Unit information: Research Methods in Global Operations and Supply Chain Management in 2020/21

Unit name	Research Methods in Global Operations and Supply Chain Management
Unit code	EFIMM0071
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Mr. Tanveer
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Nil
Co-requisites	Nil
School/department	School of Management - Business School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The unit aims to enable students to gain an understanding of qualitative, quantitative and mixed research methods appropriate to address the issues encountered in academia and practice. It provides evidence to inform management decision-making and academic study within the operations, supply chain and logistics management fields. It is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills to collect, critically evaluate, interpret and present relevant research. During the delivery of the unit students will:

• Be encouraged to engage with a variety of academic perspectives that inform management research and decision-making in operations, supply chain management and logistics contexts.
• Use methods to address research problems with an emphasis on appropriate quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches.
• Learn and apply knowledge and understanding in response to technological and societal changes and the consideration of the future of organisations and their external environment.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Critically analyse a range of academic perspectives with reference to their role in the creation and use of different types of knowledge;
2. Demonstrate an appreciation of the contextual relevance of such perspectives in research design and in the selection of appropriate analytical techniques;
3. Discuss how culture and the values of the researcher, and others with an interest in the outcome of research, affect the research process and how data are gathered and used;
4. Evaluate the role of research-based knowledge and evidence in complex managerial decision-making and policy formation;
5. Make informed decisions about appropriate methodologies, commonly-used methods and any particular challenges of undertaking management research in a global context;
6. Appraise the ethical and practical issues arising in carrying out research, and take account of these issues when developing a research proposal.

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, seminars, drop-in sessions, discussion boards and other online learning opportunities

Assessment Information

100% research proposal 3000 words (+/- 10% )

Reading and References

Students are encouraged to read extensively around their subject to inform their knowledge. Students should draw from a range of sources which may include academic texts and papers, practitioner books and journals, market reports and online sources.

Core Texts

Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2015) Business Research Methods, 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press [ISBN: 9780199668649]

Recommended Reading:

Davies, M. B. (2007) Doing a Successful Research Project: using qualitative or quantitative methods. London: Palgrave Macmillan

Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects, 4th ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press [electronic resource]

Robson, C. (2011) Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner Researchers, 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009) Research Methods for Business Students. 5th ed. Harlow: Financial Times, Prentice Hall