Challenges, Interactions, Skills, and Lessons in Research Proposal

This report delves into the multifaceted process of constructing a research proposal, meticulously examining the challenges encountered at each stage. It critically analyzes the difficulties in selecting a relevant topic, formulating clear aims and objectives, choosing appropriate methodologies, assembling a research team, collecting and analyzing data, and utilizing technology. The report also discusses the importance of interaction with supervisors, tutors, and peers, highlighting their crucial roles in guiding the research process. Furthermore, it identifies and discusses essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and technological proficiency. Lessons learned from the process, including the significance of responsibility, teamwork, and tolerance, are outlined alongside a professional development plan aimed at enhancing communication, technological, problem-solving, and self-confidence skills. The report concludes by emphasizing strategies for adapting and moving forward, underscoring the continuous improvement needed in research.

RESEARCH AND
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
1. Critical discussion of challenges encountered in the construction of each section of the
proposal.................................................................................................................................1
2. Critical discussion of your interaction and use of support tutors/peers/supervisors..........2
3. Critically discussion of skills required/used for successful construction of the proposal..3
4. Critical discussion of lessons learnt from the process and strategies to adapt to move
forward..................................................................................................................................4
5. Professional development plan...........................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

1. Critical discussion of challenges encountered in the construction of each section of the
proposal
To make effective research, it is very necessary to keep in mind various things. The main
challenges encountered in the construction of the proposal are defined as follows:
Choosing right topic:
The present research is base on process for selection of topic. In the initial step of the
process topic must be selected very carefully as wrong selection will lead to poor performance.
The selection of topic should be according to the availability of resources like money, data,
people etc. these elements affect the whole study of making investigation. It is very challenging
to select the topic as it requires deep study and analyses. Selection of relevant topic is very
essential and it should be according to the interest of the investigator (Larson and Gray, 2013).
The researcher has to consult the experts and other specialist of the topic who can guide them to
make the dissertation.
Making aims and objectives of the topic:
After selecting the topic, it is very difficult to make its aims and objectives as the
researcher may not be sure about fulfilling the demands of the topic and whether it will get
relevant data on that aim or not. Further, the aims must be relevant that will attract and develop
interest of the reader. Moreover, it will be very challenging to decide the objectives because
choosing tough aims will create problem for me where this will further require me to possess
high qualities, abilities and skills.
Problem in selecting right methodology:
After selection the topic of the research, it is the time to choose correct methodology for
conducting the research. I have to considered right path while selecting proper research
approaches. The main problem in selecting correct method is that it requires proper planning
which can be able to meet all the demand and requirements of the visitors (Kerzner, 2013).
Additionally, researcher have to design the method which can best answers their questions.
Assembling the research team:
Research cannot be done in vacuum and it requires effective team to support the scholar
in making investigation effective. The invertigator should has their own ideas and views with
the help of experts and other people. Further, the scholar has to create a cordial relationship with
the people that will further help them to think critically. This is also challenging taking time from
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different experts as they are always engaged in their work and they have no interest in
identification and scholars. Clearing the needs and will of the researcher is very tough specially
when they are very busy in performing their other important tasks (Cameron and Sankaran,
2015).
Problems in collecting secondary information:
The main problem faced while collecting secondary information is that I have to
coordinate the views of different authors and writers according to my research topic. Further, I
have analysed the problems which I have to face in conducting further analysis. Literature
review is not simple to create because it requires high understanding level.
Collection of data:
Collection of important and relevant data is very challenging because it needs deep study.
Further, it demands effective interaction with the experts of various fields. They compel us to
research the data by ourself by critically thinking the things. The main problem is related to the
storage of large amount of information because it requires gathering of different information and
research.
Problems faced in making Gantt chart:
Gantt charts depicts all the steps that are being implemented into the the project. The
main problem in making process cycle to divide the tasks into small portions. Further, it requires
regular inspection which is very challenging because it creates various problems and conflicts
when further research is done. while implementing this process effective research information
related to each step is required (Bentahar and Cameron, 2015).
Dealing with data:
After collecting all the data it is very challenging to combine and analyse the important
information and fit it according to the topic. The scholar faces various problems when it has to
connect its own research with the existing analysis. It is very difficult to make conclusions from
huge literature survey. Further, getting back to investigation methodology and which are taught
by mentors and supervisor and find out the results of them and fix it into the study is very
difficult and challenging. The qualitative data is collected and the researcher has to wait for the
right data to be generated and further explain it to all (Walker, 2015). Then effective use of
technology in the research is also very difficult because the scholar do not know how to make
use of different softwares in their study.
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2. Critical discussion of your interaction and use of support tutors/peers/supervisors
To carry out successful research, it is very necessary for the scholar to take support from
the tutors, mentors, supervisor etc. In order to make the study successful, the help and strengthen
of different people and research team is very essential. I got full assist from my supervisors in
selecting my research topic. They have guided me and directed the right path to make research.
They have also developed explore techniques and refined my plans and ideas in making aims and
objectives of the investigation. The supervisors have explained various rules and regulations
which helped me in making the inquiry.
The supervisor is familiar with the field in which we are making search. They help in
making the scope, objectives and risk logs of taking particular topic. The main task of the
monitor is to encourage their students to identify schemes and make them aware about different
risks and challenges in their study (Svejvig and Andersen, 2015). This also helped me to design
such research plan that involved its progress and special cases that are required to be taken into
consideration. This will avoid any mistakes while performing the research. They also guide the
scholars to complete their research on time and discovers the problems that are being faced by
people in their daily life.
The mentors and supervisors have deep knowledge of their field so they encourage their
students to make report on the current problems and challenges which are mainly faced by the
people. They also provide various trainings to the students regarding different software which
help the scholars to increase their productivity. They have helped me in making the rational and
risk logs which help me to sum up the main discoveries and findings of the project. Further, my
interaction with supervisor helped me to consider ethical aspects so that I can minimize the
complications of the project (Serra and Kunc, 2015). Further, they provide proper guidance to
about various guidelines regarding how to deal the problems of the research.
The supervisor plays an important role in completing the project effectively. They
provide various advise to me which helped me to make effective research. It also ensures that all
the students have understood the procedure for the completion of the research. They also provide
right direction to me to collect and discover relevant data (Martinsuo and Killen, 2014). They
also provide various ideas to make Gantt charts and scopes of the research project. The peers and
supervisor assisted me in developing various skills which are necessary for making research
project.
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3. Critically discussion of skills required/used for successful construction of the proposal
In order to conduct the research, the scholar must have effective communication skills.
This will help the researcher to ask questions to the respondents, experts and other team
members of the project. They together helped me to maintain effective relationships with
mentors and supervisors. Effective communication skills assisted me in interacting with other
people, students and researchers to acquire useful information. Further, critical thinking is
another skill that allows the scholar to meet the exact requirements of the research. It also helped
me to discover various plans and ideas to conduct an effective research at my end (Martinsuo,
2013). Creative thoughts and thinking are necessary in evaluating the findings and discover new
things.
Further, problem solving skills are also necessary to develop as they help in finding the
solutions of different problems. At every step, the scholar finds different issues in its research
and demotivated. The difficulty solving skills helps them to find the effective solution of
different difficulties and helps them to resolve that issues. These skills are very essential to
develop as they help in making the right solutions and making things easier.
Moreover, self-assurance and technological skills plays an important role in making
effective research. Self confidence skills helps the scholar to take initiative and put their findings
in front of other researchers and supervisors (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017). It also assists me in
influencing others to consider my research and findings at top priority. They helped me in
explaining the objectives and aims of the research in the best way among other researcher and
different people. Furthermore, technological skills are also important in solving the critical
problems of the research. These skills are very important in searching various information on the
internet.
4. Critical discussion of lessons learnt from the process and strategies to adapt to move
forward
Different strategies used to move forward in this project are critically defined. Further, to
make effective research, it is very necessary for me develop various skills which can help me in
making effective investigation. Different lessons which I learnt form the process to move
forward in the projects are defined as follows:
Always responsible:
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It is quite necessary to take obligation and work according to it. It is because working
according to the responsibility is very necessary and that later result in an increased level of
productivity in the project. It is very important to take responsibility to gain success and make
progress in the research field (Ahern, Leavy and Byrne, 2014).
Work in team:
Team work is very necessary to increase the productivity. Without cooperation of unit
members will lead to failure. It also helps in increasing the performance and making results
effective. It is very necessary to interact with experts, supervisors and mentors to understand
different critical problems of the research project and get the things solved in the best way.
Tolerance of failure:
I have learnt that patience is very necessary while working on the project. The tolerance
level is also necessary to maintain patience at the time of failure for achieving the important
tasks of the research (Gunathilaka, Tuuli and Dainty, 2013).
Keep focus on results:
In order to make research effectual, it is very necessary to focus on results rather than
activities. To make effective results, it is quite important to put the efforts in making productive
discoveries and results.
5. Professional development plan
Skills Time period Activity
Communication skills 1 year Practicing communication
vocabulary
Taking coaching classes
Technological skills 1 year Taking online tutorials.
Practicing on different
software related to them (vom
Brocke and Lippe, 2015).
Problem solving 6 months These skills can be improved
by taking help from different
experts.
Self confidence 2 months Self confidence can be
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improved by facing different
situation and overcoming the
stage fear.
Professional development plan will help me to develop various skills which are necessary
while making effective research project. Communication skill are very important in developing
the project because effective skills helps the scholar to interact more with experts and other
researcher. on order to effectively developing skill approx. 1 year of time is required, along with
this coaching and learning support helps in enhancing the results. for developing technical
knowledge an individual needs nearly 1 year, in this process resources like internet and books
can be considered. (Cameron, Sankaran and Scales, 2015). Problem solving skills can be raised
within 6 months by consulting various experts and other experienced people. Self confidence is
also necessary to put the initiative before others. It also helps in putting the views of researchers
in front of different people and explaining their views confidentially. These skills can be
developed within specific time.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ahern, T., Leavy, B. and Byrne, P.J., 2014. Complex project management as complex problem
solving: A distributed knowledge management perspective. International Journal of
Project Management. 32(8). pp.1371-1381.
Bentahar, O. and Cameron, R., 2015. Design and Implementation of a Mixed Method Research
Study in Project Management. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods. 13(1).
Cameron, R. and Sankaran, S., 2015. Mixed Methods Research in Project Management. Designs,
Methods and Practices for Research of Project Management. p.273.
Cameron, R., Sankaran, S. and Scales, J., 2015. Mixed methods use in project management
research. Project Management Journal. 46(2). pp.90-104.
Gunathilaka, S., Tuuli, M. M. and Dainty, A. R., 2013, September. Critical Analysis of Research
on Project Success, Construction Management Journals. In Procs 29th Annual ARCOM
Conference.
Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Larson, E. W. and Gray, C., 2013. Project Management: The Managerial Process with MS
Project. McGraw-Hill.
Leach, L. P., 2014. Critical chain project management. Artech House.
Martinsuo, M. and Killen, C.P., 2014. Value management in project portfolios: Identifying and
assessing strategic value. Project Management Journal. 45(5). pp.56-70.
Martinsuo, M., 2013. Project portfolio management in practice and in context. International
Journal of Project Management. 31(6). pp.794-803.
Nicholas, J. M. and Steyn, H., 2017. Project management for engineering, business and
technology. Taylor & Francis.
Serra, C. E. M. and Kunc, M., 2015. Benefits realisation management and its influence on
project success and on the execution of business strategies. International Journal of
Project Management. 33(1). pp.53-66.
Svejvig, P. and Andersen, P., 2015. Rethinking project management: A structured literature
review with a critical look at the brave new world. International Journal of Project
Management. 33(2). pp.278-290.
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vom Brocke, J. and Lippe, S., 2015. Managing collaborative research projects: A synthesis of
project management literature and directives for future research. International Journal of
Project Management. 33(5). pp.1022-1039.
Walker, A., 2015. Project management in construction. John Wiley & Sons.
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