Unit information: Applied Work-based Project in 2017/18

Unit name	Applied Work-based Project
Unit code	MGRCM0008
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Klimecki
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Successful completion of the units: Leadership, Strategy and Organisations, Understanding Change and Uncertainty, Project Management and Systems Thinking, Critical Issues in Strategy, and Leading through Complexity.
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Management - Business School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The Applied Work-based Project (dissertation) is designed to allow students to pursue a major piece of research into an area of personal interest. Students will be allowed a very wide choice in the dissertation topic as long as it clearly relates to some aspect of strategy, change or leadership in organisations.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

• Understand the importance of achieving proficiency as researchers so that they can both undertake research in an organisational setting and be better consumers of research they commission or encounter in their jobs.
• Undertake a piece of research using primary and/or secondary data sources.
• Research and construct a literature review using a range of scholarly materials.
• Outline and justify methodological choices made in the research process.
• Use a wide range of evidence including the discipline literature to inform their study findings.
• Develop robust conclusions and recommendations.

Teaching Information

Students will undertake research methods training during their course of study which will prepare them for this dissertation. They will also receive support from a supervisor both in one-to-one supervision sessions and electronically via email.

Assessment Information

Summative assessment for this unit will comprise a dissertation of 12-15,000 words (100%).

It will be assessed in accordance with the unit’s learning outcomes:

1. Students ability to undertake organisational research using a variety of research methods
2. Ability to understand, outline and justify the importance of selecting an appropriate research methodology.
3. Ability to justify their choice of research design.
4. Ability to demonstrate an intelligent use and review of appropriate subject literature.
5. Ability to draw appropriate conclusions and recommendations from their data.

Reading and References

Brown, R.B. (2006) Doing Your Dissertation in Business and Management: The Reality of Researching and Writing. London: Sage.

Hart, C. (2003) Doing a Literature Review. London: Sage.

Fisher, C. (2010) Researching and Writing a Dissertation: An Essential Guide for Business Students 3rd Edition, London: Financial Times/Prentice Hall.

Quinton, S. & Smallbone, T. (2006) Postgraduate Research in Business: A Critical Guide. London: Sage.