Museum Research Methods MUSM7034 Semester 1 2009 Session 1.4 Shaping a project www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/museum http://musm7034.ning.com/

Define your information needs Plan your resources Project scope Write a brief Tendering process Assessing tenders 1. Introduction

Define your information needs

Plan your resources

Project scope

Write a brief

Tendering process

Assessing tenders

What do ‘you’ want to know? How will you (others?) use the information? What decisions hang on this information? How will you disseminate it? Who are the audiences for the information? 2. Information needs Everything you want to find out Concept map Things you already know Prioritise by resources and capacity to absorb and act Stuff you GOTTA do, and stuff you WANT to do.

What do ‘you’ want to know?

How will you (others?) use the information?

What decisions hang on this information?

How will you disseminate it?

Who are the audiences for the information?

Everything you want to find out

Concept map

Things you already know

Prioritise by resources and capacity to absorb and act

Stuff you GOTTA do, and stuff you WANT to do.

Just you? (time, skill in conducting or commissioning research) Budget ($$$) Networks and contacts (peers, professional forums, lecturers) Corporate culture (DIY / outsource) Resource boosters – students, interns, members, volunteers Make a list 3. Resources

Just you? (time, skill in conducting or commissioning research)

Budget ($$$)

Networks and contacts (peers, professional forums, lecturers)

Corporate culture (DIY / outsource)

Resource boosters – students, interns, members, volunteers

Make a list

Information requirements + resources = scope Always know your budget before deciding the scope. Ask around if you need to find out how much some standard things cost. How much will it cost to do 200 onsite interviews and write a report? Is $10,000 enough to get some idea what visitors think about XYZ exhibition concept? What can you do for $10K? 4. Project scope

Information requirements + resources = scope

Always know your budget before deciding the scope.

Ask around if you need to find out how much some standard things cost.

How much will it cost to do 200 onsite interviews and write a report?

Is $10,000 enough to get some idea what visitors think about XYZ exhibition concept? What can you do for $10K?

Open tender – large projects (c.$150,000+) Invited tender – medium projects + keep finger on pulse Preferred supplier Legalities / due process / contract Pro formas (good for comparing responses) Level playing field ?? Compliance – you need three quotes, but… 5. Tendering process

Open tender – large projects (c.$150,000+)

Invited tender – medium projects + keep finger on pulse

Preferred supplier

Legalities / due process / contract

Pro formas (good for comparing responses)

Level playing field ??

Compliance – you need three quotes, but…

6. Write a brief Frame the brief to shape the responses. Provide outline for responses. Architecture of a brief handout

Frame the brief to shape the responses.

Provide outline for responses.

Architecture of a brief

handout

7. Assessing tenders Short list Consult with others Maybe interview Open mind Points system Discuss and decide Feedback to unsuccessful candidates Congratulate the successful one! It is good if you like them  good working relationship. Consider their communication skills.

Short list

Consult with others

Maybe interview

Open mind

Points system

Discuss and decide

Feedback to unsuccessful candidates

Congratulate the successful one!

It is good if you like them  good working relationship.

Consider their communication skills.

Your experiences

Gillian Savage Ph. 9954 0455 (business hours) E. [email_address] Ning. http://musm7034.ning.com/ Contact

Gillian Savage

Ph. 9954 0455 (business hours)

E. [email_address]

Ning. http://musm7034.ning.com/