Unit information: Management Dissertation in 2020/21

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	Professor. Richard Owen
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Management Research Methods (EFIM20025)
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 will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, tutorials, drop-in sessions, discussion boards and other online learning opportunities.

Assessment Information

Summative 1 (TB1) 3000 word literature review (25%). Summative 2 (TB2) 10000 word Dissertation (75%)

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