Unit information: Management Dissertation in 2017/18

Unit name	Management Dissertation
Unit code	EFIM30017
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Zwiegelaar
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Analysis in Management (EFIM20018)
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Management - Business School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The dissertation provides the opportunity to research a topic of interest and to develop knowledge and skills in working with a preferred methodology. It involves the carrying out and writing up of a significant piece of individual research, and provides hands-on experience in research design, data collection and data analysis. For some this may involve statistical analysis of survey data, for others a qualitative study involving interviews and observation in organisations. A feature of the unit is the ability for students to focus on research topics and methods that stimulate their interest, and which may aid future employability.

The unit aims to:

Develop understanding and appreciation of management research through experience;

Develop depth of understanding in a management related area;

Provide experience in the searching, analysis and synthesis of a body of literature, to identify a research issue, and to design, carry out, and reflect upon a programme of research;

Develop skills and understanding in writing up a research study;

Enhance self-directed study skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

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

Appreciate the range of methodologies in management research, and to design a study consistent with a chosen approach;

Demonstrate competence in locating, analysing and integrating a body of literature related to a focal management topic;

Set out the principles of designing a viable research study and apply these in formulating a research study to investigate a management issue;

Understand through practice selected data collection and data analysis methods;

Demonstrate capability in writing up a research study within time and space constraints.

Teaching Information

Teaching Block 1:

10 two-hour lectures/workshops. These sessions will be focused on topics related to the practice of research, providing practical information that will help students as they begin work on their individual dissertations. Building on the material from the Analysis of Management unit (EFIM20018), the sessions will cover topics such as research design and research methods; literature review; data collection and analysis; writing up and presentation of results.

Teaching Block 2:

Weekly clinics, run on a drop-in basis, for one-to-one support.

Throughout the year: individual meetings with supervisor.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment will be on the basis of a draft of the literature review, submitted towards the end of Teaching Block 1. Students will additionally receive feedback from supervision meetings where dissertation plans and drafts are reviewed.

Summative assessment will be in the form of a 8-10,000 word dissertation (100%)

All learning outcomes are tested by the summative assessment.

Reading and References

Bryman, A and Bell, E (2015) Business research methods, 4^th edition, OUP

Collis, J and Hussey, R (2009) Business research: a practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students, 4^th edition, Palgrave

Creswell, J (2013) Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches, 4^th edition, Sage

Denzin, N and Lincoln, Y (editors) (2005) The Sage handbook of qualitative research, 4^th edition, Sage

Easterby-Smith, M, Thorpe, R and Jackson, P (2015) Management and business research, 5^th edition, Sage

Fink, A (2014) Conducting research literature reviews: from the internet to paper, 3^rd edition, Sage