This module provides the theoretical and practical foundation to enable students to develop an academically sound concept, then create and deliver a compelling business case and bid to gain support for technical activities, and finally prepare an exploitation plan and benefits realisation strategy to turn the outputs from their concept and portfolio into tangible, business enhancing outcomes. This module sees the student develop a ‘what if?’ concept, and then communicate the ‘so what?’ from their capstone portfolio.

This module is offered across the Engineering, Leadership and Management, and Technology Streams of the Defence and Security Capstone MSc.

At a glance

  • LocationOnline

Course structure

This module contains a three part assessment: a critical literature review on a topic aligned to the student’s stream which should link to the content of their Capstone Portfolio; an individual presentation by the student to a panel of three academics, delivered ahead of starting the Capstone Portfolio Project either via videoconferencing or a face-to-face presentation (at the student’s choice); an individual piece of coursework that is undertaken following the completion (or close to completion) of the Capstone Portfolio.

What you will learn

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

  • identify, develop and choose research questions within the student’s specific area of interest;

  • construct a critical literature review of key texts, identifying the academic theory most relevant to the identified research questions;

  • explain the importance of exploitation and the impact this has on project design;

  • develop a business case that articulates the proposed benefits of a proposed project within a business context;

  • defend a proposed project to subject matter experts to gain support and approval;

  • design and deliver transition activities to transform output into exploited business benefits.

Core content

The course will cover the following topics:

  • the ‘what if?’ – developing a research question and academic enquiry;
  • the literature review – theory, methods and practice;
  • the ‘so what?’ – exploiting output into real life benefits;
  • benefits management theory and practice;
  • a compelling future – preparing and delivering a proposal;
  • academic purity vs business outcomes – applied study design;
  • maximising the potential for support;
  • who, what, where, how – transition management;
  • exploitation strategies.