This assignment requires you to develop a research proposal for a piece of extended academic research suitable for undertaking as dissertation part for your masters degree. You are to produce a research proposal, which addresses the following areas:
- your background information (details), including justification of your experience to undertake the research (or a plan of how you would achieve the necessary experience in advance of the project commencing)
- research question and clearly defined research aims
- a critical literature review that contextualizes the proposed work in existing theory, and a written bibliography
- identification of the tasks necessary to complete the work;
including for each task: outline of the task, proposed start date, proposed end date, estimated ‘effort’ in hours, and expected deliverable(s). Note – assume a total maximum of six months to complete the research from start to finish.
- an overview of the methodology (strategy and methods) that would be used to complete the research project
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Problem and motivation
- Provisional titel
- Brief Review of the related literature
- Aims and Objectives of the research
- Statement of the design and methodology
- Sources and acquisition of data
- Method of data analysis
- Form of presentation
- Timetable
- A Proposed Outline
- Declaration of Honesty
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work investigates the feasibility of implementing the ITIL framework for process management within German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The primary objective is to assess the suitability of ITIL best practices within the context of SMEs, considering their unique resource constraints and organizational structures.
- The impact of ITIL on IT department structure and awareness in SMEs.
- The potential of ITIL to achieve cost reductions in the IT department of SMEs.
- The challenges and opportunities associated with implementing a complex IT management system in SMEs.
- The alignment of ITIL principles with the specific needs and characteristics of SMEs.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of continuous process improvement in the context of IT departments and highlights the importance of aligning IT strategy with corporate objectives. ITIL, as a recognized framework for IT service management, is presented as a potential solution for achieving this alignment.
- Problem and motivation: This chapter explores the challenges faced by SMEs in managing their IT departments, particularly the disconnect between IT strategy and business objectives. The chapter highlights the crucial role of IT in supporting business processes and emphasizes the need for effective IT service management even in smaller organizations.
- Provisional titel: This chapter delves into the specific research focus of the work, concentrating on the application of ITIL within SMEs. The author presents the main thesis that the complete ITIL process model is too extensive and formal for SMEs. Two sub-theses are proposed: the introduction of ITIL can improve structure and awareness within the IT department, but it may not lead to cost reductions in the medium term. The chapter concludes with the main research question that guides the study: "To what extent can ITIL, as the de facto standard of IT service management, be realistically implemented in SMEs?"
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this work include ITIL, IT service management, SMEs, process management, best practices, organizational structure, resource constraints, cost reduction, awareness, and implementation challenges. These keywords encompass the core concepts and themes explored in the study, focusing on the application of ITIL within the specific context of SMEs.
- Quote paper
- Markus Groß (Author), 2010, Dissertation Proposal: Development of a recommendation on the implementation of IT service management on the basis of ITIL in SMEs, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/165739
