“I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it short.” Blaise Pascal
William Faulkner advised writers to “kill all your darlings.” Thesis writers need the same willingness to remove ideas they once valued. In the University of Twente Industrial Engineering and Management program, the process typically begins with a detailed project plan and continues with the thesis itself.
The project plan is an initial guide to the research questions (RQs), literature review, methodology, and expected outcomes. Students sometimes treat the plan as fixed. Research develops as new information appears, including unavailable data, unforeseen limitations, and requirements discovered during the work. These findings can substantially change the original plan.
When the evidence changes, revise the project plan and the corresponding thesis chapters.
When the original plan no longer fits
The original plan commonly needs revision in the following situations:
Misaligned research questions: A change in context or available resources may leave the planned approach unable to answer the primary RQ. Revisit and reformulate the question so it remains relevant and coherent.
Overly broad literature review: Students may try to demonstrate extensive knowledge by covering a broad body of literature. If the research focus narrows, keep the references needed for the revised question and remove tangential material.
Out-of-scope context analysis: The initial context analysis may contain company or scenario details that no longer affect the research. Remove those details so the relevant evidence remains clear.
Obsolete scenarios: Some planned scenarios may prove irrelevant or impractical. Remove them and update the argument so the remaining analysis stays logically consistent.
Edit against the current research
Review every part of the thesis against the current outcomes and scope, especially the early chapters. Keep the evidence and reasoning needed for the final argument. Remove tangential or repeated details.
Readers, including examiners and future researchers, should be able to follow the argument without irrelevant detours. A focused thesis shows clear reasoning and methodological rigor.
Writing is rewriting
Your understanding of the topic will deepen during the project, and initial ideas may stop fitting the evidence. Revisit, revise, and refine the text throughout the work. Each revision should improve clarity and strengthen the argument.
Only you and your supervisor need to know every discarded idea and adjustment. Explain deviations that affect the method or validity. Let the final thesis present a coherent, relevant, and concise account of the research.