BSc Project Management (Hons) Dissertation Aims & Objectives

AIM: (1) Develop an understanding of what causes crunch in a video games

project.
OBJECTIVES:

1.1 - Conduct a literature review on the causes of crunch from various

sources.
1.2 - Communicate on various forum pages (/r/gamedev, Gamasutra) to
those working in the industry and ask for feedback on their reasoning as to

why crunch can become part of a project.

1.3 - Synthesise collected data to be able to display a clear understanding
of the need for the introduction of crunch to a project and the core causes
of the practice.

AIM: (2) To investigate what effects crunch is having on employees in the

industry.
OBJECTIVES:

2.1 - Gather research and evidence from various journals and articles

discussing crunch.
2.2 - Communicate on various forum pages (/r/gamedev, Gamasutra
etcetera) to those working in the industry and ask for feedback on their

personal experiences.
2.3 - Evaluate both the pros and cons of crunch on the people involved in
the practice to devise a general industry perception.

AIM: (3) Revise why crunch culture is so prevalent.

OBJECTIVES:

3.1 - Collect data from various articles describing the issues with both
crunch culture internally (those already in the industry) and externally
(the perception given to those who want to work in the industry).

3.2 - Analyse the maturity of the industry to investigate whether it is a

factor as to why the culture is present.

3.3 - Construct a critical revision of the current state of the culture in the
industry.

AIM: (4) Amalgamate data collected on crunch to discuss whether it is avoidable

through the use of proper PM discipline, tools and techniques.
OBJECTIVES:

4.1 - Discuss how crunch is managed in the industry is there really a

lack of project management tools and techniques which in turn allow for

crunch?
4.2 - Review the planning process of a video game project to identify if
crunch is acknowledged as a tool that will come to be of use during the

project.
4.3 - Contrast crunch in its purest form to the discipline of the PM
profession and discuss the coherence and/or conflict between the two

elements.
4.4 - Combine data from previous three objectives to discuss whether at
this current time if crunch is avoidable in any manner if PM procedures

were to be a more recurring tool used within the industry.

4.5 - Utilising all previous data and information, consider the future of
crunch and the place of PM in the industry.

4.6 - Based on findings, suggest any further research to be conducted beyond

the dissertation proposed.