Selecting a Capstone Project Using a Novel Tool
Overview
This tool gives students frequent opportunities for feedback, helps define what a high-quality capstone project is, and initiates discussions with faculty about the criteria of the capstone and selecting a project.
Why Use This?
Students typically face four barriers to completing their capstone:
- Motivation and preparedness
- Time limitations because of work, college, and family
- Access to networks of people or projects
- Faculty time constraints
To alleviate these barriers, this tool assists, motivates, engages, and supports students by sharing the necessary criteria to evaluate and select a capstone project. The tool also encourages students to discuss their projects with faculty early in the course, which not only motivates students to complete the capstone but also leads to higher-quality projects. Moreover, students evaluate their own projects throughout the course prior to submitting them for approval.
How Does It Work?
Originally developed in the IT Management (ITM) program at UW Extended Campus, this tool is now used in the Cybersecurity (MS) and Applied Computing (APC) programs as well. It’s available as an open-source project on GitHub, which means it can be customized by simply modifying the text file. Instructions for using the file are included on GitHub.
Students begin with instructions on how to rank their project ideas.
Instructions
This project selection tool is intended to help you compare multiple projects (up to 4) using a consistent set of criteria and weighted scores to make an informed decision about the project you ultimately will complete as your Capstone project.
Note: Final scores do not necessarily confirm or exclude a project from consideration. They are intended to facilitate a conversation about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the projects that are available to you.
Criteria
Successful projects should be evaluated in a variety of ways. This selection tool aligns those criteria with the curriculum of the Information Technology Management program. Not all projects will incorporate all of the criteria below. This tool is intended to help you identify those that are most central to the success of your project.
Rank
Ranks are predetermined based on past experience with potential Capstone projects. The most important aspect of a successful project is the potential impact upon or support your organization will provide. If you feel that an aspect of your project warrants a different rank, that should be part of how you discuss and argue for the feasibility of your project.
- Critical
- 3
- Important
- 2
- Nice to have
- 1
Score
Provides an overall assessment of the overall importance of this consideration in the successful completion of your project.
- High
- 3
- Medium
- 2
- Low
- 1
Students rank their project ideas using multiple criteria. In this example, they rank the organizational impact of a potential project.
Project Criteria
Organizational Impact
Projects should have a significant impact on your organization in their ability to: increase revenue or decrease cost. This may be accomplished through any use of technology to improve a process, gain access to a new market, optimize performance, etc.Overall, the best projects require a minimum of 4-5 months, and at least 150 hours to complete. They often also require that you step outside of your normal comfort zone by taking on increased responsibility, scope, complexity, or management dynamics.
Associated Courses
- ITM 700 – Communications for IT Professionals
- ITM 715 – Data Science
- ITM 730 – Agile and Traditional Project Management
- ITM 735 – Business Analysis and Systems Design
- ITM 750 – Evaluation of Emerging Technologies
Project One: My Wonderful Project
Another criterion students consider is financial impact. Criteria will vary depending on the course; in this example, students also consider infrastructure, human resources, and governance.
Financial Impact
What are the financial considerations associated with your project? Consider use of pro forma financial statements and key performance metrics to assess impact on cash flow, depreciation, rate of return, etc. Will the project require significant budgeting and financial planning?
Associated Courses
- ITM 700 – Communications for IT Professionals
- ITM 710 – Finance for IT Management
- ITM 730 – Agile and Traditional Project Management
Project One: My Wonderful Project
Keep In Mind
- Adapt this tool for any capstone preparation course using the criteria for your program.
- Encourage students to use this tool to speak with you about their project early in the course. This leads to more engagement and motivation to complete the capstone.
- Work with your instructional designer to set up the tool in your course. After the initial setup (which can take some time, so make your request early), the tool can be used in the course every semester.