Specification with a timetaband schedule

You must make a written specification of the parts that are to be done, and a schedule of when they will be done. There are several purposes for this specification with a timetable:¶
* projects tend to have better chance of success if they are well planned
* it is a exercise in delimiting a complext problem
* it is a exercise in applying an approach with the purpose of clarifying what you are going to do before you begin doing it
* It is a exercise in doing and following a timetable
* the probability that the exjobb will be finished in time – ie constitute a completed whole – will increase
* you'll get used to create and keep an agreement with your contractor
You should create the specification which needs to be approved by the supervisor and examiner before the actual work begins. You may need a couple of weeks to familiarize yourself with the topic well enough to be able to create a good specification with a timetable. The specification should be approved within a month after the exjobb has started.¶ What the specification needs to contain:¶
* header indicating that this is a exjobb specification
* your name and email
* the name of your supervisor at CSC
* whom your provider is and the name of the supervisor with the provider.
* current date
* detailed definition of the problem
* description of the goal with the exjobb
* a list of what the literature study comprises of and a indication of how they will be examined
* a description of the procedures (methods) used to solve the problem
* a list of the resources that are expected to be needed to solve the problem (unless the exjobb includes investigating what equipment that will be used). This can be techinal equipment but also test subjects or interviewees
* clear boundaries of what will be done (so that it is clear what will not be included in the exjobb)
* timetable that shows not only which order the different parts will be done but also their extent and when they will be performed (calender week numbers or date). The timetable should include clear milestones
The timetable should take into account what weeks you can devote full time to the exjobb and what periods you need to fully or partially dedicate to other tasks. It should also be notet that for exjobb done at an external provider the supervisor there might require labor that the supervisor at CSC does not count as belonging to the exjobb. Likewise, CSC might require certain things for the work to be accepted even if the external provider does not see them as essential.¶ In working life, timetables as you propably know, are very important and managers generally assumes that they will be held. Regarding degree projects it is not uncommon that the supervisor at the external provider tries to make the author of an exjobb deviate from the timetable to improve the work instead of devoting time to write the report. Remember to reserve enough time for the accual writing of the report. Such work tends to take longer than some might think.¶ The specification and the timetable need to be discussed with the supervisor and the examiner. For exjobb with external providers and individual tutoring you should, whenever praticable, arrange meetings where the supervisor at the external provider, the supervisor at CSC (and possibly the examiner), and of course you are participants. Ensure that the supervisors and examiners receive a copy each of the specification in sufficient time before the meeting. The supervisors (both from CSC and the external provider), the examiner and you need to sign the specification as a confirmation that they approved it. If you cannot agree on a specification, you need to find another task for your degree project.¶ Circumstances may then force you do deviate from the specification and/or timetable. Such discrepancies are not unusual or strange. But you need to discuss any discrepancies with the supervisor at CSC as well as have them approved by him or produce a written specification of the elements that will be completed and a schedule for when they will be done. The specification must be approved by the supervisor and examiner before the pilot study begins. For external degree projects, the principal must issue the CSC supervisor with confirmation that they have read the specification and are agreed that it describes the plan for the degree project (*). The specification should be submitted no later than about two weeks after the degree project has been started. Specification The specification shall contain:¶

FORMALITIES¶


* Preliminary title, that indicates what the degree project will be about.
* The degree project student's name and e-mail address
* Name of the supervisor at CSC
* Name of the principal and name of the supervisor at the principal's workplace
* Current date
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE¶


* Description of the area within which the degree project is being carried out (e.g. connection to research/development, state-of-the-art, scientific and/or societal interest).
* The principal's interest. The background of the specific assignment to be conducted.
* Objective. What is the desired outcome (from the principal's side and from the perspective of the degree project)
RESEARCH QUESTION & METHOD:¶


* The QUESTION that will be examined. Formulated as an explicit and evaluable question.
* Specified problem definition (e.g. what does the assignment entail and what are the challenges involved?)
* Examination method. Preliminary description of, for example, algorithms that will be tested, data that will be used.
* Expected scientific results. How is the work scientifically relevant and what is the hypothesis being tested? How is this hypothesis being tested?
EVALUATION & NEWS VALUE¶


* Evaluation. How is it determined if the objective of the degree project has been fulfilled and if the question has been adequately answered? Preliminary report on the evaluation method, measures and data.
* The work's innovation/news value. Why does someone want to read the finished work? And who are these people?
PILOT STUDY¶


* Description of the literature studies. What areas will the literature study focus on? How shall the necessary knowledge on background and state-of-the-art be obtained? What preliminarily important references have been identified?
CONDITIONS & SCHEDULE¶


* List of the resources expected to be needed to solve the problem (unless the degree project involves investigating what equipment should be used). This can be technical equipment, but also experiment and interview subjects.
* Defined limitations on what is to be done (so that it is clear what is not included in the degree project)
* Collaboration with the principal (external supervisor). Describe the way in which the principal will be involved in the project and what the external supervisor has undertaken to do (e.g. in terms of discussion, implementation, report reading).
* Schedule showing not only the order in which elements will be performed, but also the scope of elements and when they will be performed (calendar week number or date). The schedule should contain clear intermediate goals.
Schedule¶

The schedule is to take into account the weeks you can dedicate full-time to the degree project and the periods you totally or partially devote yourself to other things. It should also be noted that, in the case of degree projects carried out with an external principal, the supervisor there can require work that the supervisor at CSC does not consider to belong to the degree project. Likewise, CSC can require certain things for the work to be accepted as degree project work which the principal does not consider essential. It is this work that CSC considers to be work with the degree project corresponding to 30 credits.¶

Remember to set aside enough time for report writing. This tends to take longer than expected.¶

(*) For external degree projects you should, where practical, arrange a meeting where the supervisor of the principal, the supervisor at CSC, possibly the examiner and, of course, yourself establish that all parties are in agreement on the specification. If a meeting is not possible, the principal should confirm (e.g. by e-mail to the supervisor) that the specification is consistent with the principal's goals and plan for the work.¶

Circumstances may dictate that you must deviate from the specification/schedule. Such deviations are not at all unusual or remarkable. However, you need to discuss any deviations with the supervisor at CSC and get them approved by him/her.