Project Plan and Kickoff Meeting (MSc)

The project plan is the first deliverable of your research project. At IEM, it comprises the first three chapters of your thesis: the introduction, context analysis, and literature review. This document outlines the core problem you aim to address, the context in which it exists, and the existing literature that informs your research.

Once the project plan has been approved, we will set up a kickoff meeting with the supervisory team: first supervisor, second supervisor, and company supervisor. This meeting is an opportunity for you to present your project and discuss the research question, context analysis, and literature review in more detail. It is also a chance for the supervisory team to provide feedback sooner, so you can incorporate it into your work before the Green Light meeting.

To prepare for this meeting, create a presentation that covers the key points of your project plan:

1. Introduction: Introduce the company (briefly), and the problem you aim to address. Explain why this problem is important and how your study will contribute to the field.
2. Research Question: Clearly define the core problem you aim to address in your research. This question should be specific, concrete, and focused to guide your investigation effectively.
3. Context Analysis: Provide a diagnosis of the context in which the problem exists. Support your analysis with relevant data, visuals, and examples to illustrate the significance of the issue.
4. Literature Review: Summarize the existing literature that informs your research in a literature table. Clearly identify the similarities, differences, and gaps in the literature to justify the need for your study.
5. Project Plan: Outline the timeline and milestones for your research project. Include a Gantt chart that visualizes the planning and progress of your work. You can also hint towards the methodology and experimental design.