Virtual Project Quality Management

Your interim term paper should focus on the GAPS in the literature, i.e., what is not known or unclear on the topic you have chosen.
Do include the relevant framework/model/s and be sure to list the source of all figures/tables under the respective figure/table and the title above it. You need more current (less than 3 or 4 years old) and relevant peer reviewed journal references.
The key is to coherently present concepts and views and integrate the ideas. Please ensure that the manuscript’s flow and the transitions between sections is smooth. Below are a few suggestions regarding the various sections to consider. These recommendations pertain to both form and content of the material, and are described under the following categories:
The ‘Abstract’ Section
Problems:
The abstract lacks focus. It does not state the problem it is addressing in a coherent manner. The description is more detailed than necessary at this stage.
Recommendations: To capture the interest of the audience, the abstract should, in deadpan style, present a terse summary of the entire paper incorporating the important contents, concepts, and results of the paper. The abstract could be more focused by succinctly stating these as follows.
A thumb-rule to write a good abstract is:
Use one sentence to describe the entire paper.
Then use one sentence each to describe the problem or issues, the method, the data, analysis, if any, results,
and conclusions.
Move the secondary details to the main thesis of the paper.
SAMPLE ABSTRACT
This manuscript introduces the Chaos Theory as a means of studying information systems. It argues that the Chaos Theory, combined with new techniques for discovering patterns in complex quantitative and qualitative evidence, offers a potentially more substantive approach to understanding the nature of information systems in a variety of contexts. Furthermore, the authors hope that understanding the underlying assumptions and theoretical constructs through the use of the Chaos Theory will not only inform researchers of a better design for studying information systems, but also assist in the understanding of intricate relationships between different factors.
First, the authors describe what the manuscript is about. (This manuscript introduces the Chaos Theory as a means of studying information systems.)
They summarize the content of the manuscript. (It argues that the Chaos Theory, combined with new techniques for discovering patterns in complex quantitative and qualitative evidence, offers a potentially more substantive approach to understanding the nature of information systems in a variety of contexts.)
Then, they explain their purpose or objectives for writing the manuscript. (Furthermore, the authors hope that understanding the underlying assumptions and theoretical constructs through the use of the Chaos Theory will not only inform researchers of a better design for studying information systems, but also assist in the understanding of intricate relationships between different factors.)
Note: Your abstract does not necessarily need to be three sentences like the sample above – but it will need to be between 100-150 words – nor does it need to be worded the same way. Use your own words, but capture the idea behind this sample abstract.
The ‘Introduction’ Section
Problems:
The introduction does not describe the problem the manuscript is addressing before the reader’s attention is lost. There are several assertions without accompanying empirical evidence or logical reasoning. Only if an assertion could be proven or argued, should it be written.
The introduction section has to address what the paper will do, how it will do it and why-convincingly enough to arouse interest in the audience.
The overview of the methodology of the research is not substantive.
The scope and roadmap of the paper are not adequately described.
It may also be useful to include a results preview.
Recommendations: The introduction must be carefully constructed that explains the nature and value of the contribution succinctly. The introduction section has to address what the paper will do, how it will do it and why-convincingly enough to arouse interest in the audience. The introduction must state very briefly the following to draw the targeted audience’s interest:
State the primary problem the research is addressing for its stakeholders and the cause of the problem.
What are the options to address the problem?
What is the best solution that the manuscript advocates?
Who is the targeted audience of the paper?
What specific problems do each of the stakeholders face? Of these, which specific issues does the research thesis promises to address?
Then succinctly describe the contribution of the paper and the value of the contribution. This paragraph must say what new information the paper has created and how it can be utilized by its targeted audience to turn the findings into knowledge. An example of contribution paragraph from another publication is reproduced for your convenience:
[This paper makes a contribution to project management (PM) research in several ways. To our knowledge it reports on the first use of "event study" methodology in PM research. This methodology is well regarded in the accounting and finance literature, has a wide following, and has many potential uses for the investigation of research problems in PM.
This is also the first study to examine the impact of announced PM investments on the
value of the firm from the perspective of the investor, as measured by daily returns in the
firm’s equity securities.
The study provides evidence that, on the whole, the market does not react positively to
announced PM investments, suggesting that such investments do not systematically
provide higher than required industry rates of return. However, PM investments classified
as innovative did result in positive reactions, suggesting that investors expect such
investments to provide abnormal returns.
This research is expected to be very interesting to researchers focusing on the business
and economic impacts of PM investments and substantially interesting to PM researchers
in general. It may be moderately interesting for sophisticated PM managers and
practitioners who are interested in the expected impact of PM investment announcements
on stock market returns.]
The body of the manuscript
The literature review should be reasonably detailed. While presenting a view on the topic, the author/s should cite information that should not appear as assertions not substantiated with appropriate sources. The manuscript should be balanced by drawing from a broader literature with sources quoted. While doing so, focus on the research question, rather than discussing about other issues in detail. Expand the literature review. Based on this literature review and synthesis, present a research framework/model (if possible) and
clearly describe the theory upon which the research model has been derived. Derive your research propositions rigorously and refer to the extant literature to support your argument. Include relevant research framework/s.
Please include a section on Implications for Research and another section on Implications for Management before the Conclusion section.

The Implications for Research section should include the following:
Contributions of your research paper to the existing body of knowledge
Limitations of your current study
Directions of future research to extend your current study or research topics related to your study

The Implications for Management section should include the key takeaways for Management--actionable items for practice. You may include:
Key takeaways for managers
Lessons learned for managers
Memo to the CEO/Board of Directors (although you do not have to write it in a format of a memo but the message should be included in this section)
What is the difference between an Executive Summary and a Conclusion section:
The Executive Summary is similar to (not the same as) the abstract since generally the exec summary is used by practitioner/semi-practitioner journals such as Harvard Business Review and abstracts are used by refereed academic journals such as Journal of Asia-Pacific Business (see example of an abstract that I have provided in my feedback to the teams working on the research paper). The Conclusions section should summarize the key findings/key takeaways from your team project. It is important NOT to introduce any new ideas/points in the Conclusions section. See example at the following URL:
http://nexus(dot)umn(dot)edu/Posters/Poster-Birnbaum.pdf

The CONCLUDING SECTION should summarize the findings of the arguments of the previous sections, warn the reader of the limitations of the conclusions, and derive implications for the literature, action to be taken, and method of application
Finally, may I suggest that you pay close attention to the following: 1. Greater clarity in the definition of your research constructs. Very importantly, greater coherence in the research objectives, literature review, and research framework are called for. 2. The literature review needs to be more concise and focused on the research objectives. 3. The theoretical foundation of the research needs to be made clear. Specifically, the theoretical grounding of the research constructs/factors, and the rationale for the arguments/propositions needs significant improvement. I hope that the above concerns could help you improve upon the conceptualization of the research, and help to strengthen your term paper for the next iteration/draft.

Action Items:

(1) State the research question/s in the Introduction section---what is not known in the existing literature. Also state the organization/structure of the paper
(2) The majority of your references need to be from peer reviewed academic journals that are less than 3 to 4 years old and in APA format. You may include seminal/classic articles that are older (e.g., to cite releavnt theoretical frameworks/models).
(3) After you have completed the paper, you can expand upon the abstract

(4) Do include the Implications for Management and a separate section for Implications for Research (limitations of the research and future research directions)

(5) The literature analysis is good--focus on the key research framework and more recent (less than 3 years old) research from academic journals for in-depth analysis and synthesize it in your paper.