FLRP Module 2: Commencement and Collaboration:putting ideas into practice
Introduction
This Commencement and Collaboration module will give you the opportunity to put your ideas into practice, and will offer strategies and tools to assist you to commence your research project. You may or may not have secured funding for your project; however, all research projects require that you identify deadlines and agree on the outcomes that you wish to achieve throughout your project.You will be aware that there are many different types of projects, all of which have needs specific to the discipline, type of research and scope and size of the project. This module aims to identify and illustrate approaches that can be applied to all projects regardless of discipline or scope, and will cover options for small, medium and large projects. For the purposes of this module, it is assumed that at this point the theoretical side of the project has been conceptualised; if required, grants have been applied for and approved, and some basic project management has been implemented. See Module 1: Research Strategy and Planning for discussion of these topics.
At the commencement of the project you will need to identify all stakeholders, review expectations and, if appropriate, have safeguards and agreements in place that allow you to manage these expectations. The commencement of your project will require leadership skills to ensure that you build an effective team and manage successful collaborations.
The other key component at the commencement of the project is a plan which will enable you to manage all aspects of the research. As a project leader, you will be aiming for cohesive management of the project with the goal being the optimal use of resources to meet project outcomes. Undoubtedly, you will face challenges will require adjustment to the project plan. Hence, your plan should be resilient and robust, and should incorporate contingency planning.
These skills and tools will help to guide you through the processes and management structures that are necessary for the commencement of your project, and the management of your collaborations.
This module comprises independent-study online learning material that needs to be completed prior to an end-of-module workshop. The total time commitment (including the workshop) is in the order of 8 to 12 hours.
Aims
The module aims to identify tools and resources relevant to the commencement of research projects and to define principles of project management in the context of research projects. It should also assist you to develop management and structure plans appropriate to the research project. The tools and methods learnt in this module will help you manage change and risks associated with research projects.Learning outcomes
After completing this module you should be able to:- Develop a plan and a budget for the research project based on the funding available and required timelines, in order to manage risk and monitor the project;
- Recruit the appropriate project team and identify roles, responsibilities, research outcomes, timelines, respective contributions (cash and in-kind) and resources;
- Apply the process for the commencement and finalisation of contracts/agreements in support of the research project;
- Create a program badge/brand for the project through a website and linkages with collaborators nationally and globally (relevant only to larger multi-organisation projects);
- Develop a management framework including decision-making and communication policies;
- Finalise a procurement strategy and plan (infrastructure, materials & consumables);
- Identify collaborators and develop a communication strategy for the benefit of all stakeholders;
- Understand the different forms of information that will be created in the course of a project; and
- Design management plans for administrative records and data.
Content overview
The module comprises the following topics:2.1 Project commencement: key tasks
2.2 Management: small, medium and large projects
2.3 Establishing the identity and profile of your project
2.4 Recruiting, building and managing the project team
2.5 Implementing the project plan
2.6 Knowledge, information and data management
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