Reference no: EM132164140

Research Proposal - Exploring the value of project management: Linking Project Management Performance and Project Success. A Case Study of Toyota Motor Corporation

Completing your Research Proposal

The Unit 5 Project is your Formal Research Proposal. You must have an advisor assigned, and your proposal approved, before you can move on to the Management Research Project.

In this final unit, use what you have learned throughout the module, and review the feedback you have received to complete your research proposal. Be sure to review the assessment criteria that will be used to evaluate your completed proposal.

When you take an exam, you want to know the results. You want to know if you were successful in your studies or if you will have to repeat the exam for a higher score. Similarly, when you distribute a survey, conduct interviews or make extensive observations, you want to know the results and whether you found an answer to your research question. Once you have analyzed and interpreted your findings, you want to present them to interested colleagues, your organization or other stakeholders. Moreover, you want to convince others that your research was valid and helped you answer an important question.

Presenting your results

Your presentation of your results carries a substantial proportion of your Final Grade for your Management Research Project, as this is where you demonstrate the value of your research and how it contributes to management knowledge or practice. Some of the key considerations in presenting your results in the next module include the following:

- The quality of the results - this is the most important aspect of your work, as it is the target that you aimed for when starting the project. Quality results are expected, as this was the impetus for the research. Did you deliver what you set up in the proposal?

- Writing style - Master's dissertations are typically written using the past tense, third-person singular and avoid using I, me, my, you etc. There are cases in which you would want to write up your research in the first person; for example, if you have conducted a first-person action research study. In this case, consult with your advisor on the appropriate voice. Pay careful attention to clarity by using simply constructed sentences rather than complex and elaborate ones. Double-check all of your writing for spelling, grammar, usage, tone and clarity.

- Data presentation - you might need to include graphs, equations, pictures, forms and other data presentation in your document. You can use various software applications, including Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint, to create tables and graphs and then insert them into your document.

- Referencing - you should be familiar by now with the Harvard citation system that is used at the University. Use of appropriate citation and referencing to ensure academic integrity is compulsory.