Week 4: Post 3, Progress Report 3

Date: 05-June 2008
To: Dr. Jan Holmevick
From: Katie Goergen

Introduction
A usability test of the Office of Sponsored Programs website and the Limited Submission Program will be conducted in order better understand how users use these tools. This study will reveal usability flaws and provide recommendations forboth of these interfaces which will in effect improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the pre-award submission phase at Clemson University.

Work Completed
At this point, I at least have a full draft of my proposal. I am currently waiting for comments from Jin and Jan to see how I can improve upon it. I feel most comfortable with the introduction and conclusion and I'm hoping those are preceived as strong. My methodology is perhaps a little weak. I have looked at it several times and I feel as though it needs a little more, I'm just not certain as to what that is as of yet. The literature review also needs some fine tuning. I don't know, for a projct I'm having a difficulty writing because it's not as though I'm helping contribute to any particular field or expanding the research in a particular field, I'm just helping a client produce a better product. So, the literature review is still a bit of a worry for me.

At this point I am still waiting to hear back from Drs. Gallichio and Prizrembel regarding the possibility of a usability test for the OSP website. I'm thinking it will get approved, but there is nothing written in stone as of yet, so on that front, I'm stalled.

Next Steps
I am continuing to look at my proposal and working it to make it better. I have started working on the instrumentation for the study. I feel as though if I at least have something I will have something to work from, which is better than nothing at all. I will also be focusing on my presentation. I think in order for my presentation to have an impact, I need to convey the current situation and show how my project aims to contribute to a possible solution. I'm discovering my project is not about overhauling the entire OSP website as there is not enough time to tackle that, but I can assess the needs of the faculty and staff that could open the door to new possibilities and directions for the kinds of resources Clemson provides for its faculty and staff in the way of proposal writing.

By next week I will have a comprehensive storyboard completed so that I can begin making the actual presentation.

Conclusion
Amazing that this class is almost over. It is kind of a relief knowing that I will be walking away with something that is going to be used to move me on to the next step. I'm looking forward to making the presentation, I think it has potential to be a good persuasive piece. By next week I should have a more refined version of my proposal and a very clear idea about how I plan to construct my presentation.