Study guide
Bachelor End Project
(1BEP0)
September, 2017
Dr. M.C.W. Vrijnsen – de Corte
Ir.dr. S.D.P. Flapper
Contents
Introduction
1. Position in curriculum
1.1 Semester
1.2 Relationship with other courses and admission criteria
1.3 Relevance for the field
2. Aim and learning objectives of Bachelor End Project
2.1 Learning objectives
2.2 Admission criteria
2.3 Enrollment
2.4 Criteria for suitable assignments for BEP
3. Organisation and assessment of Bachelor End Project
3.1 Setup of Bachelor End Project
3.2 Week schedule BEP
3.3 Supervision
3.4 Professional Skills (PRVs)
3.5 Assessment
3.6 Copyright and anti-plagiarism
Appendix 1: Format for initial description of BEP assignment
Appendix 2: Reflection form “Reflection at start BEP”
Appendix 3: Reflection form “Reflection after BEP”
Appendix 4: Requirements for a report
Appendix 5: Beoordelingsformulier* / Final assessment* Bachelor End project 1BEP0
Introduction
A bachelor’s thesis is a report on an individual research project conducted as an assessment of academic proficiency. In the thesis, the student demonstrates that he/she is capable of analyzing – under guidance of a researcher as supervisor – a problem in the field of Industrial Engineering. Moreover, the student shows that he/she is able to present the gained insights in a written report and an oral presentation. The level of the thesis reflects the end terms of an academic bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering.
This study guide contains a description of the final project, the Bachelor End Project (BEP), of the Bachelor Industrial Engineering (IE).First, in section 1, the position of BEP in the BSc program of IE is described. Then, the learning objectives and criteria for suitable BEP projects are given in section 2. Finally, in section 3, the planning, guidance and assessment are explained.
In case you have questions on BEP, please contact the education administration office of IE&IS: Pav. B09a/b:
1. Position in curriculum
The Bachelor End Project 1BEP0 is a third year course, in which students individually investigate a perceived business problem in the field of Industrial Engineering (IE). During BEP, a student performs the academic research cycle. BEP is the final project of the BSc IE.
1.1 Semester
Year 3, quarters 3-4, or, alternatively, year 4, quarters 1-2. BEP has a study load of10 ects, which means280 hours. This can be done in 20 weeks, 2 quarters:1.75-2 days/week, or in 10 weeks, 1 quarter: 3.5-4 days/week.
1.2 Relationshipwith other courses and admission criteria
BEP is the finalisation of theBSc IE, and is related to one (or more)of the learning linesin the major Industrial Engineering.In many courses of the major IE, students learn how to analyze the performance of operational processes. BEP aims at integrating disciplinary knowledge and skills that students have acquired during the first five semesters of the major. Research methodology has been learned in the courses Research Methods (1ZV00), and Statistics (2DD70).
A possible relation exists between 1BEP0 and the electivecourse 1CK100 (internship). For this, we refer to the study guide of 1CK100.
Because of the required preknowledge and academic skills, admission criteria exist for 1BEP0. These are described in section 2.2.
1.3 Relevance for the field
Bachelor endprojectsare aimed at the professional field. In BEP, a specific business problem is investigated in cooperation with, and to the benefit of, an organisation, leadingto explanations and cause-effect relations for this business problem. During the bachelor’s program, students are educated and trained in research methods and techniques, by applying these to real-world business problems. Performing a project in/for an organisation, like in BEP, will largely contribute to the development of student’s competences, which (s)he will need in order to become a professional.
Students need to perform BEP in cooperation with, or related to, an external organisation. Students are free to choose and arrange a project, provided the supervisor agrees.
2. Aim and learning objectives ofthe Bachelor End Project
The aim of the endproject is that a student shows that, for a perceived business problem, (s)he is able to develop and formulate a research question, and analyze the problem making a justified choice for methods and techniques from the Industrial Engineering domain, with great level of independence.
2.1 Learning objectives
The student shows that (s)he is able to
- develop and formulate a research question, based on a perceived business problem, including a well-defined description of the scope of the research question
- explore and make use of scientific literature (for this type of research question and business problem)
- make a justified choice for methods and techniques for data collection and data analysis
- apply these methods and techniques with a great level of independence
- find the possible causes and explanations of the business problem based on the data analysis
- indicate directions for improvement
- write a report on the research and give an in-company presentation of the results.
2.2 Admission criteria
1BEP0 is a level-3 course. It requires preknowledge from year 1 and 2. A third year student is allowed to start with 1BEP0 if the student
- has passed the first year exam (Propedeuse) at the moment of enrollment, and
- has obtained at least 50 ects major IEcourses at the moment of enrollment.
2.3 Enrollment
Enrollment for 1BEP0 is needed via OSIRIS, in the semester prior to the start of BEP. That is, if a student wants to do his/her BEP in Q3 or Q4, he/she has to register for 1BEP0 between 15 September and 1 October of that academic year. If a student wants to do his/her BEP in Q1 or Q2, he/she has to register between 1 and 15 March of the preceding academic year.
After a student has enrolled, (s)he has to finish his/her BEP in the scheduled period. If not, the student has to take part in a new enrollment, 1 or more semesters later, after having informedhis/her TU BEP supervisor, the BEP coordinator and the education administration office of IE&IS about this, where the student will be allocated to a new TU BEP supervisor after all other students taking part in the new enrollment have been allocated to a TU BEP supervisor.
In the weeks before the enrollment period, an information meeting about BEP is organized for students. There, examples of endprojects will be shown, and further information on the enrollment will be given. Date and time of this meeting will be communicated to the students via email and the schedule in OASE.
After the period of enrollment, the student will be notified about who will be his/her TU supervisor for BEP. Then, the student should plan a meeting with this supervisor as soon as possible, as the search for a suitable external organisation and project should start immediately after the enrollment period.
In case you have questions about the above, please contact the education administration of IE&IS, Pav B09a/b: .
2.4Criteria for suitableassignments forBEP
The learning objectives imply the following important criteria:
- BEP is carried out individually
- BEPis NOT based on a set of predefined research activities; the student has to make and justify his/her own choices.
The following criteria apply to suitable BEP projects.
Research question, size and contents
- The BEP assignment consists of a perceived problem in the Industrial Engineering domain, and is formulated based on a business problem in an external organisation, or on IE research. The assignment is such, that students can set up their research project individually with a great level of independence. The project thusdoes not only consist of executing the research, but also of developing the research question and the research setup.
- An initial brief description of the BEP assignment can be made using the format in Appendix 1.
- The size and depth of the project is such, that an average student is able to finish the project successfully (grade 6 or higher) within 20 weeks, with a nett study load of 280 hours (10 ects). Or, if preferred by the student, within 10 weeks, with a study load of 280 hours (10 ects).
- The six phases of the research cycle as described in section 3.1 should be carried out.
- The student writes down the research approach and results in a report, and gives a presentation to (the supervisor of the) external organisationand the TU supervisor.
- Depending on the assignment, the student spends a few or many hours at the location of the external organisation. Activities there consist for example of having meetings with the external supervisor, collecting data, taking interviews, etcetera.
- The involvement of the external supervisor in the project is described in sections 3.3 and 3.5.
- BEP reports are not public, so will not be published in the university library. Confidentiality is guaranteed.
Acquisition
- Before starting the search for a project and an organisation, the student needs to contact the TU supervisor for an introductory meeting. As input for this meeting, the reflection form “Reflection at start BEP” (see Appendix 2) should be filled and handed in by the student.Using this reflection, the supervisor and student can, together, discuss which type of project and/or external organisation would be suitable for the student.
- Formulation and scoping of assignments is done under responsibility of the TU supervisor. The TU supervisor has to decide whether or not an assignment found by the student is suitable for BEP. Approval by the TU supervisor is required.
- Acquisition of projects is done by the students themselves, in principle. They may use contacts of (the capacity group of) their TU supervisor. Acquisition of projects needs to be completed in the semester prior to the start of BEP. If a student was not able to get a project before this deadline, the student can do a theoretical project within the university.
- In case the student also takes the course 1CK100 (internship), BEP and 1CK100 should preferably be done at the same organization, preferably in the same semester, where 1CK100 should precede BEP.Further information can be found in the study guide of 1CK100 in OASE.
- In case no suitable assignment at an organisation is found, the TU supervisor provides the student the possibility to perform a theoretical research assignment at the TU/e.
- It is not customary that the external organisation provides any financial compensation to the student. A possibility is to give a travel allowance.
3. Organisation and assessment of Bachelor End Project
Tasks and responsibilities for BEP are as follows:
-The education administration of IE&IS takes care of all administrative mattersof BEP, including collecting the assessments and reports.
-Formulation, scoping, and accepting of assignments, as well as guidance, supervision, and assessment, is the responsibility of the lecturers (TU supervisors) in the capacity groups.
-BEP-coordinatorir.dr. S.D.P. Flapper aims for a balanced distribution of students over the capacity groups, organises information meetings on BEP for students, training sessions on BEP for (new) TU supervisors, and is responsible for (updating) the course description and study guide of 1BEP0.
-The external supervisor is the daily/weekly contact person at the organisation that is the subject of the BEP assignment. This external supervisor provides a workplace in the organisation (if needed), introduces the student in the organisation, and arranges cooperation of the organisation in the data collection process.Furthermore, the external supervisor gives input to the TU supervisor regarding the assessment.
Below, more details on the setup, the guidance, and the assessment are given.
3.1 Setup of Bachelor End Project
The Bachelor End Project is an individual assignment. Each student writes an individual thesis and is assessed individually. Students are actively supervised during their research by a lecturer.
3.1.1. Research phases
The BEP research consists of six phases.
- Formulation of business problem and research question
Firstly, students individually formulatethe perceived business problem. From this, they formulate a research question in the Industrial Engineering domain. Herewith, students take into account multiple points of view, and make a well considered choice for one point of view.
- Description of research approach
The student describes how (s)he will tackle the research question. In order to do this, the student first:
- studies the organisation by examining and modeling the business process and performance (e.g., through interviews);
- studies relevant literature.
Based on this input, the student writes a research plan.
3. Data collection
The student collects data through qualitativeand/or quantitative methods, based on justified arguments.
4. Data-analysis
The data isanalysed with proper justification for the analysis techniques used.
5. Problem diagnosis
Based on the data analysis, a problem diagnosis is produced, containing answers to:
-Which are the relevant causes of the problem?
-Which are the relevant consequences of the problem?
-Which mutual relationships exist between causes and consequences?
6. Conclusion and directions for improvement
The student writes the research findings and directions for improvement in a report, and gives a presentation.
These six phases of BEP research are analogous to the following phases in the regulative cycle, or ‘problem solving cycle’,by Van Aken, Berends, and Van der Bij (2012)[1]: 1. Identify and define the problem, 2. Analyse the problem, 3. Identify possible solutions. The problem solving cycle is displayed in the above picture. BEP thus focuses on formulating and thoroughly analysing a business problem and its causes. BEP ends with reporting the discovered causes and consequences, and formulating possible directions for improvement. Selection of the best solution, as well as designing and implementing it, are not part of BEP, but are a possible part of a master thesis project, which usually runs through a larger part of the problem solving cycle.
3.2 Week schedule BEP
The Bachelor End Project comprises 10 ects (280 hours). The project is executed during a complete semester (two quarters) with a start in quarter 3 (in order to commence a Master’s program in semester 1) and an alternative start in quarter 1 (in order to commence a Master’s program in semester 2), or during only one quarter, provided the project/research question is suitable for this short period of time.
The main elements of BEP are given in a week schedule in the following picture, based on a semesterplanning.
For the deadlines in a quarter planning, we refer to the table in section3.5.
Prior to BEP:
Acquisition phase (phase 0): in semester prior to start BEPStartof semester / Deadline enrollment / Remaining part of semester / End of semester
- Information meetingby BEPcoordinator about enrollment for1BEP0, incl. examples of projects
- Orientation onIE disciplines
- Registration in OASE at 1BEP0 (see chapter 2)
- Linking studentsto TU supervisors
- Introductory meeting with TU supervisor usingReflection at start BEP
- Acquisition of external BEP by student
Description of BEP assignment completed (Appendix 1)
From the start of BEP:
Orientation phase (phase 1-2)Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5/6
- Orientation onexternal organisation and business problem
- Planning and preparation of contact with organisation
- 1st (reflection)meeting with TUsupervisor, finishReflectionat start BEP
- Study the external organisationand perceived problem: describing problemand system or business process
- Determine research approach and methods
- Write Concept Project / Research Plan
- Meetings on Project / Research Plan with TU supervisor (proper agreements need to be made between student, TU supervisor)
Discuss the plan with external supervisor
Analysisand diagnosisphase (phase 3-5)
Week 7 / Week 8 / Week 9/10 / Week 11/12 / Week 13
Diagnosticresearch
- Empirical analysis (data collection, analysis and testing hypotheses)
- Theoretical analysis (literature study)
- Process analysis (description of business process and performance)
- Integral diagnosis (problem causes, consequences and mutual relationships)
- Meetings withTU supervisor (proper agreements need to be made between student, TU supervisor)
Discuss report with external supervisor
Recommended:intermediatepresentation
Conclusion phase (phase 6)
Week 14 / Week 15 / Week 16 / Week 17 / Week 18/19/20
Conclusion
- Adapt intermediate report basedon feedback
- Additional research: literature, in organisation
- Conclusions: potentialsolutions
- Meetings with TU supervisor (proper agreements need to be made between student, TU supervisor)
Reflection after BEP
- Assessment meeting
Exceeding 20 weeks, and/or putting the deadline for assessment after the start of a new semester is a problem, as it may lead to a serious delay of the start of the student’s master’s program!
3.3 Supervision
3.3.1. TU supervisor
The TU supervisor spends about 30 hours per student for supervision in the project. This consists of preparation, planning, meetings, and reading/assessing versions of the report.
The supervisor guides the student in producing a scientifically sound analysis which lays the basis for the Bachelor’s thesis. The supervisor’s role is to give support and advice to the student in making justified decisions, and in communicating to the external organisation, with the aim to get a consistent final result.
In some cases, the weekly supervision is done by a PhD student. However, this is always done under responsibility and supervision of an examiner appointed by the Examinations Committee.This examiner is present at important meetings like the final presentation, and is in charge of the assessment.
3.3.2. External supervisor
In case the project is performed at an external organisation, theorganisation provides an external supervisor, who arranges a workplace in the office (if needed), introduces the student in the organisation, and facilitates cooperation of the organisation in the data collection process.
Furthermore, the external supervisor gives input to the TU supervisor regarding the assessment concerning:
-Quality of problem formulation and scope;
-Quality of business process anlysis;
-Content of the final report;
-And the professionals skills of the student.
3.3.3. Attention points for TU supervisors
- In the first meeting, clear agreements are made with the student about the supervision and guidance. For instance, about the frequency of meetings, how to contact the TU supervisor in case of problems, etcetera. Also, the assessment criteria associated with BEP are explained.
- The TU supervisor is present at the first meeting with the external organisation, and at the intermediate and final presentations given by the student to the organisation.
- To conclude the supervision, the TU supervisor fills the final assessment form, and discusses it with the student (cf. Appendix 5). The way in which the final grade has been determined, should be clearly motivated. Students receive a (digital) copy of this final assessment form.
- At the last meeting of student and TU supervisor, the TU supervisor must inform the student that it is of the utmost importance to hand in the “Reflection after BEP” (cf.Appendix 3) andfill the course evaluation questionnaire.
3.3.4. BSc Thesis Assessment Committee