Course Title: Systems Research Project (Part B)

Part A: Course Overview

Course ID: 011636

Course Title: Systems Research Project (Part B)

Credit Points: 24

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
MANU2149B	City Campus	Postgraduate	115H Aerospace, Mech & Manuf Eng	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2007

Course Coordinator: Professor Louis Doukas

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 8084

Course Coordinator Email: louis.doukas@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 57.05.014

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

After completing successfully AERO 2320A

Course Description

The course is designed to assist students to develop their research skills, broaden their technical and managerial outlook and apply systems engineering concepts to real work situations. Areas of investigation may include design, construction, production, implementation, support, process reengineering, process improvement, monitoring and control, and decision making.

A professional workplace environment will be encouraged, since the project definition and planning must be carried out to the highest standard and to assist students in developing their professional careers. In this case confidentiality control will be implemented to ensure security of commercial and business information.

Specific research project defined as a formal research proposal prepared jointly by the supervisor and student, in some cases in consultation with industry or employers.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

* The key objective is to demonstrate experience and knowledge of systems engineering in the conduct of practical, problem centred research and investigation.
Other objective are:
* Prepare rigorous, complete and concise research proposals.
* Document and present the research results accurately, effectively and in concise manner.
* Apply appropriate qualitative and
quantitative research methodologies to a problem.
* Develop a research plan incorporating all the research activities.
* Collection and comparison and organising field data.
* Knowledge to perform field surveys.

Overview of Learning Activities

Students are required to proceed with the research after obtaining approval from completing the Research Proposal in Part A.
Students should proceed to complete their research project by addressing the following activities:
1. Analysis of Data
2. Presentation of solutions
3. Conclusions and Summaries
4. Identification of further work
5. Appearance
6. Report Cohesion
7. Reference List
8. Communication of Knowledge And Ideas
9. Rigorous and consistency

Overview of Learning Resources

Doukas, L., Course Guide Notes, SE 800 Guidelines for Systems Research Project Planning, Department of Aerospace Engineering, RMIT University, 2005.

* SE 800 RMIT Library Resource File.

* Kumar, R., Research Methodology - a step by step guide for beginners, Addison Wesley, Australia, 1996.

* Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G., Williams, J.W., The Craft of Research, University of Chicago Press, 1995

* Blaikie, N, Approaches to Social Enquiry, Polity Press, Cambridge, UK, 1993.

* Anderson, J., Poole, M., Thesis and Assignment Writing, 2nd edition, John Wiley and Sons, Brisbane, 1994.

* Leedy P.D. & Ormrod J.E. Practical Research Planning and Design,7th Edition, Macmillan Publishing Co, 2001

* Zikmund W.G. Business Research Methods, 7th Edition, Thomson/south-western Co,2003


Students are required to search for resources and produce a comprehensive list of bibliography related to their selected research project.

RMIT UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
supports the Distance Students by providing the following ONLINE RESOURCES:

* access to online data bases
* library catalogue searching
* document delivery service
* online question and answer service
* guides and tutorials for information literacy including referencing
* complete textbooks and journals

For more information visit the RMIT web sites:
* http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/info-trek
* http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/assistance
* http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/contacts

Overview of Assessment

The assessment is based on the demonstration of capabilities in producing the Thesis focusing in the following examination criteria:
1. Analysis of Data
2. Presentation of solutions
3. Conclusions and Summaries
4. Identification of further work
5. Appearance
6. Report Cohesion
7. Reference List
8. Communication of Knowledge And Ideas
9. Rigorous and consistency