Final Year Project

Specification Writing

ALL FINAL YEAR AWARDS

 Topic & Structure of the lesson

Documentation in your Project

Structuring your project
Sections of the PSF
General Tips

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 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session, YOU should be able to:

explain the types of documentation in your

Project
structure levels of challenge in your project
fill out the sections of the PSF properly by
understanding the evaluation criteria
plan and execute your project competently

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 Documentation in your Project
The Draft Project Proposal Form
A brief overview of your Project

The Project Specification Form

Your Actual Project Plan
Any Project is about:
Functionality (clear scope and objectives)
Time (schedules)
Cost (resources)

Investigation Report
Your complete Project Investigation Report

Final Documentation
Your complete Project Report

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 PSF Section B
Brief description on project background
(problem context, rationale, description of problem area,
nature of challenge)

What is the situation? (Problem Context)

e.g. In ABC organisation, they find it difficult to , therefore
some way of doing this is necessary, possibly by a
e.g. Since 1998, the number of new xxx in Malaysia has led to
.., therefore there is a need for a..

Why do we need this project? (Rationale)

Now that the problem has been identified, the research could
bring about better understanding of the issues, significant
tangible and intangible benefits. The tangible benefits are (i)
(ii).. etc. The intangible benefits are (i) (ii).. etc.

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 PSF Section B
Description of problem area.
- an elaboration of the problem context.
Examples:
(i) Too much data being created in the workplace.
(ii) Staff efficiency/morale still low despite
training/incentives
(iii) Validity of Marketing Principles (4Ps) in 21st Century

Nature of challenge
Challenge involved could fall under one or more of the
following: Concepts, Theories, Gaining mastery and ability
to manipulate advanced features of research tools, etc.

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 PSF Section B

To ensure you have successfully

completed this section, go through
the following evaluation criteria :

i.Who is going to use the report?

ii.Why is the report required or
interesting?
iii.What is the main challenge in
creating the report ?

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 PSF Section C
Brief description of project objectives
(scope of proposal, limitations etc)

What will be included in this project ?

Must be related to B (modular approach)
e.g. To solve the .. problem (as mentioned in B) will require
more research into areas such as., however, I will be
developing a .. Framework/working paper etc. that will do i) ,
ii) iii) etc.

I will not be trying to Doing this project this will

also enable .. ; allow me to learn/develop/master

Remember, you are setting up the actual boundaries

of your project here !
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 PSF Section C

To ensure you have successfully

completed this section, go
through the following evaluation
criteria :

i. Evidence of limiting the project

scope
ii.Other (learning) objectives

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 PSF Section D

Brief description of the models/

theories/ concepts that will be used
in this proposal
(models/theories/concepts )
What do I need to do this project?
People, Things, Information
e.g. to do this project I will need to
consult/interview meet .. I will also
need to refer to .. I will also need to
obtain other data & information i.e.
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 PSF Section E
Academic research being carried out and
other information, techniques being learnt
(names of books you are going to read/
data sets you are going to use)

What do I need to know/find out/learn

to do this project?

Research Topic/s & Sources (Detailed as

Possible)
e.g. to do this project I will be
researching ..from , . from
and . from ..
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 PSF Section E

To ensure you have successfully

completed this section, go through
the following evaluation criteria :

i. Specification of a suitable research plan

ii.Where the academic information is
coming from

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 PSF Section F

Development Plan
(which data collection methods, sampling,
sample size and target group etc)
How am I going to do this project?
Detailed Project Plan (With Schedules)
(The modular approach is useful here)
e.g. I will be doing this project using the .
Methodology because .. I will first do .,
which will take about .. weeks, then I will
be doing , which is expected to take
about . weeks etc. etc. The hardest part of
the project will be to do .. because
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 PSF Section F

To ensure you have successfully

completed this section, go through the
following evaluation criteria :

i. Specification of tasks to be performed or stages in

project
ii. Specification of duration of tasks or stages in project
iii. Which tasks will be the hardest, and description of
tasks

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 PSF Section G

Evaluation & Test Plan

(what is the success criteria & how will it be evaluated &
implementation will be tested, indicate size of the
demonstration/test database)
How will I know the project is successful?
Detailed Test Plan (With Tester details & numbers)
(The modular approach is useful here)
e.g. The project will be successful if it manages
to do .., .. and .. The system will be tested
by: ..(number?) of type or name/s of testers
who will test .. part of the system by test.
The .. function/module/feature/s will be tested
by (number?) of testers who will test .
etc. etc.
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 PSF Section G

To ensure you have successfully

completed this section, go through the
following evaluation criteria :

i. Specification of size of test data & names of

testers (types?)
ii. Specification of the criteria for a successful
project

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 General Criteria

To ensure you have successfully

completed
the entire PSF properly, go through
the following evaluation criteria ;
Level of English in the specification form
Organisation of the information in the PSF
Do not benchmark your PSF against projects displayed
in the library although reference to it is fine.
Level or Depth of explanation in the PSF
The detail, clarity and depth of explanation in all your sections
will determine the marks you get

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 Important tips about your PSF

Do research before writing your PSF

Be clear about the scope of your Project
Do not commit to what can come back to haunt
you
There are many things that you cannot be sure about
at this stage which can & should only be decided after
more research, leave room for flexibility and change
Do not say I am going to use XXX theory; say I think
XXX is a good theory (or concept or ???) to use, but I
am going to research about XXX and also YYY to decide
which to use for my project
The PSF is your Project Plan, how carefully & well
it is done may determine how good your Project
finally is.
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 Learning Outcomes Revisited

Check yourself to see if YOU can now:

explain the types of documentation in
your Project
structure levels of challenge in your
project
fill out the sections of the PSF properly
by understanding the evaluation criteria
plan and execute your project
competently

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 The Process of Writing
1. Analyse question
a)What do you want to know?
b)Why do you need the information?
2. Check current knowledge e.g. lecture
notes
a)What do I know?
b)What do I not know?
3. Brainstorm
4. Collect material
5. Organise
6. Plan
7. Write Research
8. Re-write/ edit
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 Question and Answer Session

Q&A

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 Whats NEXT ??

Mandatory Supervisor Session

Submission of Ethics Form

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 In your PROJECT!
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