This document provides guidance to a student who is confused about selecting a topic for their final year project. It begins by explaining that confusion is normal when taking on a new task. It then outlines three steps to eliminate confusion and select a topic: 1) Have some potential topic options, 2) Learn about each option, and 3) Evaluate the options and make a decision. Specific suggestions are provided for each step, such as brainstorming topic categories based on one's skills and interests, researching individual topics, and getting feedback before selecting. The goal is for the student to understand the problem they want to solve and define the scope of their project.

1. Selecting topic for
Final Year Project
Department of Computing, HIET, FEST
Hamdard University
Asad Ur Rehman
asad.rehman@hamdard.edu.pk

2. Guidance and support
 This session is for right beginning of your FYP.
 Next we will have sessions for improving your
skills for FYP planning and execution of FYP.
 Your input on such events and your queries will
help making such session meaningful.
 Faculty and students have to work as team for
better outcome.
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3. Selecting topic for FYP
I am Confused
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 I have not done that before. I am
doing FYP first time.
 I do not know; what should I do
 I have no idea how to take first step
and move forward for my FYP.
 No clue which type of project should
I choose.

4. Selecting topic for FYP
I am Confused
 I am facing difficulty in selecting my FYP.
 It is normal to be un-decided (not sure) when
you are doing something first time ?
 What are possible steps or actions that will
take me out of this difficulty ?
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5. Selecting topic for FYP
What is Confusion ?
 Confusion is a symptom that makes
you feel that you cannot think clearly.
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 You might feel disoriented and
having a hard time making a
decision.
 Undecided (not sure)
 Lacking direction

6. Selecting topic for FYP
Get rid of Confusion
How do we take important decisions of our life ?
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1) I should have some options for a possible
decision.
2) Knowledge about those options.
3) Compare/evaluate those options and with
calculated risk move forward (take decision).
Such as after my BS; should do MS or MBA ?

7. Get rid of Confusion
1- Should have some options
 I go to a teacher and ask him/her about FYP topics.
 No efforts are required.
 No learning of process is required.
 After BS, I will have same skills and confidence
 I am doing FYP to complete formality to get bachelors
degree.
 I do not want to increase my knowledge
 I want BS degree only (required for a job)
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How can I start gathering info about my options ?

8. Explore other options8
These options are based on different objectives

9. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options
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Other option
 I come out from my comfort zone.
 I make serious efforts to have, a few FYP options.
 I take only suggestion from supervisor and select one on
my own. (I take my own decisions)
 Lots of efforts are required
 Now I can become more knowledgeable
 Can have confidence on my skills and capabilities
 No dependency on anybody
 I am doing FYP to improve my skills and knowledge, so
that IT industry accept me as good resource.

10. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options
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What serious efforts mean ?
 Have to give reasonable time to FYP.
 Search FYP topics through internet.
 You know yourself. Ask question to yourself.
Can I do that?
 Pay visits to IT professionals (hot summer,
travel by bus).
 Invest time to clarify your assumptions.
Dreaming a successful career without
serious effort, is wishful thinking

11. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options - but how ?
 Should know few things about yourself first.
 Your strengths (interest)
 Tools (Java, dot.net, SQL, Wordpress etc.)
 Skills (coder, documentation, testing)
 Your time commitment
 Mid-term and final exam will come
 Commit two hours daily (less or more)
 2hrs x 22 days x 8 months = Max 352 hours project /person
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12. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options - but how?
 Select a category of Project
 Module of an large ERP
 Business Application (small project, based on my capacity)
 E-commerce / Web-portal (using Content Management)
 Content Security (cryptography)
 Combination of HW and SW
 Mobile Application Development
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13. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options - but how ?
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Management
System
Supply Chain
Human Resource
Library
Inventory
Database
Development
tool
Tools Possible activitiesProject Type
Business
Knowledge
Module of an ERP
Supply Chain
Management System
Study module of large ERPs
- SAP, Open-ERP etc
Document business process
and visit local industry to
verify process
MySQL
Dot.net

14. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options - but how?
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Web-portal using
Content Mgm’t systemDAWN.com
Tools Possible activitiesProject Type
E-Commerce / web-portal
Rozee.pk Web-portal
Using Joomla
Have few themes for
web-portal
How many pages
/categories /services
TradeKey.com
Alibaba.com
Graphic Design (theme)
Learn any CMS
Such as Drupal, Joomla

15. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options - but how?
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Encryption / Decryption
Encryption / Decryption of
confidential text files
Emails filtrations
Exchange Server
Authentication
method of legal
sender
ToolsProject Type
Protection against spamming on
email accounts
Possible activities
Study
cryptography
and network
security

16. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options - but how?
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SW + HW Project
ToolsProject Type Possible activities
Hand controlled Spy Robot
microC Pro for PIC
controller (SW)
Gyro-meter (HW)
Accelerometer (HW)
Wifi Camera
interfacing (HW)
Study Wifi Standards
PIC controller
programming in C

17. Get rid of Confusion
Should have some options - but how?
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Mobile Application Project
ToolsProject Type Possible activities
iPhone / iPad
Android
Windows Pone 7
Hybrid App (Cross
platform)
X-code, ObjectiveC,
OSX (Mac)
Eclipse, ADT, Java,
(Windows/Linux/Mac)
MS Silverlite,
Expression Blends
(Windows)
Phone GAP,
Titanium Studio
(Windows/Linux/Mac)

18. Get rid of Confusion
2- Knowledge about those a few options
After selecting a project category
 Start focusing on some ideas in project category
 Gather information about your ideas
 Prerequisite of selected project (tools or H/W)
 Split the problem statement into smaller
components if possible.
 Collect details of smaller components to understand
the project
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19. Get rid of Confusion
2- Knowledge about those a few options
 Get answers of all possible questions
 Do I know those required tools?
 Do I know this domain (business)?
 Can we do this as group?
 Acceptable size of project
 How good is this FYP for job prospect ?
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20. Get rid of Confusion
2- Knowledge about those a few options
 Now, you know your interest & skills.
 Possibly you visited some local organizations.
 You have reasonable knowledge of project.
 You know your team capabilities.
 You have an objective to improve your skills
through FYP.
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21. Evaluate your options21

22. 3- Evaluate your options – take decision
 Evaluate those short listed projects
 Take advice from IT professionals in industry
 Discuss possible options with your supervisor
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23. 3- Evaluate your options – take decision
 Have internal discussion among team members
 Now take an informed decision
 Do your homework and start your FYP
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24. Outcome of this exercise
1) You should have the Problem Statement for the
project.
2) You should have the defined scope for the project.
What is included and what is excluded in this
project.
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25. Outcome of this exercise
Problem Statement:
We continuously face stock issues which hinder
our production and causes losses as we miss our
deadlines and face penalties from customers.
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Example

26. Solution Scope
 (Current Stock Position) Actually we don’t have actual picture of
our stock and so we are unable to order our stock at the right time.
 (Vendor List) The system should allow us to maintain the list and
details of vendors with whom we have done business.
 (Low-level stock-alert) When the stock is below a certain
threshold, the application should raise an alarm so that we can
purchase items
 (Reports) We need multiple kinds of reports so that we can make
decisions on time.
Exclusion
 Purchase system in not part of this initiative (Project). Placing
order to vendor and payment is not included in current project
scope.
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Example

27. Solution Scope
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Example

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Any question . . ?