| 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. Alex Wood |
| 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 |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The dissertation is an integral part of the Human Resource Management (HRM) and the Future of Work (FoW) MSc that enables students to engage in independent creation and execution of a research study. This unit builds upon the knowledge, intellectual and engagement skills garnered from the Researching and Communicating the World of Work unit. This requires managing the research process, designing a coherent research study and making consistent research decisions. Projects may be either empirical or library-based and may include scope for adaptation or advancement in a particular research method or field of inquiry. Students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, choosing from a wide variety of research issues, problems and topics related to management and organisations. Student learning is supported by regular individual and/or small group supervision sessions with an allocated supervisor. The dissertation is primarily an individual piece of work that builds on a range of research skills and research methodology covered in the taught units and is important for managing an extended project, understanding what constitutes excellent research and useful for future careers that require assessment of data and reports.
How does this unit fit into the programme of study?
The dissertation is an extended report and substantial piece of work that is an independent study and which identifies and investigates a particular question and explores it systematically over a sustained period of time. The dissertation provides students with the opportunity to read extensively and apply research skills to a chosen area of study selected from a range of topics covered on the programme. Additionally, the unit fits into the programme by operationalising the material learnt on the taught units on substantive HRM and future of work topics as well as research methods, devising a coherent research programme and achieving a clear set of objectives.
An overview of content
The content of the dissertation unit includes developing students’ independent academic skills in conducting and writing-up organisational research as well as enquiry skills. The dissertation process develops involves: critically appraising research and synthesising knowledge across a wide range of literature; understanding research philosophy; research design; qualitative, quantitative research methods or library-based methods; ethical evaluation; and managing an extended project. This unit builds upon the knowledge, intellectual and engagement skills garnered from the Researching and Communicating the World of Work unit.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit:
Upon completion of the unit, students will have formed a deep understanding of a particular research topic, investigated in detail and have produced original research that responds to a particular research problem or research gap. The unit equips them for undertaking their own projects and better decision-making in their future careers by being able to understand the methodology in data and reports presented to them. Depending on the topic chosen, students will acquire engagement and influence skills through critical thinking and capability in communicating research to different audiences. They will have better understanding of ethical evaluation and develop personal effectiveness through self-reflective learning and evaluation of information sources.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the dissertation, students will be able to:
The dissertation unit is designed to achieve all learning outcomes through independent learning, creation and execution of a coherent research study, understanding the research process and managing a research project. The extended nature of the dissertation allows students to deepen knowledge of their chosen, focused subject area which may involve a range of activities, including: applied, inquiry-based learning, empirical data collection (for example, industry-related), and/or a problem-based approach. Given the varied nature of a dissertation, learning will be tailored to the interests of the student. Given the focus on research methods in the programme, students will already have a wide range of research skills. Dissertation preparation sessions and advice/feedback hours are provided to supplement and support the research methods training received on the taught units. The primary mode of learning is interactive through supervision meetings with the student’s allocated supervisor and is best suited to the individual, independent research being undertaken.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Taught units in TB1 and TB2 on the programme are focused on cutting egde research methods and include formative learning in a variety of forms. This unit also builds upon the knowledge, intellectual and engagement skills garnered from the Researching and Communicating the World of Work unit. Dissertation preparation sessions and Q&A sessions on the unit handbook also supplement the unit.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Dissertation (10,000-12,000 words) (100%) [ILOs 1-6].
Students are required to formulate a clear research question, focusing on a gap or problem in the literature; critically review appropriate literature; design a coherent research study with an appropriate methodology that aligns with the chosen research question; undergo ethical evaluation; collect and analyse data whether that is empirical, primary data collection or secondary, library-based data; project manage their dissertation, managing their time and working to deadlines and structure the dissertation appropriately presenting conclusions and recommendations as necessary, referencing all sources appropriately and in full.
When assessment does not go to plan:
If students are eligible for a reassessment they will be required to rework their dissertation using qualitative feedback to improve the original submission or submit an equivalent piece of work (10,000-12,000 words) (100%). [ILOs 1-6]
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 University 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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
