This course requires students to complete a 24 unit masters thesis in the fields of Project Management. The course is available to excellent students enrolled in the Master of Project Management who wish to progress to PhD study. Students will undertake independent research under the guidance of a supervisor. At completion of this thesis course, students will have developed the capacity to perform high-level independent research, and have an in-depth knowledge of their chosen research topic.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Problematise within a relevant discipline through both theoretical and empirical critical analysis.
2. Translate the problem into a set of clearly defined research questions to enable a scientific approach.
3. Determine the appropriate research design and methodology to acquire evidence relevant to the research questions.
4. Acquire a body of evidence relevant to the problem by using the appropriate research methods.
5. Critically analyse the gathered evidence using appropriate method of analysis.
6. Synthesise results and/or findings to inform appropriate solutions related to the problem.
7. Consider the theoretical and practical implications of the chose solutions for both the literature and society.
8. Produce a structured written thesis which shows the position of the candidate in relation to the underlying problem.

Research-Led Teaching

As this course requires students to undertake research, it requires the application of research principles and methodologies to a chosen topic within Project Management and/;or other germane disciplines. Supervisors will guide the student in their research and will suggest relevant material

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Problematise within a relevant discipline through both theoretical and empirical critical analysis.
2. Translate the problem into a set of clearly defined research questions to enable a scientific approach.
3. Determine the appropriate research design and methodology to acquire evidence relevant to the research questions.
4. Acquire a body of evidence relevant to the problem by using the appropriate research methods.
5. Critically analyse the gathered evidence using appropriate method of analysis.
6. Synthesise results and/or findings to inform appropriate solutions related to the problem.
7. Consider the theoretical and practical implications of the chose solutions for both the literature and society.
8. Produce a structured written thesis which shows the position of the candidate in relation to the underlying problem.

Field Trips

There are no field trips in this course.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional class costs expected in this course.

Examination Material or equipment

There are no examinations in this course.

Required Resources

There are no additional required resources in this courses, but your thesis supervisor may identify additional resources to be supplied by the School.

Recommended Resources

Your supervisor will provide additional resources as required.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

This course is for students enrolled in the RSM Master of Project Management program. Students will apply the evidence-based knowledge gained during their program to undertake an independent research project. The agreed topic is to be determined by the student in consultation with their ANU supervisor. The assessment, resulting from 130 hours of study per 6 units of course unit value, will consist of a series of milestones leading up the final thesis/paper and an oral presentation to an audience of peers and academics.

A typical undertaking of MGMT8170 will be 24 units in one semester. However, 12+12 (or other combination) is recommended for those who have a specialisation split over two semesters, or those who feel they need more than one semester to do the thesis research project.

You must enrol in 24 units of MGMT8170 if you wish to complete this course.

All student enrolled in MGMT8170 are strongly encouraged to speak to the Course Convenor about their future plans (e.g. PhD studies) as the choice of thesis format (and other factors) will impact ability to meet entrance requirements (depending on choice of institution).

NOTE: Satisfactory completion of this course does not guarantee that you will be accepted into a HDR degree (e.g. PhD) at ANU as these are highly competitive, with merit based entry. Please refer to the RSM PhD Study page for further information.

As this is a research project course, there are no lectures or tutorials. At the start of the semester, supervisor(s) and students will agree to a schedule of frequent (typically weekly) meetings and timetable of deliverables. Typical assessment is show in Assessment tab, however there may be adjustments to form and due date (as authorised by the supervisor and course convenor) depending on the student's individual requirements and circumstances.

To assist with your research training, a variety of other resources will be made available to you in consultation with your supervisor, such as:

• attendance at school research seminars
• invitations to research training workshops
• opportunities to audit research methods courses
• self-study support materials

The nature of the supervisory arrangements will also be agreed at the start of the semester: that is, who the primary and secondary (if any) supervisors will be for each student. You will also communicate your future plans to them.

Course Schedule

Contact hours for the course will take the form of periodic meetings between student and supervisor.

Support for Students

The University offers a number of support services for students. Information on these is available online from http://students.anu.edu.au/studentlife/

Extensions to assessment due date

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://rsm.anu.edu.au/study/students/extension-application-procedure

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	As this is a research thesis course, there are no lectures or tutorials. At the start of the semester, supervisor(s) and students will agree to a schedule of frequent (typically weekly) meetings and timetable of deliverables, with the goal of producing a thesis related to a research question around a problem in the PM domain.	Typical assessment can be found in Assessment tab, however there may be adjustments to form and due date (as authorised by the supervisor and course convenor) depending on the student's individual requirements and circumstances.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

As there are no separate tutorials in this course, the discussion of work will be done during the supervision meetings.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Research Proposal	10 %	11/08/2023	25/08/2023	1,2,3
Literature Review / Interim Draft	10 %	22/09/2023	06/10/2023	1,2,3,4,5
Research Presentation	10 %	20/10/2023	03/11/2023	5,6,7
Thesis / Manuscript	70 %	03/11/2023	30/11/2023	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Contact hours for the course will take the form of periodic meetings between student and supervisor. Participation is expected in all supervision meetings but not assessed. Supervision may be carried out online through ZOOM/TEAMS as seen appropriate by the supervisor in consultation with the candidate.

Examination(s)

There are no examinations for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Research Proposal

Details of Task

Individual assessment - redeemable for 10% (discuss with supervisor)

The specific requirements are to be discussed with your supervisor. The following are a guide to what to expect.

• Outline the significance of the research topic to be investigated and the research questions.
• Find at least TEN research articles from relevant discipline literature that will inform the research. A short summary of each item should be included in an appendix as an annotated bibliography.
• Include a plan for the completion of the project, including planned sources of data and method of analysis.
• Include statements as to (a) whether ethical approval is required, and (b) what resources are required.
• Appropriate referencing (in-text) and in reference list following APA or Harvard system of referencing (or other as permitted by supervisor).

Grading criteria: (a) ability to identify a problem in the domain of project management and justify a research question that is relevant to the problem; (b) ability to produce a realistic research plan; (c) ability to identify key reference literature, and (d) ability to compose a well-structured piece of written work.

Linkedlearning outcome: 1,2,3

A template will be provided to give guidance about sections and content to include, as well as formatting.

Word Limit

Suggested length: no more than 20 pages, excluding appendix. (scaled according to thesis type and course unit weighting). Students are required to strictly observe the page limit and conditions attached as part in excess of page limit will neither be read nor assessed.

Submission Method

via Turnitin on Course Wattle site - your supervisor or course convenor will tell you if any other form of submission is also required

Due Date of Assessment

25% progress point (e.g. 5pm Friday Week 3). Mark and feedback from the supervisor will be returned within two weeks of submission.

Assessment Task 2

Literature Review / Interim Draft

Details of Task

Individual assessment - redeemable for 10% (discuss with supervisor)

The interim draft should be largely consistent with the project proposal. It will include: an abstract, justification for the project, the research questions, relevant literature, data collection method and data. Preliminary analysis of data can be included.

Grading criteria: ability to: (a) conduct a thorough critical review of literature relevant to the research topics and connected to the research questions; (b) frame the project within the relevant literature; (c) justify the research questions; (d) Derive theoretical hypotheses or qualitative propositions if applicabble (e) research design and data collection (f) present data collected (optional and if ready).

Linked learning outcome: 1,2,3,4,5

A template will be provided to give guidance about sections and content to include, as well as formatting. Appropriate referencing (in-text) and in reference list following APA or Harvard system of referencing (or other as permitted by supervisor).

Word Limit

Suggested length: 30 pages (scaled according to thesis type and course unit weighting). Students are required to strictly observe the page limit and conditions attached as part in excess of page limit will neither be read nor assessed.

Submission Method

via Turnitin on Course Wattle site - your supervisor or course convenor will tell you if any other form of submission is also required

Due Date of Assessment

50% progress point (e.g. 5pm Friday Week 7). Mark and feedback will be returned within two weeks of submission.

Assessment Task 3

Research Presentation

Details of Task

Individual assessment - redeemable for 10% (discuss with supervisor)

This is an oral presentation performed in front of at least one supervisor.

The presentation will give the candidate the opportunity to communicate findings to an audience of interested students, academics and peers. Feedback can be obtained to allow the final thesis to be improved.

Grading criteria: (a) clarity and coherence of presentation; (b) credibility of results and appropriateness of conclusion (d) ability to defend the thesis by answering questions from the faculty and audience present

Linked learning outcome: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Time Limit

Suggested time: 30 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions (scaled according to thesis type and course unit weighting). Students are required to strictly adhere to the time limit suggested as they may be stopped during presentation by the moderator.

Due Date of Assessment

75% progress point (e.g. on or before 5pm Friday Week 11). 

Feedback

The candidate is strongly advised to note the remarks, comments and suggestions of the audience during the session. They are expected to consult their supervisor about the incorporation of those feedback in their final write-up of their thesis.

Assessment Task 4

Thesis / Manuscript

Details of Task

Individual assessment - worth 70-100% (depending on whether previous sections have been redeemed)

Purpose of Task:

The research thesis/manuscript is completed over the 24 units and provides evidence of the student’s ability to undertake original research under supervision. It represents the most significant piece of research and writing completed in a postgraduate coursework career, and typically accounts for a semester's worth of study. It is a form of apprentice’s ‘masterpiece’ in which students demonstrate their level of comprehension of a body of academic knowledge and the scholarly skills used in the discipline in which the research is embedded. It is also an important indicator of the student’s ability to take part, at a junior level, in the discourses of the discipline.

Marking Criteria:

Further guidelines and marking criteria will be posted on Wattle in Week 4.

Word Limit:

A thesis normally has an upper limit of 100 typed A4 pages. All tables, diagrams, figures, charts or exhibits should be included within the page limit. This limit excludes references and bibliographies, appendices, table of contents, table of figures, and table of tables. Any part in excess of page limit will neither be read nor assessed.

Submission Method:

via Turnitin on Course Wattle site.  

Due Date of Assessment:

100% progress point at 5pm Friday, first week of exam period (2023-11-03). Mark and feedback will be returned when final grades are released.

Extensions are granted only under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Deputy Director (Education) in consultation with the Course Convenor.

More information on this assessment task will be made available on Wattle 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Learning Platforms website.

You will submit your thesis by emailing the final copy to your thesis supervisor.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://rsm.anu.edu.au/study/students/extension-application-procedure.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

You will receive detailed comments on your thesis by email after it has been marked.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of your thesis is not possible.

Students are strongly advise to inform the course convenor of any problem, hurdle or situation in the way of a successful completion of the thesis work during the semester. Addressing any problem as early as possible can help find solutions towards the successful completion of the thesis.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students