Unit information: Dissertation in Human Resource Management and the Future of Work in 2021/22

Unit name	Dissertation in Human Resource Management and the Future of Work
Unit code	EFIMM0137
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Huw Thomas
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Completion of the taught units
Co-requisites	no
School/department	School of Management - Business School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The aim of this unit is for students to undertake an individual extended piece of research relevant to Human Resource Management (HRM) and the Future of Work (FoW). This unit builds upon the knowledge, intellectual and engagement skills garnered from the Researching and Communicating the World of Work unit. This dissertation unit will give students the chance to work independently on a project of their choice or in partnership with a local (external) organisation to demonstrate, and develop communication, problem solving, research and project management understanding, knowledge and skills. Students will have the option of either engaging in an in-depth study of their choice or to work on a live project with partners in Bristol city. Opportunities for engaged learning dissertations (in partnership with local organisations) will be offered competitively to reflect the scale, capacity and resource available to manage them.

Irrespective of whether the dissertation will be ‘traditional’ i.e. independent or ‘engaged’ i.e. in partnership with an external organisation, each student will be allocated a dissertation supervisor, whose guidance they will use to do the research and complete the dissertation write-up (10,000-12,000 words). A dissertation demands self-motivation and good organisational skills. Students are expected to show initiative in executing the research.

Intended Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of research design and ethics;
2. Frame a clear research question;
3. Demonstrate the experience and confidence necessary to carry out all stages of a research project;
4. Identify and critically review literature relevant to the topic and central research question;
5. Understand and apply an appropriate research methodology to investigate the chosen topic including research ethics process and considerations;
6. Analyse evidence, research and data, where appropriate, and draw appropriate conclusions that answer the central research question;
7. Integrate conclusions into wider academic debates;
8. Organise their own resources, including time, to produce a piece of work under a tight timeline.

Teaching Information

There will be five hours of supervision with an assigned dissertation supervisor. Supervisor responsibilities include guidance on aspects of the dissertation preparation (including a specific discussion on research ethics approval, where appropriate), checking and helping with formal arguments and theoretical models, data collection, analysis and conclusions as applicable. A technical ‘help desk’ will be provided by the Unit Director during the main study period for any general queries that students have.

The numbers of indicative hours are: 5 hours of supervision, 10 hours of dissertation skills workshops, 20 hours of preparation for supervision and 575 hours of independent study

Assessment Information

Formative assessment:

Supervisors will read and provide feedback on one full draft of the dissertation (either complete or by chapter). Provided the draft is submitted within guidelines, the supervisor will respond with feedback within 15 working days. Feedback should provide detail on the requirements for improvement.

Summative assessment:

A dissertation of 10,000 to 12,000 words is to be produced.

Intended learning outcomes: 1-8

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIMM0137).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.