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BMIS690 Capstone Project

Overview

Phase II of the project consists of the following main headings at the minimum; Abstract, Introduction, Research Methods, Systems Analysis Explanation, and the Conclusion.  References and appendixes are also necessary.  This stage of the capstone also begins the systems analysis and design, necessary to prototype the new system.

Instructions

Phase II of the project begins by detailing the research design and methods that identify how you will solve the research problem.  It is important to ascertain how you will address your research questions given the gaps in existing literature on the subject.  The research design and methodologies will outline the necessary steps to address your research question objectively by removing the researcher from the process.  It is important to use a proper method to control for researcher bias and assure a certain level of reliability and validity exists within the results.  For example, the design science research methodology has a high-level process that researchers follow to address the objectives of their study.  This can include defining the objectives of a proposed solution, design and development, demonstration of the artifact necessary to solve the problem, and observation and evaluation of the effect.

BMIS690 Capstone Project

Design science is one of many methods that may or may not meet the objectives of the master’s thesis methodology.  It is necessary to analyze a number of relevant research designs and methods in this phase and to determine objectively from this analysis which methods and designs are most appropriate for your master’s thesis.  Comparing methods is also essential as an introduction into the methods section to justify the chosen method.

Using the prior ICT-based KMS example from the phase I instructions, research may have determined that UML 2.0 with agent-oriented software engineering (AOSE) methodologies have not designed and programmed a KMS in higher education with social media integrations.  Your research methodology could subsequently propose designing and coding the ICT-based KMS artifact for higher education using UML AOSE methodologies with action-based research methodology.

Alternatively, the literature review may have determined many frameworks exist, but the performance of these frameworks is unclear.  A design science research methodology may be plausible in this case.  Within this example, the research methodology would identify a means to determine whether CPU performance was less or more between the programmed applications to answer the proposed research question from phase I.

BMIS690 Capstone Project

The research method you choose should be one that you understand and can comfortably implement.  Design science allows the research to carry out a number of different studies.  Regardless, there are many other methodologies that students regularly use successfully in the capstone and we encourage you to explore the one that best fits your study’s design.

Refer to the grading rubric in order to ensure successful completion. The following outline details the necessary deliverables for phase II:

1. Cover Page, Table of Contents, References, and Appendixes
2. Introduction & Conclusion
   1. A minimum of one page each describing the primary objectives and outcomes of the master’s thesis project.
   2. Concluding outcomes of the master’s thesis project, synthesizing and analyzing scholarly support in the domain of knowledge that the project has contributed.

BMIS690 Capstone Project

• Research Methodology by which you will answer your proposed research question(s)
  1. Assure regulatory compliance exists and the study meets any necessary Institutional Review Board requirements.
  2. Provide a comprehensive plan of data analysis methods, techniques, processes, and software necessary to address the research question.
  3. Explain the target population, sample, processes, and/or systems.
  4. Determine a feasible data collection source and/or generate the necessary data to address the RQ. CPU performance data would be data generation from the two designed KMS systems in the phase I example.
  5. Thoroughly analyze reliability and validity of the methods used.

1. Systems Analysis Diagrams and Explanation
   1. Diagrams minimally include:
      1. Fully developed use case descriptions.
      2. Activity diagrams.

• Class diagrams.

1. System sequence diagrams.

BMIS690 Capstone Project

1. All diagrams must include screenshots with a visible operating system date/time and unique piece of information that identifies the student’s computer for credit. Where this cannot be verified, diagrams will be granted a zero unfortunately.  Screenshots should exist in the appendices.
2. Describe the process and reference diagrams both in-text and within appendices.
3. Diagrams must use appropriate UML.
4. Diagrams should be more detailed than the textbook examples and meet industry best practices.
   1. Software and system developers should feasibly be able to implement the models.
   2. Reverse and forward engineering capabilities are required.

The assignment submission must have over 2,500 original and unique words of original student authorship that directly relate to a feasible research methodology that show excellent mastery and knowledge of the content and be written in compliance with the current APA format.  The student must utilize the support from over 10 unique scholarly peer reviewed journal articles from well-respected and top ranked IT journals that directly relate to a feasible and relevant methodology exist.