Research Project Management

Dr.A.IndiraCentre for Poverty Studies and Rural Development, ASCI

Capacity Building for Principals of DIETs

14th March 2007

Learning Objectives• What is research?• Generating a proposal• Project management objectives• Project life cycle• Diagram networks of project activities• Estimate the completion time of a project• Determine how to reduce the length of a

project effectively

“if you want it done right, you may as well do it yourself”

Research?

• Basic Research• Applied (Action) Research

Action research -- a form of self-reflective enquiry undertaken by participants in social situations to improve the rationality understanding the practices, and the situations in which carried out

TOPIC FORMAL RESEARCH ACTION RESEARCH

Training needed by researcher Extensive On own or with consultation

Goals of research Knowledge that is generalizable Knowledge to apply to the local situation

Method of identifying the problem to be studied

Review of previous research Problems or goals currently faced

Procedure for literature review Extensive, using primary sources More cursory, using secondary sources

Sampling approach Random or representative sampling Students or clients with whom they work

Research design Rigorous control, long time frame Looser procedures, change during study; quick time frame; control through triangulation

Measurement procedures Evaluate and pretest measures Convenient measures or standardized tests

Data analysis Statistical tests; qualitative techniques

Focus on practical, not statistical significance; present raw data

Application of results Emphasis on theoretical significance Emphasis on practical significance

Community-based action research

-- explicit set of social values

• is democratic, enabling the participation of all people.

• is equitable, acknowledging people’s equality of worth.

• is liberating, providing freedom from oppressive, debilitating conditions.

• is life enhancing, enabling the expression of people’s full human potential.

• (Stringer 1999: 9-10)

Resources

• Public knowledge -- published" or made public.

• Collaborative knowledge -- field incident database.

• Shared personal knowledge -- notes, memos, job aids

• Experiential knowledge -- experiential knowledge space. A set of tools, test resources, and emulation systems

which can simulate any of several customer operating environments

Kurt Lewin, 1940s

Generating a Proposal• Idea

– hypothesis• Methodology• Budget

– heads• Time Scheduling• Manpower

• What is a project?– Any endeavor with objectives– With multiple activities– With defined precedent relationships– With a specific time period for completion

• Examples?– A major event like a wedding– Any construction project– Designing a political campaign

Five Project Life Cycle Phases• Conception: identify the need

• Feasibility analysis or study: costs benefits, and risks

• Planning: who, how long, what to do?

• Execution: doing the project

• Termination: ending the project

Steps for Classroom Action Research

• Decide on a question--Meaningful and important to you. • Read literature on your topic • Plan your overall research strategy and

data collection strategies • Collect data (refine methods as needed) • Make sense of the data (qualitative and/or quantitative) • Reach conclusions about your question. What is the

practical significance of your findings? • Take action based on your conclusions • Share your findings with others

Network Planning Techniques• Program Evaluation & Review Technique

(PERT):– Developed to manage the Polaris missile project– Many tasks pushed the boundaries of science &

engineering (tasks’ duration = probabilistic)

• Critical Path Method (CPM):– Developed to coordinate maintenance projects in

the chemical industry– A complex undertaking, but individual tasks are

routine (tasks’ duration = deterministic)

Both PERT and CPM• Graphically display the precedence

relationships & sequence of activities

• Estimate the project’s duration

• Identify critical activities that cannot be delayed without delaying the project

• Estimate the amount of slack associated with non-critical activities

Gantt Chart Showing Each Activity Finished at the Earliest

Possible Start Date

The Critical Chain Approach

• The Critical Chain Approach focuses on the project due date rather than on individual activities and the following realities:– Project time estimates are uncertain so we add safety time – Multi-levels of organization may add additional time to be “safe”– Individual activity buffers may be wasted on lower-priority activities– A better approach is to place the project safety buffer at the end

Original critical path

Activity A Activity B Activity C Activity D Activity E

Critical path with project buffer

Activity A

Activity B

Activity C Activity D

Activity E

Project Buffer

Coping Strategies1. Don't Give Up2. Enlist the Help of Colleagues3. Keep a Positive Attitude4. Be Prepared to Compromise5. Be Generous6. Go Public7. Join a Local Action Research Group8. Establish a Reputation for Success9. Publish Reports in Journals10. Have Faith in Your Own Personal Knowledge

Most formidable challenges

•capturing expert/novice and peer-to-peer exchanges, making this information readily accessible to anyone who requires it at a particular moment and context.

•developing a strong sense of ownership among team members, leading to greater levels of collaboration, sharing, and knowledge documentation.

•finding processes and modes of access that best fit the working styles and preferences of team members

Thank you!