Project planning
Good planning is crucial to the success of a final year project, and will be expected when working in industry. The most important part of a project plan is that it should be continuously revised. it is not a document that necessarily defines the course of the project. Instead it defines the anticipated course of the project at the start, and as project work progresses it will always change.
The tasks will become more specific, and sometimes change in length, as more is understood of the problem.
Deliverables will change as it becomes necessary to scale project ambition downwards (the usual case) or upwards.
Deliverables will become more precise as specifications are worked out.
When things are going well a plan may seem redundant. However it is only by having a plan, and checking carefully that timescales are being met throughout the project, that you will be able to anticipate problems and so avoid an unsatisfactory ending with not enough time to finish the project properly. In past years more than 30% of projects have been unsatisfactorily finished, usually as the result of poor planning.
Project plans should include a Gantt Chart, and although complex project planning software is inappropriate for a student FYP, where there is only one worker, a Gantt chart is helpful in visualising project timescales and task dependencies.
As a student in your final year you will have lectures & coursework so that during Term time you will be working part-time. It is crucial that you factor the demands of this into your project plan, so that for example if you know you will be 100% occupied by coursework for the last three weeks of Term, you complete for end-of-Term project deliverables in advance of this.
The plan for your own project will be individual, and more detailed than what the example here, but this shows what typically you should be doing. Note that the project plan document is revised by you throughout the project and submitted twice as a deliverable!
| Autumn Term | |
| Weeks 4-6 | Formulate initial project plan; understand project specification & scope (this may need to be developed from that originally in the project spec); plan background research in detail |
| Weeks 6-10 | Conduct background research; develop implementation plan for entire project; commence implementation |
| Week 11 | Write up project spec & scope, project plan, & progress with background research in the Inception Report |
| Spring Term | |
| Week 1-2 | See second marker ASAP after he/she has read your Inception Report. Get feedback on project. If there are any problems at this stage that can't be resolved by your second marker and supervisor (including personality clashes etc) contact your project co-ordinator. |
| Week 1-11 | Finish any background research, continue with project implementation. Keep project plan uptodate and make the planning for the final phase of the project more detailed as this becomes possible. |
| Week 10-11 | Finish writing up Background Report (if not already done) |
| Summer Term | |
| Week 1-4 | EXAMS |
| Week 5-7 | Work on project final implementation phase full-time. Plan deliverables and fall-backs carefully at start so that the final result will be completed in time |
| Week 7-8 | Finish writing Project Final Report (Background Report Chapters may be revised as necessary and incorporated). |
| Week 9 | Work on project presentation after report is submitted |
Deliverables
The deliverables are documented on the deliverables page. Detailed guidelines for all deliverables are revised each year and published on the web well before the relevant date. Content of each deliverable is documented from the start of the year. Note that all Reports must be submitted electronically (as PDF uploaded over web) and, if required, on paper as well.
The Project Diary (EEE students and EEE-supervised EIE students) is required and although not assessed separately from other deliverables will be used by second marker and supervisor to determine project management marks. The published guidelines for contacting supervisors must be complied with. If supervisors make this impossible by refusal to schedule timely meetings and also inability to reply promptly to e-mail it is the responsibility of students to contact second marker and/or the project coordinator to resolve the problem. This must be done immediately.
The dates of presentations cannot be rescheduled for the convenience of students. In the case of exceptional problems - illness (backed up by medical note) etc other arrangements will be made. Other commitments (for example made to a future employer) will not be considered exceptional and non-attendance of the presentation at the specified time will result in loss of the corresponding mark.
Problems
Occasionally issues arise which result in breakdown of relations between supervisor and student. Although your Supervisor, together with Second Marker, will normally mark the project all projects are moderated by another member of staff. There are in addition procedures to make sure that in the event of any breakdown in relations the problems can be resolved without prejudice, and the project marked fairly. Problems may be:
You feel your supervisor has unrealistic expectations of your abilities and likely progress, but are unable to communicate this to him/her.
You have difficulty arranging adequate supervision arrangements.
There is a personality clash between you and your supervisor.
Any other problem
If you are worried about anything that cannot be or has not been addressed by your supervisor your action should be any of the following:
Discuss the situation with your Second Marker. Second markers will be allocated before the end of the Autumn Term. Second markers normally check project management and project scope and goals as part of the Inception Report Interview - this is a good time to raise informally any worries you may have. Second markers may also be contacted at any other time for advice.
Discuss the situation with the Project Coordinator (t.clarke-delete-this-string-@imperial.ac.uk). Any such discussions will be confidential.
Discuss the situation with the Senior Tutor. Any such discussions will be confidential.
In the case of possible sexual or racial harassment the College has procedures which will protect you - see the Student handbook.
Remember that problems ignored tend to get worse, and that there are many sources of help and support to deal with problems which occur providing they are acknowledged.