MASTER’S THESIS CAPSTONE PROJECT: Get Capstone Project Help
MASTER’S THESIS CAPSTONE PROJECT: PHASE I INSTRUCTIONS
The objective of the final capstone thesis project is to evaluate you on your ability to apply the
program learning outcomes to a final, all-encompassing information systems (IS) or information
technology (IT) thesis project. Successful capstones will follow an objective research
methodology to collect or generate data that informs the analysis and design of a new computing
system related to the primary domains identified by the Association for Computing Machinery
(ACM): cloud architecture and/or computing, cybersecurity systems, databases and/or data
analytics systems, enterprise architecture, information systems, integrated systems, internet of
things systems, networks, platform systems, software development, user interfaces, virtual
systems, and/or web and mobile applications.
Phase I of the project consists of the following main headings at the minimum; Introduction,
Problem Statement, Research Question(s), Literature Review, Literature Review Findings
and Gaps, and the Conclusion. References and appendixes are also necessary.
A primary goal is to develop new knowledge and contribute this knowledge to the computing
field. A subsequent goal is to work toward a Master’s thesis that could one day be published in a
respectable industry or academic publication to share this new knowledge with others.
The capstone project will be based upon a feasible gap and problem in scholarly literature that
can be addressed in the timeframe of the capstone course. You must be familiar enough with the
problem that you are able to perform a comprehensive research design and novel prototype
design to solve the problem. Thus, it should be a specific computing domain where you consider
yourself to have the most expertise. You must also have access to the applications, servers,
systems, networks, and/or data necessary for data collection, programming, design prototyping,
and/or configuration.
The outcome of the research should contribute to a new and/or improved software or system
prototype. It should not be based upon and/or replicate in any form an existing contribution in
industry or literature. It also should not repeat well known solutions. For example, designing a
new enterprise resource planning (ERP) module for finance is not an acceptable project given
thousands of these ERP modules already exist. An original ERP feature in a finance module that
is novel or that has yet to be developed using benchmark data as research more closely aligns
with the capstone objective. As another example, the design diagrams required in subsequent
phases of the capstone are a good indicator of originality. Designing a typical user class or
database table with name, address, city, and state is not original, thousands of these classes and
tables already exist. Your goal is not to reinvent the wheel but rather to add new knowledge.
How do you know your thesis problem is novel and original? By performing a comprehensive
literature review and investigating what exists in related industry!
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Within the thesis, a comprehensive literature review of related and relevant concepts, theories,
and research results should exist. This involves study of relevant articles pertaining to the
research question within top ranked peer reviewed information systems and/or IT journals.
Thorough review and comprehension of this research will lead to the identification of gaps in the
literature that exist, which require further research efforts and contributions to advance the
topical area of study. The research question(s) is supported by the associated gaps found in
literature, indicating a solution is needed to a problem that does not yet have a solution.
A research question that is too wide in scope will overwhelm your efforts. Yet, a research
question that is too narrow will not meet the minimum requirements and quality expected of a
Master’s capstone project. The research question is your anchor and guide. It provides a clear
objective of what your Master’s thesis project will accomplish.
Refer to the grading rubric in order to ensure successful completion of this assignment. The
minimum proposal in Phase I will include:
I. Cover Page, Table of Contents, References, and Appendixes
a. Cover page includes your title/position and “in partial completion of an MSIS”
b. Appendixes will include screenshots of all diagrams and benchmark data
II. Research from optimal and relevant journal articles
a. Each section of the capstone must be well supported with scholarly peer reviewed
journal articles
b. Although they do not count toward the minimum journal articles, industry
whitepapers are also often relevant to elements like the prototype design as they
provide best practices for the new software or system
c. Top ranked journals can be searched through the university library by going to
electronic databases.
d. There a number of sites that rank information systems, IT, and computing related
journals. Here are a few examples.
i. http://www.scimagojr.com/
ii. http://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php?category=1710
iii. http://www.guide2research.com/journals/information-systems
iv. https://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/journmag/journa
lcitations.html
v. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/ejis.2008.9
vi. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/top-journals-in-computerscience/406557.article
e. Not all journals are equal or relevant to the capstone. Journal articles that identify
well-supported gaps in research are often performing new research. These articles
will include testing new theory, hypotheses, and/or frameworks with a parallel
research design that collects data for the test. Because they are generating new
information, they are great sources to find areas where new research is needed.
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Journal articles that perform Meta studies or large literature reviews can also be
helpful in identifying where new research is necessary.
f. Whereas scholarly journal articles often focus on theory that is not yet
implemented in industry, industry whitepapers will assist with elements like
standards and frameworks helpful in guiding the design of new systems. Both
have their place in the capstone as a result but for different reasons.
III. Introduction & Conclusion
a. An introduction and conclusion of the primary objectives and outcomes of the
master’s thesis project is necessary.
b. The introduction provides the roadmap for the capstone.
c. The conclusion is the last section of the project and provides a comprehensive
overview of how the study was preformed and the primary outcomes of the
results.
i. This also involves synthesizing and analyzing existing results in the
domain of knowledge that the project has contributed.
IV. Statement of the Problem
a. Must be in one of the ACM domains identified for software or a system
b. What is an information systems or IT problem that needs resolution?
i. An unmet IT problem is succinctly and accurately defined.
ii. It is supported by a gap in scholarly literature not previously addressed.
c. The problem can feasibly be addressed in the timeframe of this course.
d. Sufficient data can be collected or generated to address the problem.
V. Research Questions (RQs)
a. Between 1–2 research questions must be given that detail what your thesis will
achieve.
b. The research question(s) must:
i. Address all capstone objectives such as a prototype/system design.
ii. Solve a problem without an existing solution per a gap in literature.
iii. Include one measure.
iv. Include a population/sample.
v. Include the ability to address reliability and validity of the results.
vi. Have accessible data or metrics to test the RQ measure such as a log file
with comparable metrics (e.g. memory usage) or a public data set.
c. RQ Example
i. Is there a difference in the CPU performance (measurement) between an
ICT-based KMS designed using the XYZ framework (prototype design)
and an ICT-based KMS designed using the ABC framework in a
Southeastern U.S. College (sample).
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ii. A systems analysis and design of an ICT-based KMS exists, one system is
designed/benchmarked against framework ABC and the other XYZ
(hypothetical frameworks).
iii. A measure exists with data that can be collected, CPU performance from a
monitoring tool that is monitoring both systems. The CPU measure can
determine which framework results in a faster system.
iv. Reliability and validity is possible. The test can be run on the exact same
system, in the same environment, with the same benchmarks.
v. A sample exists, a Southeastern U.S. College, where the CPU performance
data will be collected
VI. Literature Review
a. Review of related literature in one of the ACM domains defined.
b. What literature attempts to resolve your problem and research question(s)?
c. Within relevant literature, how does it address the following:
i. What has literature not resolved in regards to your defined problem?
ii. What are the primary research problems, questions, and hypotheses in
these relevant articles?
iii. How does this relate to other relevant articles and your research problem?
iv. What was the population and sample?
v. What research methods were used?
vi. What were the results of the research?
vii. What were the limitations?
viii. What were the recommendations for future research?
d. Peer reviewed research must lead to an appropriate IT solution that has not yet
been solved.
e. This should be exhaustive in the specific domain you are studying.
i. If it is going to be too lengthy, it is likely that your defined problem and/or
research question(s) are not sufficiently narrow.
ii. If there are not sufficient articles to review in the specific domain you are
studying it is very likely that your problem statement and/or research
question(s) are not feasible.
iii. If either is the case, you need to revise your problem statement and
research question(s).
VII. Literature review findings and gaps
a. What were the primary findings from the literature review?
b. What gaps existed in the literatures that have not been solved by prior research?
c. How will the author address these gaps in the literature?
i. Performing a sufficient review of literature on your specific master’s
project topic should identify where gaps in literature exist which need
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resolution, the literature must justify a feasible problem statement and the
development of an appropriate research question(s).
ii. The master’s thesis project should solve an IT problem that does not
already have a solution in industry or existing research.
iii. The exhaustiveness of the literature review is therefore critical and will
determine whether an appropriate and feasible problem exists to solve.
