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
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Problem and motivation
3 Provisional titel
4 Brief Review of the related literature
5 Aims and Objectives of the research
6 Statement of the design and methodology
7 Sources and acquisition of data
8 Method of data analysis
9 Form of presentation
10 Timetable
A Proposed Outline
Research Goals and Core Themes
This work aims to investigate the practical applicability and implementation of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) specifically within the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to determine its realistic potential for improving IT service management.
- Analysis of the current adoption status of ITIL in SMEs.
- Evaluation of ITIL process complexity in resource-constrained environments.
- Development of modular, scalable implementation recommendations.
- Integration of empirical expert interviews and standardized survey data.
- Critical appraisal of IT service management standards for mid-sized organizations.
Excerpt from the Book
1 Introduction
"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to have changed often." This quote from the former English Prime Minister Winston Churchill expresses how important continuous process improvement is in today's business climate. Without permanent optimisation and adjustment, companies cannot survive in international competition.
The IT department will be permanently confronted with new challenges and data processing procedures. Despite that, they are seldom given much recognition in the company, since they are seen merely as an internal service provider. Consistently positive achievements will be barely noticed, while isolated disruptions remain in the minds of the business departments for a long time. Not only is the availability of IT systems nowadays of decisive importance of businesses, but in particular the support of the core business by the use of IT is crucial. The IT department should be helping achieve the objectives of a company and needs to be able to react flexibly to change. In order to fulfil this requirement, the IT strategy must be consistent with the corporate strategy.
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is an internationally recognised method for synchronising the corporate objectives with the IT strategy. In its original version, the entire process model was developed as far back as 1989 by the British government and it has been continuously updated by the public organisation "Office of Government Commerce (OGC)." In its current third version, ITIL is the de facto standard for IT service management, which can be adjusted flexibly for individual needs, regardless of the size of company or area of business. The best practice approach of ITIL makes it possible to measure IT services for a company, make management transparent and thereby to synchronise the services with the objectives of the company. To achieve this, ITIL offers a range of flexible tools and processes that have proved themselves in practice.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides a rationale for continuous process improvement and introduces ITIL as the standard framework for aligning IT services with corporate objectives.
2 Problem and motivation: Discusses the specific challenges SMEs face regarding IT service management, highlighting the gap between the need for efficient processes and the complexity of existing ITIL standards.
3 Provisional titel: Outlines the core research thesis, which posits that standard ITIL models are often too formal and resource-intensive for the typical SME environment.
4 Brief Review of the related literature: Examines existing studies and definitions regarding SMEs and their current level of ITIL adoption in both national and international markets.
5 Aims and Objectives of the research: Defines the goal of creating a practical, modular implementation guide for ITIL tailored to the specific needs and constraints of SMEs.
6 Statement of the design and methodology: Details the two-part research approach, combining theoretical evaluation with empirical social research methods like expert interviews.
7 Sources and acquisition of data: Explains the reliance on OGC publications and secondary research, supplemented by primary data collection through expert interviews and surveys.
8 Method of data analysis: Describes the use of statistical software (SPSS) to analyze survey data, including methods like edge counting and multivariate analysis.
9 Form of presentation: Outlines the strategic structure of the final thesis, ensuring findings are communicated through clear graphics, tables, and structured text.
10 Timetable: Breaks down the research project into five distinct work packages with assigned difficulty levels and time requirements.
Keywords
ITIL, SMEs, IT Service Management, Process Optimization, Corporate Objectives, Information Technology, Best Practice, Resource Management, Empirical Research, Expert Interviews, Implementation Strategy, Business Alignment, Efficiency, Standardization, Data Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the feasibility and practical implementation of ITIL within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their IT service management.
What are the core themes addressed in the study?
Key themes include ITIL process complexity, the specific structural requirements of SMEs, the alignment of IT strategies with business goals, and the development of modular implementation frameworks.
What is the central research question?
The primary question asks to what extent ITIL, as the de facto standard, can be realistically and effectively implemented in SMEs given their specific resource limitations.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The research uses a dual approach: a theoretical evaluation of existing literature and standards, combined with an empirical study involving expert interviews and standardized online surveys.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the problem context, literature review on SMEs and ITIL, detailed research design and data acquisition methods, and the planning of implementation recommendations for SMEs.
What keywords characterize the work?
The work is defined by terms such as ITIL, SMEs, IT Service Management, Process Optimization, and empirical implementation strategies.
Why is ITIL often viewed as problematic for SMEs according to the author?
The author argues that the full ITIL framework is often too extensive, formal, and cost-intensive for SMEs to adopt without significant modifications.
How are the planned work packages structured?
The project is divided into five phases (work packages), ranging from expert interviews and literature review to survey analysis and the final development of an implementation concept.
- 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.hausarbeiten.de/document/165739
