Project management

Responsibilities and tips for running your project.

Roles of student and supervisor

Student

Unlike previous courses, in thesis projects, you are the project manager. This means you are responsible for:

  • Making and adhering to milesones (deadlines)

  • Deciding weekly tasks

  • Inviting to, planning and running supervision meetings

  • Communicating to me WELL in advance if you want a review on anything (>1 week)

  • Realizing you are stuck and need support to get out, then asking for it

Supervisor

To provide technical expertise, guidance on project management and practice in fielding questions and defending your research.

Weekly meetings

  • Student shall send recurring invitation to weekly meetings.

  • You should prepare for each meeting by making slides (see next next bullet) and having a clear goal for the meeting.

    • If you don’t have topics to discuss with supervision team, CANCEL the meeting!

  • Please make weekly powerpoints that are placed in your project Team.

    • I would like that you use this powerpoint template. I believe it’s effective for student projects, and it makes it easier for me to switch from project to project.

Example milestones

Here are example of key milestones that you should track for your project. I recommend adding intermediate milestones to help you stay on target. (E.g., “documentation of preliminary analysis of database added to thesis draft”.)

  • DD.MM: First draft of project timeline and dates for key milestones (suggested: Week 2)

  • DD.MM: Project plan submitted submitted to CampusNet (suggested: Week 4)

  • DD.MM: Polished draft of thesis submitted to supervision team for review (suggested: 2 weeks before hand-in)

  • DD.MM: Final draft thesis submitted to CampusNet

How to book meetings

If it is not in my calendar, I will forget it.

To check when my calendar is free:

  • Log onto outlook.office.com using your DTU credentials.

  • On the left tab, click the Calendar button.

  • Click “Add calendar” - “Add from directory”.

  • Choose your student account, then enter my email address.

  • You should be able to add and then view my free/busy/etc. times.