF level 9 (MNet) course. This unit provides students with experience in research methods and the knowledge and skills to plan and effectively manage projects. It covers professional practice and ethics in the context of project design and management. The unit employs industry-based projects and follows projects from conception through to completion. It covers the key knowledge areas identified by the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) developed by the Project Management Institute. The unit enhances knowledge and uses in-depth analysis of common issues/risks that project team members often face and introduces strategies to mitigate these issues/risks. This unit helps students to learn about how project characteristics, planning and management differ in the context of current enterprise case studies.

The unit, together with MN692, constitutes a capstone final-year project. Students will work under an assigned project supervisor who will assist in the selection of the project topic. Students spend substantial time researching, analysing, and developing the requirements, project plan, and preliminary design for a capstone project. There will be a set of lectures and workshops on topics including project planning and industrial project issues. Students will apply what they have learned during their course to planning and designing a capstone project. Students will analyse requirements relevant to the formulation of the approach to their project. This unit gives students experience in putting into practice the concepts, methods and principles learned in the core units of the MNet course, employing the appropriate use of project planning methods as well as an ability to utilise communication and technical skills to convey information on their projects in realistic situations.

This unit will cover the following topics:

  • Research skills in project design
  • System modelling, simulation, and experimental redesign
  • Project design and management processes
  • Initiation and planning of projects 
  • Scheduling, resourcing, budgeting projects 
  • Project quality, risk management and ethics
  • Project management integration and closure.
     

Learning outcomes

At the completion of this unit students should be able to:

  • Critically research, review, and analyse current literature in response to capstone project requirements.
  • Develop and apply project management skills, including agile approaches, as a strategic tool for the planning and execution of a major project.
  • Exercise project leadership skills: manage schedule and resources, identify and assess risks in design, and monitor progress.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills, and ethical and professional behaviour in relation to client interaction.
  • Collaborate effectively and efficiently in a team and develop professional reporting and writing skills.
     

Weekly topics

This unit will cover the content below:

Week # Lecture Topics Laboratory Topics
1 Lecture 1 Research Introduction: Unit overview, research overview, research integrity, and professional etiquette. Laboratory 1 Installation of an automatic reference (Zotero) and proper use for automatic referencing.
2 Lecture 2 Literature Review: Report structure, literature review, annotated bibliography, and reference. Laboratory 2 How to create an effective annotated bibliography.
3 Lecture 3 Research Design: Research topic, research question and objective, research approach (quantitative, qualitative and mixed approaches, and research project flow. Laboratory 3 Writing and referencing collaboration.
4 Lecture 4 Organising Project: Introduction to project management, introduction to agile, project selection and prioritisation, and chartering project. Laboratory 4 Starting a project using Microsoft Project
5 Lecture 5 Leading Project: Organisational capability: structure, culture and roles, leading and managing project teams, stakeholder analysis, and communication planning. Laboratory 5 Microsoft Project for work breakdown structures.
6 Lecture 6 Scope Planning: Plan scope management, define scope, work breakdown structure, establish change control, and agile scope. Laboratory 6 Microsoft Project for critical path schedules.
7 Lecture 7 Scheduling Projects: Schedule overview, define and sequence activities, estimate activity duration, develop project schedules, manage schedule uncertainty, and agile project scheduling. Laboratory 7 Using Microsoft Project for resource allocation
8 Lecture 8 Resourcing and Budgeting Projects: Abilities needed when resourcing project, estimate resources, plan resource management, accelerating project, budgeting project, and agile project resourcing and budgeting. Laboratory 8 Using Microsoft Project for project budget
9 Lecture 9 Project Risk Planning & Ethics: Plan risk management, identify risks, risk analysis, plan risk responses, agile project risk, and ethics/principles in project management. Laboratory 9 Project crashing
10 Lecture 10 Project Quality Planning and Performing Projects: Project quality planning and kick-off, determining project progress and results, and finishing the project. Laboratory 10 Using Microsoft Project for project baseline and creating project progress reports.
11 Lecture 11 Modelling and Simulation: System engineering, model classification, simulation language, simulation and emulation, simulation steps, experiment, and network simulation. Laboratory 11 Introduction to Jupyter Notebook.
12 Lecture 12 Prototyping and Troubleshooting: Prototyping overview, exploring IoT and its components, IoT prototyping example, troubleshooting steps and other debugging techniques. Laboratory 12 Data analysis using Jupyter Notebook.

Assessment

Assessment Task Due Date Percentage Learning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment 1 Individual Report Week 3 10% a
Assessment 2 Group Report (Project Background) and Individual Report Week 5 10% a
Assessment 3 Group Report (Preliminary Design and Project Plan) and Individual Report Week 9 30% b
Assessment 4 Group Report (Research Plan for Subsequent Stage) and Individual Report Week 11 40% a-c, e
Assessment 5 Group Presentation Week 8
Week 11		 10% d
TOTAL   100%  

Contribution and participation (10%)
This unit has class participation as an assessment. The assessment task and marking rubric will follow the Guidelines on Assessing Class Participation (https://www.mit.edu.au/about-us/governance/institute-rules- policies-and-plans/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/Guidelines_on_Assessing_Class_Participation). Further details will be provided in the assessment specification on the type of assessment tasks and the marking rubrics.

Textbook and reference materials

Note: Students are required to purchase the prescribed textbook and have it available each week in class.

Textbook:

  • T. J. Kloppenborg, V. S. Anantatmula, and K.N. Wells, Contemporary Project Management: Plan-Driven and Agile Approaches, 5th ed. Cengage, 2023.

References:

  • G. R. Kanagachidambaresan, Internet of Things Using Single Board Computers: Principles of IoT and Phyton Programming. USA: Apress Media, 2022. 
  • H. Z. Ceballos, J. E. Parra Amaris, H. Jiménez Jiménez, D. A. Romero Rincón, O. Agudelo Rojas, and J. E. Ortiz Triviño, Wireless Network Simulation: A Guide Using Ad Hoc Networks and the ns-3 Simulator. New York: Apress, 2021. 
  • J. W. Creswell and J. D. Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approach, 6th ed. Sage, 2023.
  • M. Qui, H. Qiu, and Y. Zeng, Research and Technical Writing for Science and Engineering.  Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2022.
  • M. W. Spong, Introduction to Modeling and Simulation: A Systems Approach. Wiley, 2023. The Standard for Project Management and a Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: (PMBOK Guide), 7th ed. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania : Project Management Institute, Inc., 2021.

Internet references

  • Project Management Institute. (Undated). [Online]. Viewed October 2023. Available: http://pmi.org

Adopted Reference Style: IEEE
 

Graduate attributes

MIT is committed to ensure the course is current, practical and relevant so that graduates are “work ready” and equipped for life-long learning. In order to accomplish this, the MIT Graduate Attributes identify the required knowledge, skills and attributes that prepare students for the industry.
The level to which Graduate Attributes covered in this unit are as follows:

Ability to communicate Independent and lifelong learning Ethics Analytical and problem solving Cultural and global awareness Team work Specialist knowledge of a field of study

Legend

Levels of attainment Extent covered
The attribute is covered by theory and practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students always play an active role, e.g. workshops, lab submissions, assignments, demonstrations, tests, examinations.
The attribute is covered by theory or practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students mostly play an active role, e.g. discussions, reading, intepreting documents, tests, examinations.
The attribute is discussed in theory or practice; it is addressed by assessed activities in which the students may play an active role, e.g. lectures and discussions, reading, interpretation, workshops, presentations.
The attribute is presented as a side issue in theory or practice; it is not specifically assessed, but it is addressed by activities such as lectures or tutorials.
The attribute is not considered, there is no theory or practice or activities associated with this attribute.