MSc PROJECT PLANNING DOCUMENT

The purpose of the planning document is to ensure that you have carefully
considered the work to be done in completing the project and have discussed
this fully with your main supervisor.
The work to be carried out should be divided into tasks and an estimate made of
the time required for each task.
The document should include the following information: Your name and your first supervisors name.
The project title.
An outline of the project including clear aims and objectives (maximum two
typewritten sides of A4).
A diagram, indicating the tasks to be carried out and when they will be
undertaken, A simplified example of such a diagram may be found overleaf.
This is an example and you can chose another format for the diagram if you
prefer.
Note: It has been decided that it is more appropriate at MSc level to give you
the flexibility to tailor the Project Planning Document to your own project
rather than provide a form, as indicated in the Project Guidelines.
After you have discussed the project planning document with your first
supervisor you should arrange a 20 minute interview with the second supervisor
towards the end of the first term. You should describe the project in its wider
context for his/her benefit, report on progress made to date and discuss the
Planning Document. This interview can take place either before or after
submitting the Project Planning Document.

Structure of Activity Diagram

The illustrative example below assumes that the project can be split into seven distinct
activities.
You will probably require significantly more activities. However there are
tradeoffs between significant activities for an adequate description and overspecification
Typical activities could be:
Activity 1: literature review
Activity 2: theoretical/computational analysis
Activity 3: hardware or software design/redesign
Activity 4: hardware construction or writing software and testing
Activity 5: experimental programme
Activity 6: data analysis
Activity 7: preparation of MSc thesis
The activity diagram (which could be produced using an appropriate project planning package
or a spreadsheet) might then have the following basic form:
Activity 1
Activity 2

******

***~~

**

********

Activity 3

**~~~~

****

~~

Activity 4

********

Activity 5

~~

~~

~~ ~~

******

Activity 6

**

Activity 7

**
Jan

Feb

Mar

****
Apr

May

*****~~~~
*******~~
*******~~

Jun

Jul

Aug

In the above (highly simplified) diagram the star symbols (*) indicate times when each activity
is being carried out. Some stages of the work often take longer than expected because of
uncertainties at the initial planning stage and this should be represented in the activity diagram.
The ~ symbol is used to indicate contingency planning time i.e. possible additional time
needed for some activities. Examination of the diagram shows exactly what work has to be
carried out and when it is to be done. Concurrent activities are obvious and the effects of
delays occurring in any stage of the work can be seen easily.
The plan should be regularly updated to take account of changes in the time required for
activities. In some cases there may also be change in the list of activities. The regular
meetings with your supervisor should include review of your plan and updating of the schedule
of activities at each stage. The plan should be referred to in your interim report.