Introduction. These guidelines have been compiled to provide you with additional information in preparation for when you are ready to start your Project Proposal Management Plan assignment. The guidelines will help you to structure your assignment in a logical and comprehensive way. Importantly, the guidelines will also help you to work towards the achievement of the following Module Aims and Learning Outcomes. Please read these guidelines carefully. Module Aims.
The aims of this module are to enable students to:
• Design a work-based practice project proposal within their specialist field of nursing which is underpinned by appropriate evidence.
• Review and further explore research and evidence-based issues within nursing generally and within the student’s own field of nursing specifically.
• Understand how the underpinning module knowledge, skills and attitudes apply to their specific fields of nursing and to the essential needs of all service users. Module Learning Outcomes. Knowledge and Understanding. Successful students will typically:
• Contextualize the choice and clearly define the focus of the project proposal generated from and informed by practice.
• Critically discuss the evidence supporting the proposed project and strategies through undertaking a literature review.
• Create a sound and coherent argument for an appropriately selected work-based project.
• Construct a project management plan with rationale to achieve the identified aims and objectives of the proposed project.
• Discuss how the plan will enable the proposed project to be guided to a successful conclusion and identify strategies of evaluation to evidence this. When you are ready to start your assignment please download the Project Proposal Management Plan template onto your computer/laptop desktop.
The assignment template is in ‘Module – Formative & Summative Assessment Information’ and accessible via the ‘Units’ tab on the left-hand side of the module homepage.
I&I-Level 6-Additional Assignment Guidelines – February 2017 Cohort.
Project Proposal Briefing Paper (500 Words) – (See Appendix 1). Submission of the Project Proposal Briefing paper (Final version) in the Project Proposal Management Plan template which will then be marked as the module Summative assignment. The briefing paper must outline a Project Proposal (innovation) which focuses on an area of work-based practice that has the potential to be improved within your specific field of nursing. The proposal must be for the benefit of patients/service-users.
1. Proposed Project/Innovation (Suggested 200 words) Contextualize the choice & clearly define the focus of the project proposal that has been generated and informed from your area of practice. For example, what is the proposed project and where are you proposing the project could be implemented? * Please include supporting literature/evidence in this section.
2. Project Aim/Objectives (Suggested 50 words). The project aim should be clear and precise and inform the marker about the main intention of the project. The objectives should be more specific and provide the marker with an insight into what your project sets out to achieve. Try to ensure the objectives are, Specific, Manageable, Achievable, Realistic and Time scaled (SMART Objectives).
3. Rationale (Suggested 200 words). Create a sound and coherent argument for an appropriately selected work-based project. The rationale should provide an explanation was to why you have chosen to focus your project on a particular area of practice within your own field of nursing. For example, what has caused you to identify this area of practice? The rationale provides the opportunity to put your argument forward to support the proposed project. * Please include supporting literature/evidence in this section.
4. Potential / Intended Outcome (Suggested 50 words). Consider how will your project proposal/innovation meets the NHS Outcomes Framework? *Include supporting literature/evidence in this section.
5. Reference List. Please reference the literature you have quoted in your assignment accurately, ensuring they are complete, correct and in accordance with the University of Hertfordshire Guidelines – Referencing & Bibliographical citations (2018/19).
4 Project Proposal Management Plan template (4,500 words -Appendix 2).
Introduction (Suggested word count 150 words). Begin the introduction by discussing the aim of the assignment. Then briefly highlight what the project proposal/innovation is. This will set the scene and signpost the marker towards the main content of the Project Proposal Management Plan template. Literature Review (Suggested 2,500 words). The literature review will create the foundation for your chosen project and will provide you with the opportunity to use your existing skills in research awareness to access, review and critically analyse the research/evidence that is available.
In addition, the review will enable you to identify what has already been published on your project proposal to build sound evidence. This will convey to the marker that knowledge and ideas have already been established on the topic and what their strengths and weaknesses are. The review must be relevant, appropriate and useful. It should not be just a list of describing or summarising one piece of literature after the other. Therefore, you are not aiming to list all the material published, you are synthesizing and evaluating it according to your project proposal topic area.
Be mindful of what you are reading. Ask yourself if what you are reading is relevant to your project. If it is not, move onto another piece of evidence. This will help you to select relevant information more efficiently and allow you to make more efficient use of your time. Once you have found relevant sources read and take notes of the main points, conclusions, strengths and weaknesses of the research.
Additional information regarding the literature review will be given during the lead lecture ‘Preparing the Literature Review’ which is module timetabled to take place Theory Week 36 (Friday 5th April 2019).
I&I-Level 6-Additional Assignment Guidelines – February 2017 Cohort.
Management Plan (1,700 words). Although the project is conceived as primarily being a proposal at this point this part of the assignment requires you to think about and plan how the project proposal could be implemented into the practice area and evaluated. It is important therefore to consider the following when preparing/writing the Project Management Plan.
1. Who could lead the change? Identify an appropriate change agent.
2. Who else will be involved in the change? (Key Stake-Holders). For example, the key stakeholders involved in the proposed change could be the practice area staff, patients/service-users, carers/relatives and other health care professionals.
3. How could the proposed change be communicated to ensure success? Identify strategies here that could be used by the change agent to communicate the proposed project. (For example, one such strategy could be the organisation of team meeting(s).
4. How could the proposed change be implemented? Drawing on relevant theory identify a Change Management model and a Leadership Style/Theory that could be applied by the Change Agent to lead the change in the identified practice area.
5. What are the potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (internal and external) of the proposed project? This could be presented in the form of a SWOT analysis table.
6. Time frame – what is the time frame for the implementation of the proposed project? Illustrate in the form of a Gantt chart how the proposed project could be implemented in the field specific identified practice area. It is permitted to embed the Gantt chart in the Project Management plan or alternatively you may present it in the appendices. (See Appendix 3 – example of a Gantt chart).
7. How could the proposed project be evaluated following the period of implementation? Identify an appropriate evaluation tool. For example, this could be a questionnaire.
In addition to the academic writing and the inclusion of supporting literature, it is permitted to include tables, graphs or clip art images (where appropriate) in the Project Management plan.
To help there will be a module timetabled lead lecture and analytical workshop which will be covering the Project Management Plan, Change Management Theory/Models and Leadership. It is strongly advised that you attend.
Conclusion – Project Proposal Management Plan template (150 words). Try to avoid introducing new topics here. The conclusion requires you to sum up the key factors/issues. Try to avoid introducing new topic here. The conclusion requires you to sum up the key factors/issues that have been discussed in the assignment.
6
Reference List. Please complete the reference list for the Project Proposal Management Plan template in accordance with the University of Hertfordshire Guidelines for Referencing & Bibliographical citations (2018/2019).
I&I-Level 6-Additional Assignment Guidelines – February 2017 Cohort.
Grading Criteria – The following Grading Criteria & Feedback Form will be used by the marker to assess your Project Proposal Management Plan assignment. Grading Criteria and Feedback Form – Level 6. Imagination and Innovation in Evidence Based Nursing care. Level 6 – Combined Project Proposal Briefing Paper/ Project Proposal Management Plan.
Module Code: 6NMH1040 Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and understanding: • Contextualise the choice and clearly define the focus of the project proposal generated from and informed by practice • Critically discuss the evidence supporting the proposed project and strategies through undertaking a literature review. Skills and attributes: • Create a sound and coherent argument for an appropriately selected work-based project. • Construct a project management plan with rationale to achieve the identified aims and objectives of the proposed project. • Discuss how the plan will enable the proposed project to be guided to a successful conclusion and identify strategies of evaluation to evidence this.
Note to Markers: Select criteria appropriate to the assignment and omit irrelevant ones. Use yellow highlight to indicate which feedback statements are relevant to this student.
Outstanding >80
Excellent 79-70
Very Good 69-60
Good 59-50
Satisfactory 49-40
Marginal Fail 39-30
Clear Fail 29-20
Little or nothing of merit 19-0
Presentation and structure
10%
Outstanding presentation. Logically structured.
Highly articulate and fluent writing style. No grammatical or spelling errors.
Excellent presentation. Logically structured.
Highly articulate and fluent writing style with very few, minor errors.
Very good presentation. Logically structured.
Articulate and fluent writing style. A few grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
Good presentation. Logically ordered.
Writing is mainly clear but some spelling and/ or grammatical errors.
Satisfactory presentation. Mostly logical structure.
Not always written clearly and has several grammatical and / or spelling errors.
Poor presentation.
Inconsistent or illogical structure.
Has many spelling and / or grammatical errors.
Poor presentation. Very inconsistent or illogical structure
Poorly written and/or poor spelling and grammar.
Little or nothing of merit. Poorly written.
Many inaccuracies in spelling.
Content, knowledge and understanding
Outstanding exploration of topic showing excellent knowledge and understanding
Excellent level of knowledge and understanding demonstrated Covers all relevant points and issues.
Very good level of knowledge and understanding demonstrated. Covers majority of relevant points and issues.
Good grasp of the topic and some of its implications presented.
Knowledge and understanding is demonstrated. Covers many relevant points.
Satisfactory content / level of knowledge of the topic. Covers some but not all relevant points.
Limited content / knowledge.
Covers few relevant points. Some inaccuracies.
Lacking in knowledge.
Content mostly irrelevant and/or inaccurate.
Little or nothing of merit.
Content irrelevant and inaccurate.
Breadth / depth and integration on of literature
Outstanding breadth and depth of literature utilized. Outstanding integration of literature into work.
Excellent breadth & depth of literature utilized. Excellent integration of literature into work.
Very good breadth & depth of literature utilized. Literature integrated very well.
Good use of literature. Depth appropriate to topic but moderate breadth or vice versa. Literature integrated into the coursework reasonably well.
Satisfactory use of literature but limited in breadth and /or depth. Uncritical and cited without comment.
Limited breadth and depth Literature cited without comment.
Lacks breadth & depth. Some literature irrelevant to topic area.
Little or nothing of merit. Literature used irrelevant to topic area.
Critical analysis/ evaluation n and/or reflection n
55%
Outstanding level of critical analysis/ evaluation and/or reflection. Highly developed/ focused work.
Excellent level of critical analysis/ evaluation and/or reflection on issues.
Very good level of critical analysis/ evaluation and/or reflection but a few points would benefit from further development.
Good level of critical analysis/ evaluation and/or reflection but some areas could be expanded on further.
Satisfactory level of critical analysis /evaluation and/or reflection.
Limited evidence of critical analysis/l evaluation and/or reflection. Too descriptive in parts.
Lacking / inadequate level of analysis, evaluation and/or reflection. Mainly descriptive.
Nothing of merit / unsatisfactory level of analysis, evaluation and/ or reflection. Wholly descriptive.
Presenta tion of referenc es
5%
Recommended referencing system used with no inaccuracies or inconsistencies noted.
Recommended referencing system used with very few (minor) inaccuracies and/or inconsistencies.
Recommended referencing system used with few inaccuracies and/or inconsistencies.
Recommended referencing system used but occasional inaccuracies and/or inconsistencies noted.
An attempt to use the recommended referencing system but several inaccuracies and/or inconsistencies noted.
An attempt to use the recommended d referencing system but many inaccuracies and/or inconsistencie s noted.
An attempt to use the recommended d referencing system but numerous errors noted and inconsistently applied.
Little or no attempt to use the recommended referencing system
Strengths • • • Areas for development • • • General feedback / additional comments
Academic Skills Advice Please remember there are lots of useful resources to support your academic skills development on the Academic Skills Advice site.
Learning outcomes achieved: Yes / No
Within word count limit: Yes / No
Provisional weighted/overall mark (before application of penalties): Note: All marks are provisional until the Board of Examiners has ratified them.
Marked by:
I&I-Level 6-Additional Assignment Guidelines – February 2017 Cohort.
Presentation & Structure. The assessor/marker will be looking at the overall presentation of your Project Proposal Briefing Paper and the Project Proposal Management Plan. Therefore, your work should demonstrate evidence of planning and have a clear structure. In the Project Proposal Management Plan the discussion should be presented in such a way that it shows clear and logical development of ideas, issues and arguments. Does the paragraph begin and end on the same topic? Have you moved off into a different area in the middle? This is about the use of language e.g. choice of words, expression of ideas and correct word endings. The literature quoted in your assignment must always be referenced accurately. You should also proof read your work prior to submission to check for spelling and grammatical errors.
Content, Knowledge & Understanding. In order for you to meet the assessment criteria (Please see Pages 7& 8) you are required to demonstrate an ability to make links between theory and practice and reflect on the wider issues that arise. Please consider the assessment criteria carefully and consider how you can best meet it within the assignment. You will need to demonstrate that you understand the relevant theory and can use the knowledge to address the issues that you have raised. The marker will be considering whether you have demonstrated a level of understanding and application, which is appropriate for Level 6. Make sure that you have accessed a variety of literature/research evidence and relevant policies in order to demonstrate a good level of knowledge and understanding of the topic area. This needs to go beyond the superficial/general. Breadth, Depth and Integration of Literature. As stated above, you are strongly advised to access and peruse current journals/publications, research papers and relevant policies in order to present a broad professional context. The module assignment requires a considerable amount of reading. Avoid relying on a number of texts that cover very similar material. There is a plethora of books available which address the module content and issues arising from the module learning outcomes which in the end cover much the same kind of ground. In general, avoid lengthy quotations within the assignment text and ensure that the references that you quote are carefully chosen to support the specific point you are making. Try not to present a statement or viewpoint, which comes from something you have read and just leaving it on its own without comment. For example, change is often implemented to a poor standard and this can have numerous effects on staffing levels, the care given to patients and financial provisions (Allen, 2016). This would require further discussion as to how change implemented to a poor standard would affect staffing levels, the care given to patients and finances.
Critical Analysis/Evaluation and/or Reflection. When reviewing the literature question what you have read. By questioning what you have read, this will help you to develop your critical thinking skills and develop a more critical approach to evaluating the relevant evidence/ literature. Critical analysis and evaluation go beyond describing or reporting the literature. It requires you to reflect and evaluate what the author has said and then make your own judgement and bring your own viewpoint into focus. As previously highlighted, it may be helpful to read the text again and make notes at the same time to help you to remember. Presentation of References. Please reference the literature you have quoted in your assignment accurately, ensuring they are complete, correct and in accordance with the University of Hertfordshire Guidelines – Referencing & Bibliographical citations (2018/19).
I&I-Level 6-Additional Assignment Guidelines – February 2017 Cohort.
Frequently asked Questions.
Q1. What text/font should I use to type my work? The Project Proposal Briefing Paper & Project Proposal Management Plan should be typed in Ariel or Times New Roman style – Font size 12 and double spaced. Q2. What format should the Project Proposal Management Plan be submitted in? The Project Proposal Management Plan must be submitted in its original template format. If the marker cannot open your assignment it will not be marked. Q3. When is the submission date for the ‘Draft’ formative Project Proposal Briefing paper? The ‘Draft’ Pr0ject Proposal Briefing paper must be submitted to your Project Supervisor on or before Wednesday 17th April 2019 (Theory Week 38).
Q4. When is the submission date for the final version of the Project Proposal Briefing paper? The Final’ version of the Project Proposal Briefing paper should be embedded in the Summative Project Proposal Management Plan template and submitted in November 2019 (Specific date to be confirmed).
Q5. What is the Summative assignment word count?
• Project Proposal Briefing Paper (Final Version) – 500 words. • Project Proposal Management Plan – 4,500 words. Total = 5,000 words.
The Project Proposal Briefing Paper & Project Proposal Management Plan are marked together. However, it is permitted to go over or under the 10%-word count for these as follows:
• Project Proposal Briefing Paper – Over the word count by 10%= 550 words or under the word count= 450 words. • Project Proposal Management Plan – Over the word count by 10%= 4,950words or under the word count by 10% = 4,050words.
Any tables presented within the body of the assignment WILL be included in the word count. Citations in the text WILL be included. Reference lists are NOT included.
Q6. Should I write my assignment in first or third person? Please write in third person for the Project Proposal Briefing Paper and the Project Proposal Management Plan.
I&I-Level 6-Additional Assignment Guidelines – February 2017 Cohort.
Q7. Will my assignment be marked anonymously? No – Your assignment will be Blind Double marked by two members of the module team. This means your assignment will be marked by your Project Supervisor and another member of the team. Q8. How should I submit my Summative Project Proposal Management Plan? Please submit your assignment electronically via the Imagination & Innovation in Evidenced Based Nursing module submission portal via Canvas/StudyNet. Helpful Guidelines regarding how to submit electronically are available via the StudyNet Assignment submission site.
Q9. What will happen if I submit my Project Proposal Management Plan assignment past the deadline submission date/time? It is important that you submit your assignment well in advance of the submission deadline date/ time to allow for any difficulties or delays. If you have not been given an extension for your assignment and it is submitted past the submission deadline your mark will be capped (f the assignment is a pass). If your assignment is submitted a week past the submission date/time it will not be marked. Q10. Who should I contact if I need an extension for my assignment? Individual extensions or submission dates can only be granted by exceptional circumstances by your Field Specific Tutor or his/her nominated deputy, prior to the original submission date. Q11. I have experienced difficulty uploading/submitting my assignment to the Module StudyNet submission portal. Who should I contact regarding this? In the first instance, please contact/e-mail the LRC Helpdesk (HelpDesk@herts.ac.uk) and let your Project Supervisor and the Module Leader know via e-mail.
Q12. When is the re-submission date? To be confirmed.
