University Project Management Report: Research Methods and Findings

This project management report analyzes the research methods employed in a study, focusing on the impact of digital technologies on people's lives. The report details the application of positivism, descriptive research design, and a deductive approach, utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. It explores qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each method. The report critically assesses the project management process, including resource allocation, timeline estimation, and the importance of project milestones. Lessons learned from the research project are highlighted, emphasizing the need for careful planning and the effective use of course-related knowledge. The conclusion underscores the complexities of project management and suggests future improvements in research methodology. The report also references key project management concepts and their application within the context of the research.

Running head: TASK 3: PROJECT MANAGEMENT REPORT
Task 3: Project Management Report
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................2
2. Research methods used in research project........................................................................2
3. Critical evaluation of project management process............................................................3
4. Strengths and weaknesses of research methods..................................................................4
5. Lessons learnt from research project..................................................................................7
6. Conclusion..........................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................8

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1. Introduction
The project management report is focused on examining the research methods which
are used to conduct the research work. The research methods help the researcher to define
suitable approaches and techniques required to attain complete results of research process.
Kumar (2019) mentioned that the project management theories as well as concepts are
adopted to get deeper understanding on advantages and disadvantages of digital technologies
on life of people. Fletcher (2017) pointed that detailed research process leads to errors which
can create limits to the research process. The researcher is required to apply process of
research methods which can help them in analysing if the digital technologies can improve
life or distract from it.
2. Research methods used in research project
In this particular research study, detailed research methods are used to analyze the
digital technologies and its influence on healthy lifestyle of people. The selected research
philosophy is positivism research method. It can allow the researcher to perform this research
project based on secondary sources helps to determine if the digital technologies can improve
life of people or it can distract from it. The research design selected for this study is
descriptive, which can help the researcher to define applied concepts as well as theories in
detailed way further help to define impact of the research study (Quinlan et al. 2019).
Application of both primary as well as secondary sources help the researcher to provide
details of the selected research topic. It helps the researcher to bring better quality of data
analysis. The selected sample size for conducting primary research is 25.
The research approach selected for this study is deductive approach, it is a process
which can describe application of theories studied to get access to research project content.
This method is used to build theories with detailed specifications as well as concepts related

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to data analysis. The data sources are used to penetrate research title and help to get
information based on project requirements. Both primary as well as secondary data are
selected for this research study to provide materials helpful to conduct the study (Silverman
2016). The primary data is useful to collect raw data based on research project title. Primary
research is mainly conducted to verify reliability in addition to validity of collected data.
Secondary sources is used to enable the study with wider concept of theories. The selected
data analysis method for this specific study is qualitative and quantitative. Krippendorff,
(2018) mentioned that qualitative data is useful to record narrative form of information with
theoretical concepts in practical field. Quantitative data is used to record data of sample size.
3. Critical evaluation of project management process
Kerzner (2018) mentioned that the process management process is used systematic
analysis for gathering data as well as revealing the efficiency of those collected data. A
proper assessment and estimation of resources as well as duration required to complete
project activities. It is the main concern for the project manager as well as stakeholders.
Heagney (2016) noted that duration estimation analyzed time taken to complete the project
plan, either entire project plan or some sections of entire research project. According to
Krippendorff (2018), the work breakdown structure is used as an activity to assist the project
team members in estimating of resources and timeline. The project milestones also help to
assist the project manager in tracking entire progress of research project.
Kerzner (2017) mentioned that the project milestones can assist to build continued
momentum of team members and show progress towards project success. It is true that in IT
related project, the project personnel plays a key role to achieve project success. The project
resources assigned with their duties and responsibilities which is critical to get success in IT
related project. According to Quinlan et al. (2018), the project personnel are assigned to the

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project activities based on their availability, skills level, training as well as open mind to learn
more about project management.
Kerzner (2018) stated that the project deliverables are produced for the research
project for meeting with its project objectives as well as expectations of stakeholders. It also
helps the project manager to estimate entire project timeline along with cost for the project.
Heagney (2016) pointed that the communication plan is used to clarify relationships among
the project audiences, communication channels as well as materials used to interact between
project stakeholders and team members. Kumar (2019) argued that it is a policy drive
approach used to provide the project stakeholders with research related information. The plan
is used to define project related information, when it should deliver, through what channels
and whom the information to be delivered.
4. Strengths and weaknesses of research methods
Positivism research philosophy:
Positivism is the theory stated that specific knowledge is based on the natural
phenomenon as well as relations. The information are derived through aim as well as logic.
Strengths: This method believed on basis of knowledge as well as thoughts based on
scientific methods. It followed well defined structure during the research study. The structure
provides little variance as well as extreme variables changes accurate for the study (Quinlan
et al. 2019).
Weaknesses: Positivism method encourages the researcher to disregard behaviours of
human as well as their emotions, as there is no such guarantee occurred at the time of
research study (Krippendorff 2018). It is believed that positivism is measured as well as
calculated tend to be inflexible. It tends to provide unexplained research phenomenon.

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Descriptive research design:
The main purpose of this research method is to describe what is actually going in the
research project. It is performed through using case study, observation research and survey
research (Kumar 2019). In this particular study, survey research is used.
Strengths: Descriptive research method is provided with in-depth view of the
selected research topic. It provides with details which is extremely valuable for understanding
the selected topic. It is true that descriptive research is gathered qualitatively. It is used to
create new research questions and hypothesis.
Weaknesses: It is not possible to determine case as well as effect relations by using
descriptive research. People are also changed their behaviour in case they are know that they
are observed (Krippendorff 2018).
Deductive research approach
This research method involved with starting with theory, development of research
hypothesis from theory and then collecting data for testing the hypothesis.
Strengths: this research method can explain casual relation among concepts as well
as variables. It is possible to measure the research related concepts quantitatively.
Weaknesses: This method is not encouraging divergent thinking, therefore it can
limit scope of originalities (Quinlan et al. 2019).
Primary and secondary data collection
The primary data is collected through original research work using survey, focus
group discussions and others. The secondary research is carried out through collecting data
from the past done by other. The research is conducted using research from internet, articles,
reports of company and others.

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Strengths: Primary data has its strengths in data management as well as storage.
Secondary research has strength to collect data in marketing as well as data world (Glesne
2016). It provides frame of mind to researcher that in what direction should go to get proper
results.
Weaknesses: For primary data collection, more time as well as efforts are needed. In
case of secondary research, it is possible that the information may not be same as it is
required for the study (Fletcher 2017).
Qualitative data analysis
This data analysis method describes characteristics of something. It provides
information related to behaviour of human, personal characteristics, emotions and others that
quantitative study cannot match.
Strengths: It provides information about behaviour of user, emotions, routines, needs,
use cases and others that is required to fit with life of users. This method needs flexibility
allows to respond to the user data (Bresler and Stake 2017).
Weaknesses: As this method cannot trend to statistical analysis, therefore this method
cannot validate trends by measuring p-value.
Quantitative data analysis
This research method provides data expressed in numerical form. As the data are
numerical form, therefore it is possible to apply statistical test of collected data.
Strengths: It provides with information that the researchers use to make scientific
research assumptions. It has great strength as it provides data which is descriptive allows to
gather responses from user population (Fletcher 2017).

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Weaknesses: It is carried out in unnatural way, therefore level of control is applied to
exercise. The level of control is not normal in real world.
5. Lessons learnt from research project
The research project seeks to understand the research work in detailed way in order to
get better research results and outcomes. At the time of performing research survey, it was
understandable that a proper planning as well as investigation was required to get project
success. I was focused on using the course related knowledge and skills in my research
project to analyze the selected topic. I established a clear research focus as well as goals to
get proper results. The survey experience taught several things about the research process that
I should consider in the future project.
6. Conclusion
It is concluded that there is complexity in the project management while estimating
the project duration as well as allocating the resources. From the analysis, it is found that the
project milestones generate to make sure in getting IT related project success. The selected
research methods help the researcher to align with nature of this research project along with
available research methods. The research methods are suitable to analyze the benefits of
digital technologies and its improvement in life of people. In the future, the project
management concepts should be used in detailed to get better research outcomes.

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References
Bresler, L. and Stake, R.E., 2017. Qualitative research methodology in music education.
In Critical Essays in Music Education (pp. 113-128). Routledge.
Fletcher, A.J., 2017. Applying critical realism in qualitative research: methodology meets
method. International journal of social research methodology, 20(2), pp.181-194.
Glesne, C., 2016. Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction. Pearson. One Lake
Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.
Heagney, J., 2016. Fundamentals of project management. Amacom.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Kerzner, H., 2018. Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence. John
Wiley & Sons.
Krippendorff, K., 2018. Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Sage
publications.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage
Publications Limited.
Meyer, J.P. and Morin, A.J., 2016. A person‐centered approach to commitment research:
Theory, research, and methodology. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 37(4), pp.584-612.
Quinlan, C., Babin, B., Carr, J. and Griffin, M., 2019. Business research methods. South
Western Cengage.
Setia, M.S., 2016. Methodology series module 3: Cross-sectional studies. Indian journal of
dermatology, 61(3), p.261.

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Silverman, D. ed., 2016. Qualitative research. Sage.