| 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. Ahmed Mostafa |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
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.
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.
Lectures on methodological approaches found in management research, on research design, and on specific methods including survey design, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, presentation of dissertations.
Workshops throughout the term, small groups working with similar methods or similar topics
Individual supervision.
Formative assessment will take place both through the workshops, where students will receive feedback on work-to-date from colleagues and tutors, and from supervision meetings where dissertation drafts are reviewed.
Summative assessment will be in the form of a 8-10,000 word dissertation (100%)
Bryman, A and Bell, E. (2011) Business Research Methods, 3rd Ed, OUP.
Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2009) Business Research, 3rd Ed, Palgrave
Creswell, J (2009) Research Design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches 3rd Ed, Sage
Denzin, N & Lincoln, Y (2005) The Handbook of Qualitative Research, Sage
Easterby-Smith et al. (2001) Management Research: An Introduction, 2nd ed, Sage
