Research Process

The Howard cybersecurity center is engaged in inter-disciplinary cybersecurity research with students, faculty, staff and external colleagues.  This page identifies a standard re-usable process for research identification, training, engagement, delivery and communications. The objective is conduct research using a light weight project management model to facilitate communications and ensure control.

Opportunity Identification & Pre-Qualification Phase:

    1. Review Key portals/newsletters for research opportunities (NSF.gov , Research.gov, etc.)
    2. Identify opportunities for research based on capabilities, skills, benefit and partnerships.
    3. If an Opportunity is found, do an informal pre-qualification assessment to decide if its worth pursuing (very informal, no documentation reqd).
    4. I the opportunity should deserves further review, go to the Abstract Phase.

  Abstract Phase:

    1. Log it on the Master Log and Create a proposal subfolder in MS Teams
    2. Create a brief proposal abstract (who, what, where, when, how, how much)
    3. Create an estimate how much effort is needed to complete the proposal (S,M,L,VL) the dependencies
    4. Decide if we should create a formal proposal ( ‘Go’ / ‘No Go’)    
    5. If it’s a ‘Go’ ; proceed to Proposal Phase

  Proposal Phase:

    1. Form the team, define roles, set objectives, due dates, and define the approvers.
    2. Complete the proposal, and determine who needs to approve
    3. Proposal Review & Approval
    4. Submit (update the log)

Decision Phase:

    1. Document Results and Lessons Learned
    2. File copy of all documents in the proposal folder
    3. Win – Engage for follow-on requirements to interlock logistics, funding and schedules.

Delivery:

    1. Establish and train the team needed to execute the deliverables
    2. Establish a project control book (MS Team) and create the following key control documents
      • Project Charter   – Identifies the team, scope, deliverables, stakeholders, responsibilities, estimates, and key assumptions
      • Project Estimates/Budget  –  Cost estimates and account balances
      • Project Plan – Schedules and assignment for all deliverables
      • Communications –  Meeting cadence, communication vehicles, status reports,  stakeholder updates