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Unit

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Unit 3 : Individual Student Project

Assignment: Student Project to Investigate a Specific Problem related to a

Assessment

Construction Project
Mr. Geeth AnshumalJayathilake

Lecturer

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Student Name

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07/11/2015

Date Handed Over

Date Due

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07/01/2016

Re-Submission

InitialSubmission Date

Date
Criteria Met?

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p 1.2
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p 2.1
p 2.2
p 3.1
.P 3.2
P4.1
P4.2
M1
M2
M3
D1
D2
D3

IndividualStudent
Project

International College of Business and Technology

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Professional Diploma in QS

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Assessed By(Name):
Signature:

I Date:

Student Signature & Comments:

Important Information for Students

The criteria each task relates to are shown against that task where possible.

Please note that plagiarism is treated as a serious offence and therefore the work you produce must
be individual and original although may work in groups in some instances (Please refer to Student
Handbook on Plagiarism & Cheating).

All sources of information must be referenced using Harvard referencing" where a reference
list/Bibliography should be included at the end of the assignment.

Please note that the submission date given for this assignment is the final date that you can hand over
the assignment. A one week grace period maybe extended with prior approval from the Program
Manager- Undergraduate.

Assignments returned to students for re-working must be re-submitted within 10 days (Please refer to
Student Handbook on Assignments-Re-submission}.

Failure to re-submit the previously marked assignment with the re-submitted assignment will mean
that results cannot be released for the respective unit.

Please read,follow and reference both the contents of the unit outline and the grading criteria of the
assignment before completing this assignment.

edexcel

Professional Diploma in QS

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Plagiarism:

While research and discussion are an essential part of an assignment,the deliberate copying of someone else's
work or unacknowledged copying from printed or electronic sources is NOT permitted. You may be subject to
disciplinary procedure if you do this. You should sign this sheet to show that you comply with these
regulations.

Student's Signature: ......................................

Date: ......................

Student's Comments: ............................................................................................................

InternalVerifier Name:

Signature:

Individual Student Project

Eng C.Wijerathne

Charuni

Date
Verified:

6/11/2015

International College of Business and Technology

etlexcel

Professional Diploma in QS

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Scenario

National Researc Center-Sri Lanka (NRC- SL) and the Sri Lankan Centre for Social Science (SLCSC) is planning
to carry out a Multifaceted research to establish new Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and define benchmarks
for the Construction Industry of Sri Lanka as 'The next step to improve contractors' efficiency and
effectiveness of products and processes in 2016'.
This research is planned to be carried out as a few previous efforts have been taken to identify indicators that
can be used to measure the performance and also no clear insight is provided into the overall performance of
the construction firms,construction projects or processes based on Sri Lanka. Therefore,a set of KPis that can
be used to measure and compare the performance of an organization or be considered as a basis for
benchmarking is lacking. To bridge this gap, this research aims to identify a set of KPis that can be
implemented by construction professionals in measuring the construction performance at the compaiJY
level in SriLanka.
In a recently conducted pre-research meeting,The Head of social and welfare research department (NRC- SL)
Prof. M. Weerasinghe defined the KPI as "A set of quantifiable measures that a construction company or
construction industry uses to gauge or compare performance in terms of meeting strategic and operational
goals. KPis vary between companies and industries, depending on their priorities or performance criteria".
Also, he emphasized that "Benchmarking is a method of improving performance in a systematic and logical
way by measuring and comparing your performance against others, and then using lessons learned from the .
best to make targeted improvements" Whilst benchmarking has been used occasionally in the construction
industry of Sri Lanka during past few decades, the recent surge of interest has been encouraged by the
publication of sets of national Key Performance Indicators that allow companies to measure their performance
simply and to set targets based on national performance data.
In his research brief, Head of Research Ethics Committee (Sri Lankan Centre for Social Science (SLCSC) Prof.
R.L.Kumara specified research objectives as follows;

- -- ----

Determine various KPis and Benchmarking Indicators require to measure the performance of Local
Construction Companies,

(3)

Investigate the need of KPis and Benchmarking for Construction Companies in Sri Lanka to compete
with International Companies who currently involves with local projects,

Enhance the level of competencies of Local Construction Companies to minimize the invasion of
International Companies to local projects from 2016.
The NRC- SL and SLCSC appointed a research team based in Sri Lanka, consisting of 100 construction related
professionals to collect necessary data to complete the study based on registered construction companies in
Sri Lanka.
Assume that you are appointed as a team member of the research team and you have been asked to
accomplish a set of tasks and collect data according to below specified steps based on your current
.construction organization/ project;

Individual Student Project

International College of Business and Technology

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Step 01: Identify a significant problem currenty;fd by your organization (or project)

which directly impact

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Step 02: Collect all necessary data (Primary/ ec011dary) for the

above identified problem,

Step 03: Analyze and Evaluate collected data to determine the

conclusions final outcome,

Step 04: Present collected and analyzed data in

an appropriate format.
Task
1:
Research
Proposal
stage

Prepare a brief project proposal suitable for your research project, according to the
given format below;
1.1.Determine an appropriate methodology and an overall research plan for carrying out
the project,including a schedule for completing the various stages of your research?
(P1.1, P 1.2)
1.2.1dentify the research background,required material, resource requirements and

other supportive tools as required to achieve each stage of the research project which
will be useful in final research work? {1.3}

[Note: Refer sample synopsis format given to you as a guideline. It is essential to get

the approval of the lecturer. And also student must include these details in the
Appendix of the final report in a suitable format.]
Task
2:
Research
Investigation
stage

2.1. Carry out a comprehensive Data collection based on your current construction
organization/ project for your research? Select appropriate data collective techniques to
collect both Primary and Secondary data for this research? {P2.1) (M 1)
2.2. Record and present collected Primary and Secondary data separately for this
research in a systematic organization? (P2.2} (M3)
Task
3:
Data
Evaluatio
n stage

3.1. Use appropriate evaluation techniques, Analyze collected data separately (both
Primary and Secondary)
Describe and use above evaluation technique(s) to determine the intended outcome of
the research? (P3.1)

3.2. Interpret conclusions based on research data analysis, identify a sound solution to
overcome specified
'Research Problem',Provide recommendations to overcome identified research problem
and Justify how your recommendations would help your organization to overcome the
problem? (P3.2) (D1)
Task
4:
Data
Presentatio
n stage

4.1. It is required to prepare and Present a Final project report. including the entire tasks
which are mentioned in the above and add more details whenever needed? (P4.1) {M3)
Note: Please use separate chapters for different tasks with appropriate headings and in

the introduction of
every chapter please mention the
relevant task clearly.
4.2. Students are required to discuss the operation of the project and justify the
conclusions of the research in a viva and demonstration session to a panel of assessors?
{P4.2} (M3) (D2)

Individual Student Project

Business and Technology

International College of

Professional Diploma in QS
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The followings are standard formats for both research p posal and final project report;
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Individual Student Project

International College of Business and Technology

edexcel

Professional Diploma in QS

advancing lea'ming, changing live-s

Outcomes and assessment criteria

Pass Grade:Pass Grade is achieved by meeting all following Grade Descriptors
-

Outcomes

Assessment criteria for pass

To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate
the ability to:

-1. Select and determine the

extent of the study and
determine methods and
procedures

1.1. determine an overall plan for carrying out the

project including a schedule for completing the various
stages
1.2 determine an approach to carry out the various

I stages of the project

1.3 identify the background and source material,

resource requirements and other support as required to
'
achieve each stage of the project

-2. Carry out practical activities and

investigative work

.
2.1

select

and

carry

out

appropriate

observational/collective techniques
2.2 record and present relevant data in a standard or

agreed format

..
3. Evaluate observations and
results and determine the final
outcome

3.1describe and use appropriate evaluation techniques

3.2 interpret and justify the solution in terms of the
original specifications

4.

Produce a final report for

4.1present the report in an agreed format

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Individual Student Project

4.2 discuss the operation of the project and

justify the conclusions in front of peers and assessors

International College of Business and Technology

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Professional Diploma in QS

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To achieve a Merit Grade:

----------,---------------,---------.........,,
Merit descriptors

Contextualized Evidence

Indicative characteristics

f--------+-------------+-
In order to achieve a merit the
learner must:

To achieve the grade you will need

The learner's evidence shows:

to
.

f-----------+- ---,.,-----c-----,-----+:1 --------------1

Ml Identify and apply
strategies to find
appropriate solutions

Effective judgments have been made

Effective judgments have been
Complex problems with more than one
variable have been explored
made to Select appropriate data
An effective approach to study and collective techniques for the
research (both primary and
research has been applied
secondary data)

I --------+---

Select/design and apply

appropriate
methods/techniques

-.,.---1--- -------

Relevant theories and techniques have

been applied
A range of methods and
techniques have been applied
A range of sources of Information
has been used
The selection of methods and
techniques/sources has been justified
The design of methods/techniques has
been justified
Complex information/data has been
synthesized and processed
Appropriate learning
methods/techniques have been applied

-------------- The
=----appropriate

----

The selection of each research tool

to collect and analyze research
data has been justified.
Specify contingent tools for mainly
employed research tools if you fall
to collect/ analyze data using
mainly employed research tool.

-------

----

structure
and Research proposals and Final
approach has been used
report should be well organized;
Coherent, logical development of well-structured and strictly
principles/concepts for the intended
audience
according to the given format.

M3 Present and communicate

appropriate findings

Individualstudent Project

A range of methods of presentation

have been used and
technicallanguage has been accurately
used
Communication has taken place in
familiar and unfamiliar contexts
The communication is appropriate for
familiar and unfamiliar audiences and
appropriate media have been used

A range of presentation methods,

including Discussion of the
research work, viva voce and
demonstration of session to a
panel of assessors on final
submission.

International College of Business and Technology

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Professional Diploma in QS

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To achieve a Distinction Grade

Indicative characteristics

Contextualised Evidence

The learner's evidence

shows:

To achieve the grade you will need

to:

Distinction descriptors
In order to achieve a
distinction the learner must:

Dl Use critical reflection to

evaluate own work and
justify valid conclusions

Conclusions have been arrived at ' ConcluSions have been arnved

through synthesis of ideas and have based on Analysis of collecting
been justified
research data using appropriate
The validity of results has been data analyzing tools.
evaluated using defined criteria
Self-criticism of approach has taken
place
Realistic improvements have been
proposed
against
defined

characteristics for success

D2 Take responsibility for

managing and
organizing activities

Autonomy/independence has been

demonstrated
Substantial activities, projects or i
1
investigations have been planned,
managed and organised
Activities have been managed
The
unforeseen
has
been
accommodated
The importance of interdependence
has been recognised and achieved

Provide

recommendations

to

overcome the identified research

problem which impacts on the
performance of your organization/
project
Managed the agreed project plan
successfully and any deviations
have been suitably managed with
proper justifications.

-------------- -----------------4--=--conclusions
-- ---03 Demonstrate
Ideas have been generated and Justify the
and
convergent/lateral/creati
ve thinking

decisions taken
Self-evaluation
has taken place

Convergent
and
lateral thinking have

been applied
Problems have been solved
innovation and creative thought have
been applied
Receptiveness to new ideas is evident
Effective thinking has taken place in

recommendations of your research

data and its validity by adding your
own thoughts.

------------L-- u n fu m i li ar c o n t ex ts --------_J--------------------

0 Professional Diploma in

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Grading Matrix

Individual Student Project

advancing learning, changing

lives

QS

International College of Business and Technology

Assessment

Individual Student Project

Individual Student Project

p 1.1

./

p 1.2

./

p 1.3

./

p 2.1

./

p
2.2
p 3.1

./

p 3.2

./

P4.1

./

P4.2

./

M1

./

M2

./

M3

./

01

./

02

./ .

03

./

./

International College of Business and Technology