A Research Proposal Brief early in the semester is to receive feedback about the suitability of the topic so that
by the time is a document that informs others of a proposed piece of research and its significance. This is the
first stage of preparing a Research Proposal that could be used as part of an application to undertake a
research degree or to apply for funding to conduct the research.
The purpose of writing the Research Proposal Brief early in the semester is to receive feedback about the
suitability of the topic so that by the time you complete and present the Research Proposal (due in week 12)
the final submission is of a standard that could be used to support an application for a research degree or for
research funding.
For this assignment, students are further required to consult with an Industry Representative / Consultant or
other approved person (this may include an academic staff member), to discuss their research project’s
significance and feasibility. They will therefore revise their proposal or research question on the basis of the
feedback. This assignment has two assessable components: the submission of a written Research Proposal
Brief and its Feasibility Report in academic format (1500 words) and a viva –voce oral PowerPoint presentation
(5-7 minutes).
This assignment is aimed at ensuring that the research project is important, realistic and manageable, and that
the research question is appropriate and can be answered with the proposed methodology. It is crucial that the
students can complete the research tasks in a timely manner and apply the relevant project management and
research tools and techniques.
The research feasibility report takes the research brief proposal to the consultant and investigates the possible
continuation of the project and its realistic execution for the given time period and availability of resources, as
well as taking into consideration the student’s capacity to carry on with the research task. Students can use a
Gantt chart to keep track of their schedule for all assigned assessment tasks, and therefore, minimize risks. The
feasibility analysis may result in feedback that suggests changes to the research approach and these can be
incorporated in the Research Proposal. The reflection on the feedback is important for demonstrating that the
feedback has been considered and suggesting how it may be acted upon, for example, by reconsidering or
revising the scope of the topic or research question or by revising the methodology. This is equivalent to the
acceptance of the project charter for which the students have studied in their course and has been accepted by
key stakeholders.
This assessment is worth 30% of your marks for SBM1300 and forms the basis of the Research Design due in
week 9 and worth 20% of your marks for SBM1300 and your Research Proposal Presentation due week 12 and
worth 20% of your marks for SBM1300. Students develop the Research Proposal across the semester
incorporating several individual assignment tasks. The first of these is the Research Proposal Brief and its
Feasibility.