Project types and styles

What characteristics define an excellent project? (Some qualities of outstanding projects including project types and research approaches, tailoring a project to your own interests, aspirations, and capabilities)

Locating pertinent literature: How to get the most out of the university library; tools and resources that are available; primary and secondary sources.

Studying research papers: Choosing which articles to read; reading intensity; writing notes and summaries; and gathering bibliographic metadata.

Research paper creation: structure, framing the question, writing styles, tools, and resources; crediting and referencing sources; avoiding plagiarism; and editing and proof-reading are all part of the process.

Evaluation of project results: critical analysis; scope and restrictions; and experimental, analytical, unit-testing, and user analysis assessment methods.

Academic writing styles

Referencing

Developing a thesis

Preventing plagiarism

Evaluation, metrics, and performance measurement methods

Professional bodies, codes of conduct, and expectation of good practice

Legal, Social, Ethical and Professional Issues

Development of computing professional skills

Cultural, global and environmental issues

Understanding of peer review processes

Research Tools

Introduction to data and datasets

Research Techniques

Planning analytic research

Applications of Quantitative and Qualitative Research methods and techniques

Segmentation and sampling

Statistical testing

Variable modelling

Data analytics content:

Knowledge management concepts

Types of data analytics tools, techniques, and technologies

Implementation issues and technologies for non standard data, large data sets, document handling (NoSQL)

Data quality and reporting

Data visualisation and analysis

Data cleansing, ETL, treatment of outliers Data Marts

Data presentation and communication

Research projects and reporting

This module will support the development and assessment of the following Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours from the DTSS Apprenticeship Standard:

CTS1 - Identify, document, review and design complex IT enabled business processes that define a set of activities that will accomplish specific organisational goals and provides a systematic approach to improving those processes;

CTS5 - Develop and deliver management level presentations which resonate with senior stakeholders, both business and technical;

CTS6 - Professionally present digital and technology solution specialism plans and solutions in a well-structured business report;

CTS11 - Apply broader technical knowledge combined with an understanding of the business context, and how it is changing, to deliver to the company’s business strategy;

CTK5 - How to justify the value of technology investments and apply benefits management and realisation;

CTK6 - How to monitor technology related market trends and research and collect competitive intelligence;

CB2 - Establish high levels of performance in digital and technology solutions activities

Assignment 1 – A research style paper focussed on a business related research activity combining secondary and primary research involving singificant data analysis activity.

Learning Outcomes 1, 3

Assignment 2 – A management style presentation of a business related research activity combining secondary and primary research involving singificant data analysis activity.

Learning Outcomes 2,3,4

Assessing the following KSBs from the DTSS Apprenticeship Standard

CTS1 - Identify, document, review and design complex IT enabled business processes that define a set of activities that will accomplish specific organisational goals and provides a systematic approach to improving those processes;

CTS5 - Develop and deliver management level presentations which resonate with senior stakeholders, both business and technical;

CTS6 - Professionally present digital and technology solution specialism plans and solutions in a well-structured business report;

CTK6 - How to monitor technology related market trends and research and collect competitive intelligence;

Demonstrate the capacity to gather sources, and to comprehend and evaluate previous literature in a complex computing situation

demonstrate, explain, apply and critically evaluate the use of data analytics to support management presentations

justify through research and data analysis, technology based business processes that will accomplish specific organisational goals;

develop and deliver management presentations and structured business reports supported by business intelligence to support digital and technology solutions

Below is the core teaching and learning strategy for all standard modules. If you are writing a self-directed/reflective module, i.e. micro-certification/CPD or capstone project modules, then please adapt accordingly.



The module will be delivered through a Blended learning Approach, with a Module Launch, Guided Learning, Independent Learning and Individual Reviews:



Module Launch – 9 hours

There will be a module launch with 9 hours face to face contact which will provide details of the modules purpose, content and approach



Guided Learning – 16 hours

There are a number of approached that may be used:

Weekly delivery - whilst there will be materials online there will be a series of webinars which will be content driven, these will either be 1 hour weekly or 2 hours on alternate weeks

Block delivery – a series of extended face to face sessions eg 4 x 4 hours



Independent Learning – 173 hours

You will be required to complete activities in support of developing your learning and your assessment solutions, as an apprentice some of these hours are drawn from the experience and the development of knowledge and skills in the workplace



Individual Reviews – 2 hours

You will have 2 hours of tutorials sessions with your module tutor during the course of the module. In the main these will be individual but may be small group sessions during which your module tutor will be able to answer any queries that you have regarding module work.

Research techniques and data science required for Masters study, with a specific focus on delivering the outcomes to a business organisation including business data presentation and management tools (MS BI etc).

This module will enable apprentices to develop and enhance contemporary research methods, data analytics and business presentations for Digital & Technology Solutions.



The content of the module includes: a critical appreciation of both quantitative and qualitative research, evaluating sources of data, appraising research designs, considering researchers philosophies, statistical data analysis covering tests of differences and relationships, interpretation of research findings, and the presentation of research results.

Apprentices will develop practical analytical skills by working with employer and/or industry relevant datasets to conduct quantitative analyses and report the results.

A variety of approaches to qualitative research will be critically appraised (e.g., thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis) and applied to the datasets.

The theoretical rationale for, and execution of, a range of inferential statistical techniques will also be covered.



Apprentices will develop skills in contemporary data analysis and presentation methods and tools resulting in a focussed business presentation (appropriate to the employers expectations) alongside a the detailed academic report.