Unit information: Dissertation in International Business and Strategy in 2022/23

Unit name	Dissertation in International Business and Strategy
Unit code	MGRCM0016
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Xiaolong Shui
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	n/a
School/department	School of Management - Business School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

The aim of this research project and associated dissertation is for students to undertake an individual inquiry relevant to International Business and Strategy at master’s level. It will give students the chance to work autonomously on a project of their choice and to demonstrate and develop communication, problem-solving, research- and project-management understanding, knowledge and skills.

Students will be supported by an academic supervisor whose guidance they will draw on to do the research and complete the dissertation write-up (10,000-12,000 word limit). A dissertation demands self-motivation and good organisational skills. Students are expected to show initiative in choosing their topic of study and in executing the research, with guidance and support from the Programme Director and the Research Skills for International Business and Strategy unit. The unit will further develop skills in developing a research agenda, formulating appropriate research questions, conducting a literature review, planning a research programme, analysing data, and communicating the findings by a fixed deadline.

Your learning on this unit

At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of research design, ethics and positionality;
2. Frame a clear, central research question;
3. Identify and critically review literature relevant to the topic and central research question;
4. Understand and apply an appropriate research methodology to investigate the chosen topic;
5. Analyse data and/or evidence, where appropriate, and draw apposite conclusions that answer the central research question;
6. Integrate conclusions into wider academic debates;
7. Produce a dissertation in a clear, well-written and grammatically correct style, that conforms to the conventions of academic presentation.
8. Use skills of project management including working independently, managing time, working to deadlines.

How you will learn

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 and 595 hours of independent study.

Appropriate online and/or blended learning methods, including a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching activities, will be used if required due to COVID-19 or similar disruptions.

How you will be assessed

Formative assessment: Supervisors will read and provide feedback on one full draft of the dissertation (either complete or by chapter). Feedback should provide detail on the requirements for improvement. This supports and feeds forward into the summative assessment.

Summative assessment: A dissertation of 10,000 to 12,000 words.

The summative assessment addresses ILOs 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. MGRCM0016).

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.