LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR ASSIGNMENT 1:

At the completion of this assessment you will be able to:

• Identify an issue of current relevance to the discipline of construction management and the construction industry

ASSIGNMENT PURPOSE

Before research can begin it is important to establish that there is something of value to investigate. That is, we can only undertake research if there is a problem to solve.

In order to determine what you can investigate, you need to gain a detailed understanding of the current knowledge that surrounds a topic. This will allow you to see which areas of your topic are ‘complete’ and which areas still have a ‘problem’ that needs further research. The aim of this first assignment is to set you on the path to find a problem that needs further research.

ASSESSMENT TASK

This assessment task requires you to read extensively from a range of sources including current research publications, and industry and government reports, in order to gain an understanding of your selected topic in construction management and the construction industry. In order to make sense of your reading, you need to record your articles and the key themes of these articles into a spreadsheet. This spreadsheet will help you develop your concept map and must be submitted as part of this assessment task.

You must then prepare a concept map that visually represents your current issue and shows a research gap that can be further explored.

You will then discuss your concept map, and the current issue, with your peers during a seminar.