Explanatory Notes – You should read these before filling in your proposal (Please do not hand these notes in with your form )
The project summary is an indication of your intent to carry out a project in a certain field of discipline for a Masters level module.
1. Apply intellectual rigor to a topic area or subject that is of interest to the student and relevant to the programme of study undertaken at a Masters level.
2. Conceptualise and articulate a particular area of research or industry requirement in the body of a coherent, comprehensive and logically argued professional report.
3. Utilise and justify a range of research methods to identify, select and review a wide range of fully cited information sources to support the subject matter, both historical and current.
4. Identify and apply appropriate approaches, methodologies, tools and techniques that will support the progression of the subject matter and theme of a project.
5. Develop well structured solutions to an identifiable industry requirement or support a hypothesis / intellectual argument regarding an area of research.
6. Critically evaluate options and make justifiable recommendations for the subject matter.
7. Critically evaluate the approach and conduct of the project.
8. Demonstrate and conduct a project to good project management characteristics and Quality Assurance techniques.
9. Apply appropriate measures to address any legal and ethical issues relating to the project work.
The project must fall in the scope of YOUR programme of study i.e. if you are an engineering student then your subject matter must be related to the world of Engineering although comparisons can be made to other disciplines, similarly for KM students then subject matter must be related to the world of ICT in support to the discipline of choice.
This document can form the basis of allocation of staff to your project. This summary document will then be further worked for detail through a Project Proposal document, which will be similar to the document prepared in the study skills module.
Notes on the document fields
General Subject Area (with Keywords)
A broad topic area that defines the area of project and keywords that could be used in a search facility
Keywords could be any list of words that could be used in locating your project in a library database search facility.
Proposed Subject Title
A proposed title of the project, succinct and clear as to the project undertaken
Eg Feasibility of , How Lean principles in Large scale companies can be applied to , A case study of the barriers and triggers for Ghana to adopt WAP, etc
Brief Project scope and abstract
The background about the project, topic, company, situation and overall summary as to the nature of problem and what is required.
This would explain the aim of the project and put it into context /setting the scene. If you have a client then this is mentioned with their relevance to the project. This is really a mini-executive summary of the whole project, with considerations to the scope/ boundaries.
Project Objectives
List overall objectives of the project listing approx 7-10. These should be measurable and will be used in part assessment in determining the level of achievement of the project.
These can be a breakdown of what you are trying to achieve and can be representative of activities/ phases that are to be conducted in arriving at the project deliverables. Words such as acquire, identify, evaluate, conduct , develop, demonstrate, analyse etc could be used. These should reflect the Learning outcomes of the Module for example :
1. Research the principles / background / impact of chosen subject matter in terms of either engineering or ICT, regionally, nationally and or globally.
2. Conduct GAP/ PESTLE/ SWOT analysis and define some strategic positioning to provide context to the subject matter.
3. Identify appropriate case studies to analyse in respect of primary and secondary research for comparison and contrast; these can be regional, national and/or global case studies.
4. Evaluate triggers and barriers of subject matter in the context of the problem domain and given scenario.
5. Analyse and build a requirement specification / feasibility study or design using an appropriate and justified business, IT or Engineering lifecycle.
6. Instantiate the relevant business, IT or Engineering lifecycle within the context of the project
7. Determine and discuss possible options, scenarios and solutions
8. Draw conclusions and clear recommendations for the progress and approach for the future realisation of the solution with provision of a timeline
9. Make critical evaluation of the project and approach.
The objectives should be relevant and specific to your project, reflect the aims and the learning outcomes. They should be realistic, though sufficiently challenging and measurable.
FEC MBA/ MSc Detail Project Proposal Form
Please type and fill in the following form and all fields. Once completed and reviewed by supervisors then submit an electronic copy to Coventry University (see details at the end of this form). Thankyou.
Total quality management. Its impacts on road construction in Nigeria.
Project Title : A proposed title of the project, succinct and clear as to the project undertaken.
Evaluating the impact of total quality management on road construction- a case study of Radcom Nigerian limited
Abstract/ Summary : Please provide some background about the project, topic, company, situation and overall summary as to the nature of problem and what is required (approx 500 words)
This study aims to evaluate the impacts that the total quality management have on road construction companies. Total quality management is among the known concepts of management in the world. The concept has developed through a series of phases to its current state. It dates back to the teachings of scholars including Feigenbaum, Crosby, Ishikawa, Drucker, Juran among others who have immensely contributed to organisational management.
An important factor in the implementation of total quality management is the contributions made by Deming. This proposals help companies improve management quality and productivity. According to Deming, to achieve this, companies should work with single supplier to minimize costs, minimize dependence on inspection in attempt to achieve quality. Total quality management fosters participation by all the members of staff in the company processes, hence total transformation of the company.
Recent studies have evaluated the impact of total quality management on the the performance of manufacturing, and constructing companies in Nigeria. The study indicates that, the use of total quality management in all the operations of the construction companies improves the overall performance and output.
This research provides an insight into these impacts; the case study is done on Radcom Nigeria limited.
Radcom Nigeria is a local road construction company in Nigeria; it’s tasked with construction of public and private roads, building and expansion of major traffic roads in major cities, building bridges and other infrastructural facilities in the country. The company bids for the contracts to do the construction. To achieve its purpose, Radcom employs several members of staff with different professions but mainly civil engineers, managers, accountants and other staff.
The major concern is to provide products and services that satisfy the needs of the customers and at the same time, working within available company resources to make reasonable profit margins. Owing to the increase in demand for quality and durable roads, coupled with the increase in prizes of construction materials and labour charges, the company employed the total quality management strategy to ensure its productivity and survival in the market.
The study shall also highlight the use of total quality management, to promote holistic strategy of managing a business; this is bound to improve the relationship between the different stakeholders in the company’s projects. Road construction is a project that needs more stakeholder consultation and public participation; therefore the implementation of the total quality management will rid isolated developments and promote customer satisfaction and construction of quality roads.
Finally it shall provide the recommendations on how to implement the strategy effectively to achieve optimal success. The recommendations will include identification of areas to be improved, and how the improvements should be carried out without negatively affecting the company performance.
List overall objectives of the project. These should be measurable and will be used in part assessment in determining the level of achievement of the project. These should reflect the Learning outcomes of the Module.
(Can be a breakdown of what you are trying to achieve and can be representative of activities/ phases that are to be conducted in arriving at the project deliverables)
This research shall be guided by the following objectives:
i) To identify and evaluate management strategies in the company.
ii) To identify how total quality management is implemented in the company.
iii) To identify the roles played by total quality management in the company
iv) To evaluate the impacts of total quality management in the company.
v) To identify the shortcomings and implications of using the Total quality management
vi) Identify areas of improvement in the company.
vii) To provide recommendations on how to effectively implement total quality management in the company.
Project Outcomes :
Provide a list of key outcomes of the conducted project (can be deliverables/outputs for each of the above objectives/ stages and these can be studies, reports, requirements, plans, recommendations etc )
Project outcomes of the conducted project :
i. An analysis of how the total quality management concept of management is implemented in the Radcom Nigeria Limited. How it is effected in the various departments and sectors of the company.
ii. A review of the literature about the use and implications of total quality management on construction industry in Nigeria and other parts of the World.
iii. A structured analysis of the methodology used in carrying out the research.
iv. A review of the shortcomings that affect total quality management in the company and how they can be overcome.
Total quality management enhances the company performance and improves its competitive advantage. It is implemented in the key sectors of the company that have a major impact in the performance of the company. The use of total quality management in the company promotes customer satisfaction and delivery of service.
Why are you interested in the project ?
Provide a reason for your interest, what greater general interest it serves (In Industry or as part of Research) and who it could benefit (the target audience(s) that this project would be beneficial to)
My expectations from the study shall provide the management and other stakeholders, with the necessary evidence of the importance of total quality management, in the management of road construction companies.
The road construction industry is an industry that is key to economic growth. It greatly impacts other sectors of the economy. The management of the companies that provide the construction service should be keenly addressed, to provide effective management which will have direct impact on the quality of service they provide.
Roads are major public infrastructure that should be handled effectively. My interest in this study is to provide an insight on the importance of total quality management, and how effective it is in managing road construction companies.
What are the key questions the project attempts to answer?
These should be testable in some way. These should be the key focal points that the project is trying to determine. (Challenging views, practises, models, behaviour, adoption etc on areas such as : the nature of .., impact of , the practicality of.., a hypothesis of , inferences questioned, assumptions deliberated and tested, questions of comparisons and contrasts .,etc-)
i) How can total quality management be implemented in an organisation?
ii) What are the effects or impacts an organisation can experience by using total quality management?
iii) What are the requirements for implementing total quality management in the organisation?
What research methods do you intend to use?
(Discuss the nature of investigation considering the multitude of academic and Industry methods, with thoughts on qualitative and quantitative methods, and primary and secondary methods)
Quantitative research is used in the research;
This is carried out through survey method. The company is surveyed and the current activities and management methods are observed and analysed, requirements identified and proposal and recommendations generated.
The research will generate primary data through the use of a guided questionnaire to interview respondents. Secondary data will be sourced from literature work. The respondents will be classified based on their management level and level of decision making, their roles in the company and responsibilities
The information shall be gathered and acquired through the interviews of management, staff, and customers and through researcher observation. The data to be collected during the study include the management criteria, the reason for the existing management and the effects and impacts it has on the company performance.
What primary and/or secondary data sources do you intend to use?
(for each of the above identified methods discuss the pool of sources of authentic and credible information giving examples, e.g. consider target audiences such as profiles of general public, company representatives, people with specialist knowledge and in specific positions, type and title of books, journals etc)
Data for the research shall be acquired through the following sources:
i. Questionnaires
ii. Interview schedule
The Questionnaire
This method of data collection is effective for the group of respondents who are busy. The questions are carefully designed to avoid leading questions. It is the easiest technique to administer, information provided from the question are not jeopardised by fear of victimisation. It is ideal for collection of information before quantitative analysis.
Interview schedule
Interview is the acquisition of research data and information in an oral manner. Interview schedule is prepared between the interviewee and the interviewer. This method is ideal for intensive investigation in terms of how some activities are undertaken in the company. The main people to be interviewed are the management, staff and the clients or customers. The managers are interviewed to provide information on the managerial techniques they use and their effectiveness. The staffs are sampled before they are interviewed, they will provide information on the impacts and their views of the managerial techniques and areas that need to be improved.
Secondary sources
There will be the use of books and journal articles in the research. Of importance is the use of journals and magazines on road construction management
Please provide draft chapter headings for your report
Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Background Information
1.2 Scope
1.3 Aim of the study
1.4 Objectives
Chapter 2
2.1 History of total quality management
2.2 impacts on performance
2.3 overview and critical analysis of Radcom Nigeria Limited.
Chapter 2
Methodology
3.1 Method to be used
3.2 Significance of the research method
3.3 Survey correspondents
3.4 Procedure for data collection
3.5 Method of data analysis
Chapter 2
Results
Chapter 5
Discussion and Recommendation
Chapter 6
Appendix and Bibliography
Gantt chart
Attach or outline a project schedule (Gantt chart) which incorporates the phases of your project and activities to undertake, duration, start and end dates, any milestones/ deliverables and major dependencies. This should preferably be in MS project (by exception: .xls, .doc, PowerPoint etc)
Date :
Return of form to Coventry University
Thank you for completing the form please ensure your supervisor has a copy and submit an electronic copy by CUonline by the relevant module web (M99EKM or equivalent).
References.
Alvarez-Gonzalez, L. I., & Santos-Vijande, M. L. (2007). TQM and firms performance: An EFQM excellence model. International Journal of Business Science and Applied Management, Volume 2, Issue 2, , 10- 15.
Bamisile, A. (2004). Production Management. Lagos: Foresight Press Ltd.
Harris, F., & McCaffer, R. (2002). Modern Construction Management . Accra: E.P.P Books series.
Jonathan, I. O., Sunday, O. T., Ayobami, A. J., & Iruobe, T. (2012). An Investigation into the Impact of Total Quality Management Application in the Construction Industry. Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences (JETEMS) 3 (1): 46-50 , 3-10.
