Project Managing Your Thesis

1. Project Managing Your Thesis Dr. Wendy Noble EFS Academic Writing SpecialistMacquarie University

2. Motivation Becoming a Researcher Managing Your Supervisor Project Management Getting there

3. Why are you doing this? If doing this to prove yourself to others; compete with others; win a Nobel prize; avoid the world; doing it because you should; because you don’t know what else to do, then your motivation is based on shaky ground. Have you got what it takes? You need enthusiasm; willingness to accept responsibility for your progress and not blame others; avoidance of psychological indulgences; determined work ethic of self-discipline; effective organisation and time management; and loving negotiation with partners, friends and family This is your job But enjoy it! “Many people forget to enjoy the process. Writing a thesis provides so many opportunities to learn, to be creative, to travel, to present, to talk to stimulating people. Too many people regard it as a chore, always a trauma, such a serious business." Motivation

4. “No man is an island…” Decide who the key people are that you can call on to: Recommend resources Provide specialist expertise Read your drafts Give practical help Keep you honest Encourage you personally Support Team

5. In Australia becoming a researcher means basically four things: Taking a fully critical approach A need for analysis, critical appraisal and argument in academic writing. Entering the conversation Listen to the scholarly conversations around you: note themes, topics, questions and ‘hot topics’. Acquiring independence as a researcher A supervisor will not direct as an ‘authority figure’ who will direct every stage. You are expected to become increasingly independent with guidance from your supervisor. It is your thesis. Be pro-active with your supervisor Request a regular meeting time (via email), ask questions, be specific about requests, set an agenda and complete action items on time. Gain respect. (Craswell, 2005) Becoming a researcher

6. Candidates and Supervisors should use their first meetings together to plan: Regular meeting times How to maintain contact for feedback, record research decisions, and action items Long and short term research goals. Financial expenditure for equipment, conferences etc. Publication and co-publication strategies that will be part of the thesis. Managing Your Supervisor

7. Basically it is Project Management in a different dress… Project management is the overall planning and coordination of a project, from inception to completion, aimed at meeting the client's requirements and ensuring completion on time, within budget and to required quality standards. In your case “project ” = “thesis” and you are the “client” What is Thesis Management?

8. Recruiting a thesis manager Someone who is organized Someone you can talk to but who won’t buy your excuses Someone who cares about your completion Setting ground rules Complete a brief Assess commitment Meet regularly (e.g. weekly for 1 hour) Set realistic targets Achieve targets Getting Started

9. Give an honest account: Write a brief (plain English) description of what your thesis is about. What are the formal requirements? (i.e. length, format, time limits, etc) How much have you done? What is your working timetable? What, if anything, is hindering you? What outcomes could you look forward to? Tell it like it is

10. Manage the timely completion of a specified deliverable (i.e. your thesis) Provide a point of accountability Identify the risks that may potentially impact completion Plan contingencies for each identified risk Identify all dependencies What does a Project Manager do?

11. Encourage / motivate Provide a ‘sounding board’ Admonish (tactfully) as needed Constantly remind about the task at hand and ensure proper focus is maintained Not there to be ‘best friend’

12. “Eat the TOAD!” • This expression refers to the importance of doing the most important thing (difficult or distasteful though it may be) to be done in your day FIRST. For example - writing your thesis.

13. Action Plan - A record of step-by-step tasks aligned to realistic due dates (see 16,17) Risk Log - Risk is anything which may cause the project to end in such a way that it does not fully meet its identified targets and objectives Task Management - A detailed plan for a particular step that is complex Chapter Outlines - Concise (2 page max) Project Management Tools

14. Since writing a thesis is full-time job, treat it like one. Your diary is not suddenly empty! Project Management Tools A calendar or diary A task-project list An action list A daily planner “A simple system regularly used is far more effective than a complex one used half-heartedly.”(Hunt, A 2005) Time Management Tools

15. A calendar or diary Plan the whole project, this month, this week, today Block out time to research (read and write) Enter every new appointment A task-project list What do you need to do (only by you)? What do you need to complete? What have you promised to others? What would you like to do but haven’t started yet? An action list A list of actions generated from the previous level of project-planning now ordered into categories. A daily planner A calendar of events for one day that must be carried out and those that could be. Definitions

16. Project Tasks with achievement bars

17. ActionPlan - detailed steps

18. From student’s perspective: Drive your own thesis- don’t wait for the system Go public tell friends and family your completion date post action plan where you and others can see it ask for support and encouragement Write often and tie tasks to a positive outcome e.g. Write early in the morning before checking emails or having a coffee Reflections on thesis management

19. From project manager’s perspective: Different emphasis in academic world Often thesis is a highly personal project Not always simply a matter of $ and cents Commitment and motivation paramount Appropriate to step back at times Satisfaction Reflections on thesis management

20. My thesis manager and me on graduation day My thesis manager and me

21. References Craswell, G.(2005) Writing for Academic Success Evans, D. and E. Gruba (2002) How to Write a Better Thesis Green, L. Survive and Thrive While Writing your Thesis, UMel http://www.research.mq.edu.au/students/current_students/essential_reading Hunt, A. (2005) Your Research Project: How to manage it Kearns, H. and M. Gardiner (2006) Getting Your PhD Finished, Flinders University Paltridge, B. and S. Starfield (2007) Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language Perry, C. A Structured Approach to Presenting Theses: notes for students and their supervisors (find on web as revised on 3.11.02) Swales and Feak (2004) Academic Writing for Graduate Students