1. Ronan Fitzpatrick June 2007 A dissertation life cycle

2. Incubation Proposal ResearchContributionValidation New Hypothesis Dissertation DisseminationApplication Presentation MSc life cycle

3. Incubation Searching around for ideas Academic & Practitioner Calls for Papers (SEWorld & ITWorld) Build on what you know (Undergraduate or work project).

4. Proposal Structure & Format Academic/Practitioner input ‘Know it already’ pitfall Convince your supervisor that you have a project.

5. Proposal content Introduction Project background Project aim and objectives Intellectual challenge Research program Project deliverables Resources required for the project References.

6. Research Address title topics Depth & Breath Seminal sources Contact world experts.

7. Contribution Synthesis New model, Framework, CSFs, Guidelines Proof of concept by prototype implementation.

8. Validation Return to Academic/Practitioner/World expert Incorporate any feedback.

9. Dissertation – what it is not It is not just a literature review It is not just a Literature review with some conclusions It is not just a literature review which proposes ‘something new’ It is not just a design for a new application It is not just a design and working application (Tierney, 2007)

10. Dissertation - definition An extended scholarly essay, usually based upon original research, submitted for a degree or other academic qualification. (Oxford English Dictionary, 2007) In academia, a thesis or dissertation is a document that presents the author's research and findings and is submitted in support of candidature for a degree or professional qualification. (Wikipedia, 2007)

11. Dissertation Scholarly document Focused on the MSc award route Author’s original research Literature review Implementation/contribution Findings Testing (evaluation) Conclusions

12. Dissertation See ‘Crafting a dissertation’ for: Structure Content Format.

13. Dissemination Journals Conferences Practice Course website.

14. Application For academic use: As chapters, papers, for creating your deliverable As student readings For practitioner use: As tools and practice guidelines As part of your portfolio.

15. New Hypothesis Learning from applying deliverable Considering new research Formulating new hypotheses.

16. Presentation – Viva Voce Overview, presentation, summary General overview of what you did Avoid giving a lecture 15 slides is about right Emphasise your contributions In research, in deliverables Rehearse alone in advance.

17. Three pronged strategy Research Code Report

18. Life cycle Any questions on life cycle?