Free Research Project Essay Sample

Formulation of Research Specification

List of Resources
Jones, A. M., 2012. The Elgar Companion to Health Economics. - This resource will be used in the study because it will provide a foundational understanding of the economics behind the operations of a health system framework. This understanding will provide a foundational framework in which lean management techniques can be applied in relation to the GP Practice.
Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee. 2009. The Provision of Cross-border Health Services for Wales: Fifth Report of Session 2008-09; Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence. – This resource is important to this study because it summarizes the findings of the parliamentary watchdog committee in relation to the operations of the health system in the United Kingdom. Through this understanding, the concerned stakeholders will be able to apply lean management techniques in their GP Practices based on this legal framework.
Wolfe, I., 2014. European Child Health Services and Systems: Lessons Without Borders.
This resource is pivotal to this study because it gives an in-depth understanding of how the provision of child health care services and systems operate in the United Kingdom and within the larger European region. These services constitute a portion of the services provided by the GP Practice. Therefore, this resource will enable the GP Practice to apply lean management techniques in relation to the child health care services and systems that it provides to its clients.
May, A., 2011. Organizational Innovation in Health Services: Lessons from the NHS Treatment Centers. – This resource is important to this study because it summarizes the lessons that have been learned from the National Health Service in relation to the innovation strides that have been made in the health care system. This understanding will help the GP Practice to apply lean management techniques in reducing the cost of its referrals to the National Health Service.
Roebuck, K., 2012. HIE - Health Information Exchange: High-impact Strategies - What You Need to Know: Definitions, Adoptions, Impact, Benefits, Maturity, Vendors. – This resource provides a rich centralized source of information which highlights different aspects of the health care system in the United Kingdom. Through this resource, the GP Practice can find the relevant information which will enable it to apply the appropriate lean management techniques and hence, reduce the cost of its referrals to the National Health Service.

Impact of Limiting Factors on the Gantt Chart`s Output

The Gantt chart is a planning tool which is used to evaluate the total amount of work completed for a research project in relation to the total amount of work planned or anticipated for within a given timeframe. Consequently, the quality of the Gantt chart relies entirely on its inputs, which primarily are comprised of various factors and pertinent information relating to the research. Therefore, a scarcity of various related resources and the existence of different limiting factors can have an adverse effect on the overall output of the Gantt chart in several ways.
Firstly, the existence of limiting factors or the scarcity of pertinent input information implies that the Gantt chart will subsequently depict a limited amount of information relating to the research. This scarcity implies that key information and data which would influence the overall success of the research project would be omitted, resulting in a Gantt chart that does not fully capture the realities of the project on the ground.
Secondly, limited factors and scarce information are likely to result in a situation whereby there will be a mismatch between what the Gantt chart portrays, and what the research project is expected to deliver. This mismatch would arise due to the fact that the Gantt chart would be unable to fully reflect the required information that relates to the project in terms of its primary goals and objectives.
Thirdly, limited factors and the scarcity of information in relation to a project are likely to result in inappropriate time-related working plans. This situation would be as a result of the fact that the Gantt chart would not fully capture the time-related information that affects the project when such information is required. Consequently, the project is likely to experience delays or time allocations that are inadequate in achieving its overall objectives. Finally, limited factors and the scarcity of information is also likely to result in a poor allocation of the required resources in relation to the project. Consequently the overall outcome of the project is likely to be sub-standard, as will be evidenced by the output of the Gantt chart.
A Gantt chart is also an effective tool which can be used in a research project in a scenario such as the GP Practice in applying lean management techniques. This suitability of the Gantt chart is based on the realization that it would only capture the progress of processes and systems that are executed to deliver the required and continuous improvement in the overall execution of the GP Practice.

Importance of Reflection in Practice

Reflection in practice represents an important aspect of the overall success of a research study due the overall impact which it implies on the attainment of the research’s goals and objectives. Reflection in practice has enabled me to understand the difference between the theoretical research specifications that are learnt within a classroom environment, and their practical application. Through this analysis, I now understand the numerous underlying challenges that may affect the research study and prevent it from moving forward as per its schedule.
Reflection in practice also has also enabled me to evaluate the major lessons that I have learned in relation to this particular research study. Consequently, I will apply such lessons in the future forthcoming engagements so as to ensure that these studies will achieve their desired objectives using the available resources at my disposal. Through such evaluations, individuals who are undertaking research studies can avoid similar mistakes and pitfalls that were previously encountered in their earlier research studies.
Secondly, my participation in an actual research study through the GP Practice assignment enabled me to practically apply the theoretical concepts that I had learnt in the classroom within a practical framework. This application enabled me to hone and internalize these skills, consequently leading to an increase in my research capabilities and capacities. My reflection on my involvement in the GP Practice research has also revealed numerous factors about my capabilities as an individual. These factors include my ability to be introduced to a new concept, my subsequent understanding of the concept, and finally, my corresponding application of the concept within a practical setting.
Going forward, my reflection on my participation in the GP Practice research study reveals that there are certain aspects of my research skills that I need to improve on as time goes by. These aspects include my ability to handle more complex research assignments that are bigger than the GP Practice research study. Currently, this ability is relatively limited, and I will commit myself thoroughly to ensure that I improve on it both in the short as well as the long terms.

Transferable Skills Development

Researchers who are involved in various academic studies are continually charged with the responsibility of formulating and executing various mandates for different research studies as they arise. The nature of these repetitive assignments consequently implies that there are numerous skills that they can acquire, and transfer from one research study to another as they present themselves. Such skills are executed to act as a key ingredient in the consistent success of the studies that these individuals are involved in over time.
In these regard, there are several transferrable skills that are used in the research studies by the concerned individuals and other stakeholders. Key among these skills is the effective and efficient management of time and other resources that are utilized in the process of completing the projects. By managing these resources effectively, researchers will not only achieve the goals and objectives of their underlying studies, but they will also develop key operational efficiencies that will be manifested over time and which can be transferred from one study to the other.

How Skills Can Contribute to Career Development

As previously mentioned, the development of various transferrable skills by an individual over time will create an efficient and effective level of operation in their forthcoming assignments. In this regard, efficiency is manifested through the appropriate allocation and utilization of the available resources that range from financial to time-related resources. This efficiency will ensure that an individual is can complete the tasks and assignments that are allocated to them within the shortest time possible and using a limited amount of resources.
Over time, operational efficiency will act as a key impetus to the growth of an individual`s career due to effectiveness which is manifested through their work. A consistent application of this level of efficiency will yield effectiveness and a strong ability by the individual to accomplish the tasks that are assigned to them accordingly. These factors will enable the individual`s career to grow and develop over time into a distinguished and excellent career based on the corresponding prospects associated with such efficiency.
In the case of the GP Practice scenario, the application of these skills by an individual would enable them to apply the relevant lean management techniques that would result in the reduction of the costs associated with transfers to the National Health Service, and the overall increase in the profitability of the operations of the GP Practice going forward.

Reference List

Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee., 2009. The Provision
of Cross-border Health Services for Wales: Fifth Report of Session 2008-09; Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence. Great Britain: The Stationery Office
Jones, A. M., 2012. The Elgar Companion to Health Economics. NJ: Edward Elgar Publishing.
May, A., 2011. Organizational Innovation in Health Services: Lessons from the NHS Treatment
Centers. London: Policy Press
Roebuck, K., 2012. HIE - Health Information Exchange: High-impact Strategies - What You
Need to Know: Definitions, Adoptions, Impact, Benefits, Maturity, Vendors. London: Emereo Publishing
Wolfe, I., 2014. European Child Health Services and Systems: Lessons Without Borders.
London: McGraw Hill Education