Dear Writer,
Please help to prepare Chapter 4-6. Assumed we are completely to finish the Questionnaire and Surveys, the results will support to continuing to the Research Methodology and Design, conducting the Data collection, Analyse collected data, Prepare research results, Research findings, Conclusions and Future research directions. Also pls give me some example for the Appendix B – Interview schedule results of respondents. Thanks for your help.
Attached please find the Chapter 1-3 and Very important notes for your reference.
Message from my supervisor
This is fine but make sure you include the following:
RESEARCH DESIGN
overview
methodology
…your ideas
RESULTS
data collection and analysis
Findings, primary issues
……
EVALUATION
evaluation and research findings
evaluation and research methodology
Table of Contents
Page
Chapter 1. The Problem and Its Background …………………………………………………….……………………..
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Background of the Study ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Evaluation of Encountered Previous Problems ……………………………………………………………………………..
Research Questions and Null Hypothesis …………………………………………………………………………………..
Aims and Objectives …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Theoretical Framework ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Significance of the Study ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Scope and Limitations of the Study ………………………………………………………………………..………………..
Chapter 2. Literature Review ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Overview ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Definition of Information Technology ………………………………………………………………………………………..
IT in Action ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Hong Kong Information Technology
Importance of Enterprise Management System for Managing IT assets in cross-border Companies ……………….
Outsourcing of Information Technology ……………………………………………………………………………………..
Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Chapter 3. Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Overview ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Research Design ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Research Method ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Respondents of the Study ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Research Instrument ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Data Analysis Procedures …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Chapter Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Chapter 4. Data Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Benefits of Enterprise Management System for Managing IT assets in cross-border Companies …………………….
Consequences of using Enterprise Management System for Managing IT assets in cross-border Companies ………
Impact of Enterprise Management System for Managing IT assets in cross-border Companies ………………………
Synthesis ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Chapter 5. Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations ……………………………………………………………
Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Conclusions ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Very Important Notes – Suggest Contents Chapter 1 to 6
Chapter Outlines
Here are some suggested chapter heading and subheadings and they must be regarded as minimal of what we expect to find in your work
The whole project (excluding appendices) must not exceed 15,000 words, counting from the chapter 1 heading to the last page before the appendices begin. The University does not suggest word counts for each chapter because they tend to vary enormously with the topic being covered so it has no value.
Caution
These notes to help you rather as a sort of checklist, they are not to be used in is a careless manner as if you have no thinking ability of your own or want to take any short cut you can get. We expect you to exercise high level thinking skills not just mindlessly copy what is written here.
Basic Chapters
These are the usual chapters we expect to find for a whole project. You can add appendices as necessary but here I just show the ones which are almost always required.
Chapter 1 – Introduction and problem outline
Chapter 2 – Literature Review
Chapter 3 – Research Design
Chapter 4 – Presentation of data and generation of results
Chapter 5 – Evaluation of outcome and practice
Chapter 6 – Conclusions and Generalizations
Appendices
Project Specification and project schedule,
Glossary,
References list
Bibliography
Other items that might be included in an appendix are: Inclusions (copies of relevant documents such as policies, invoice layouts, diagrams etc), Sample Questionnaires, Summary interview transcripts, Details Evaluation scripts, Requirement catalogues, summarised primary data sets, etc
Chapter 1 (Scene setting and outlining the basic Research elements)
All the following must be covered although you do not have to use these sub-headings
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Presenting problem and its causes
1.3 Target
1.4 Overview of Primary Data
1.5 Research Approach, hypotheses
1.6 Planned Outcome and Actors
1.7 Strategic Business IT (Demonstrate that the outcome is/will lead to a strategic use of IT)
1.8 Scope and Scale
1.9 Ethical Overview
1.10 Research Question
1.11 Aim and Objectives
1.12 Summary and link to next chapter
Chapter 2 (Preparing for research by becoming a topic area expert)
All the following must be covered although you do not have to use these particular sub-headings. Normally there are two major areas to be covered: the direct topic such as Real Estate and the Strategic Business IT elements which in this case might be about supporting IT infrastructures or products for that industry.
2.1 Introduction to topic area
2.2 Originality Theme (Based on personal viewpoints/idea/Experiences etc)
2.3 Topic aspect 1
2.4 Topic aspect 2
2.5 Topic aspect ‘n’ etc (usually about 5 to 10 topic aspects are used)
2.6 Past Research in this area
2.7 Statistical Review (if necessary)
2.8 Summary and review conclusions
Keep in mind that this work must be thorough otherwise you will simply not have the necessary knowledge to decide what data to use or how to interpret that data when you get it. It should also be noted that this is about using primary sources such as Journals, government papers, manufacturer’s guidance notes and so on although books may also be included. Please do not use unreliable internet sources such a Wikipedia as that will be regarded by the University as a gross error and cannot be called serious academic preparation.
Chapter 3 (Research Design defining a process or model definition to get your intended outcome)
This is a critical chapter, often done badly so careful work is needed if your design is to be credible.
Its KEY element (3.6) is the model or process you define to transform your primary data into your intended outcome; if this element is unclear or vague or missing you will not be able to pass the project. Do not fall into the mindless trap of thinking that just be saying “I will look at the primary data and ..” or “I will do a detailed and in-depth analysis of the data…” because such descriptions are so general and so vague that they are meaningless and worthless in explaining what exactly you will do to get to your intended outcome.
3.1 Introduction (focused on reminding your readers what your project outcome is supposed to be)
3.2 Discussion on Primary spotlight and Activity
3.3 Research Method selection and Justification
3.4 Primary data collection method and protocol
3.5 Ethical Review of Outline plan
3.6 Primary Data Pre-processing (define how you will organises and structure your raw data)
3.7 Post-Processing (to generate your defined outcome)
3.8 Closing remarks
You should be aware that section 3.4 will vary considerably in its detailed structure depending upon the research method chosen. Here are some typical sub-sections that might be found in most designs.
3.4.1 Detailed Discussion of Primary Data (based on you spotlight and activity)
3.4.2 Localisation (discussion of where the data might be located and how it might be accessed)
3.4.3 Primary Data Collection (discussion as to how the data can be reliably collected)
3.4.4 Data Presentation Methods (discussion as to how the raw data will be presented for processing)
Chapter 4 (Presentation of your primary data and generated outcome)
In this chapter you display your primary data in charts or table or other suitable means and finally use your defined outcome processing. It is essential that we see the research design in use here; if the design cannot be seen to have been used you cannot pass the project.
4.1 Introductory Remarks
4.2 Presentation of pre-processed data (see design section 3.5)
4.3 Presentation of your outcome based on the post-processing process
Although this looks simple each section has to be accompanied by some explanations as to what all this data means. The KEY point is that you must demonstrate that your processing design was clear and unambiguous and that it was used carefully by you to deal with both processing stages. If the University cannot see that you used a reliable model or process to get your outcome then you cannot pass the project.
Chapter 5 (Evaluating your outcome and practice)
This is a critical chapter as it shows whether you can look back at your work with a reflective and critical mind. It is very important to realise that evaluating the outcome is a paper exercise because it is done BEFORE the outcome is used whilst the practice evaluation is real because its represents serious reflection on the actual research activity. Here I only give an outline and further details can be found in the workbook; don’t ignore this, go and look that section up.
At this stage the evaluation is project specific; it’s about what you produced and how you produced it and as such it must not stray into conclusions (which is about generalisations of your results).
5.1 Introductory Remarks
5.2 Evaluation of outcome
5.3 Evaluation Practice
5.4 Overview
It is hard to be precise as to what might be covered in each section but the following is a typical way of dealing with the outcome but remember this is all done as a paper exercise by considering in defined ways your outcome and testing it BEFORE it us used. Please be careful here as these factors can look like they just need a yes/no answer but that is not the case you have to test your outcome and argue or make a case for it in each section.
5.2.1 Expected Outcome Functionality and Efficacy (will it do what is intended/needed)
5.2.2 Usability (is the outcome likely to be easy to use by its actors)
5.2.3 Standards (does the outcome fulfil the pertinent requirements of any standards-making bodies)
5.2.4 Expected Effects (does it affect mean changes in policy, process, structure or attitudes)
5.2.5 Systemically Desirable (will the outcome improve the whole problem setting in some way)
5.2.5 Culturally Feasible (will the outcome when used prove to be acceptable to those affected by it)
5.2.6 Ethicality (is the use of the outcome ethical, within accepted codes of practice and the law)
5.2.7 Elegant (is the outcome pleasing or more simply did you do a good job in producing the outcome).
Again It is hard to be precise as to what might be covered in each section but the following is a typical way of dealing with project practice but remember this is a real exercise as it was you who used the various techniques and methods to get the outcome. Please be careful here as these factors can look like they just need a yes/no answer but that is not the case you have to test your practice and argue or make a case in each section.
The MAIN activity here will focus on the model or method you used to generate your organised and structured data collection from the raw data and then a model or process to generate the outcome from the organised collection and how well they performed and were they really suitable. This is why if you don’t have a clear design for getting your outcome then this section will fail.
There are dozens of areas that might be covered but it’s not usually possible to comment on every single thing you did so it’s best to pick out the outliers or the main things that you leaned or what went wrong but here are several possibilities.
5.3.2 Literature Preparation (omissions, misunderstandings, sources reliable and current etc).
5.3.3 Primary Data Definition (did you define the data well, did you get good coverage, etc)
5.3.4 Choices Made (reflect on Research Method, Approach and Style, collection, sample size etc).
5.3.5 Collection Protocol (how did this go in practice, were selection criteria accurate, sample size etc)
5.3.6 Pre-Processing (was it easy, were your processing and data organisational idea right or wrong etc)
5.3.7 Outcome Processing (how easy was it to generate your Outcome etc)
5.3.8 Statistical Analysis (if used)
5.3.9 Experience (how did the research experiences/lack of it influence the results/quality of work)
5.3.10 Research Tools and Models (were all the various tools, models, processes useful etc).
5.3.11 Ethics and Anonymity (did your correctly identify all the ethical issues, unforeseen problems etc)
5.3.12 Administration (how well did planning go here, did I contact the right people, etc).
Chapter 6 (Conclusions and Generalisations)
Chapter 5 was about evaluation and that was SPECIFIC to just your project, its data and its outcome. In conclusions you are trying to logically go beyond that and say what it means in the wider world.
The heart of the problem is how we can logically go from specific instances to reach general conclusions. How can we possibly know that what we have observed in our necessarily limited research on given objects and events be enough to enable us to figure out or derive their more general properties. That is, suppose you use your primary data to build a model of human/computer technology relationships. Well that is fine but that model was built using a tiny set from the possible data population so how logically can you get from there to making predication about its use in the wider world of you own company and elsewhere.
Before listing possible sub-sections it is very important that you understand that what you do here to obtain generalizations is almost totally dependent on a thorough literature review coupled with a carefully thought out and executed Research Design; without those you are simply too ignorant of the subject area to use your results and then write anything that might be interesting to read and certainly no way you will add to the general knowledge pool.
6. 1 Project Results overview (be careful here not to end up repeating what is in chapter 4)
6.2 Overview of practice and Lessons learned (don’t just repeat the evaluation section here, generalise)
6.3 Further Research
6.4 Generalisations
6.5 Summary
It is hard to be precise but the basic strategy is to use your topic area knowledge and then write a comment on it by referring to your results. So roughly speaking you might say formulaically “it has been generally agreed that X is a useful strategy to combat Y but based on the results presented here it seems that we also need to include some consideration of Z because….” Now PLEASE be aware this is just a hint as your work may be nothing to do with strategies but the idea or form here is often useful as a way of thinking an item through but be flexible and don’t be afraid to construct logically other ways to express your ideas and certainly notice the ‘because’ as without that you have no argument to present about your findings.
Possible areas to do this might be considered in the light of you topic area knowledge and you results:
New meanings, originality, implications, new/modified principles, limitations, new/modified theorisations, indications of best practice, lessons learned, indications of the need for further work, implication for law or standards, warning or cautions, advice, caveats, values, ethics, factors or features including cultural ones, usage and user psychology and other things that might occur to you. So we might write:
6.4.1 Implication for X
6.4.2 Indications of Best Practice
6.4.3 Implication for Company Standards on Technology Acquisition
6.4.4 User Psychology Perspective on IT
Etc
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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