| Unit name | The Marketing Applied Extended Project (AEP) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRCM0040 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Mr. Zach Thompson |
| 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 |
Working with a range of organisational partners (commercial, third-sector, social etc) external to the School of Management, we will identify project briefs suitable for a student extended applied research project. These projects will be open to students to apply for. The organisational partners will help brief and guide the students, although students should be prepared to conduct the projects with a high degree of autonomy and self-direction.
Whilst these are applied projects it is expected that they are framed within the relevant academic literature and follow academic research protocols and standards.
Why is this unit important?
The AEP represents a fundamental component of postgraduate study at master’s level, presenting the opportunity for the application of theoretical, conceptual, and methodological elements introduced in the programme and the development of students’ research skills and other important transferrable skills.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
Presenting the opportunity for the application of theoretical, conceptual, and methodological elements introduced in the programme to develop empirically founded theoretically informed answers or solutions to organisational issues, this unit develops important research skills like critical thinking, information management, data collection and analysis, and an understanding of important issues relating to research ethics and GDPR alongside the development of other important transferrable skills in teamwork, time management, and collaborative learning and inquiry.
An overview of content
Through this unit, students will work with partner organisations to undertake the fundamental aspects for conducting a research study: framing a clear, central research question based on a clear understanding of the context of the research and a critical review of literature relevant to the topic; choosing an appropriate research methodology including an understanding of associated ethical implications; conducting an accurate and reliable analysis and interpretation of findings in providing answers to the research question; and the effective presentation of a research report, group presentation, and academic reflection.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Through this unit students gain experience in collaborative learning and inquiry through collective application, research, and interpretation, developing research skills like critical thinking, information management, data collection and analysis, and an understanding of important issues relating to research ethics and GDPR alongside the development of other important transferrable skills in teamwork and time management.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1) develop a clear research proposal and project plan based on the brief for the organisational partner
2) identify and critically review literature relevant to the brief, proposal and plan
3) apply the chosen research methodology to investigate the brief;
4) analyse data and/or evidence and report findings where appropriate; develop insights or responses to the brief;
5) produce a report and presentation for the organisational partner which are clear, compelling and well-written and conforms to the conventions of sector in which they are working;
6) produce an accompanying academic, critical and reflective account of the project
7) use skills of project management including working independently, managing time, working to deadlines
The principal method of teaching is through supervision. This is carried out on an individual basis supported by small group supervision where appropriate.
When appropriate, students will be able to participate in teaching workshops.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Although the expectation is that the AEP is primarily an independent piece of work completed by the group, student learning is supported through a series of group meetings with the project supervisor through which guidance and formative feedback are provided.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
There are three assessment elements for this unit:
Research proposal and project plan based on organisation’s brief 10% (guide 1000 to 2000 words) (ILO 1,2,3)
Project report and presentation, written and designed for the partner organisation 50%) (guide 5000 words) (ILO 4,5,7)
Academic, critical and reflective account of the project, demonstrating an integration of the organisation’s challenge, the research approach/project plan, findings and insights with the relevant published academic literature 40% (guide 2000 words) (ILO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
Peer assessment will form part of the marking scheme in line with each student’s contribution to the team project and presentation task. Marks for the team project and presentation are awarded based on the work submitted but also in light of the equity share statement completed and submitted by the group members.
When assessment does not go to plan
There are different scenarios that might entail the need for resubmission by an individual member of a group or the whole group. Each case would need to be considered by the dissertation coordinator, programme director and PGT team in collaboration, and the resubmission arrangements would be agreed by the School Exam Board. Resubmission would be decided after all components of assessment have been marked.
First, the two group-based assessment elements – the AEP proposal (10%) and the group report and presentation (50%) – are both must-pass assessment components for this unit. Consequently, if deemed eligible for reassessment by the School Exam Board in accordance with the university’s regulations and procedures, these can both be retaken by the entire group if failed on the first attempt. These retakes will be identical in format to the original assignments. Depending on the nature of the failed first attempt, these reassessments could ether entail a revised version of the first submitted attempt or an entirely new piece of work.
Second, in cases where an Individual student fails the unit overall due to the quality of their individual reflective assignment (40% towards total unit mark); this assignment can be retaken when the student is deemed eligible for reassessment by the School Exam Board in accordance with the university’s regulations and procedures. This retake will be identical in format to the original assignment. Depending on the nature of the failed first attempt, this reassessment could ether entail a revised version of the first submitted attempt or an entirely new piece of work.
In exceptional circumstances where individual participation in group work has been prevented throughout the unit or a group is unable to work together, individual students work on an alternative library-based standalone dissertation (100%; 10,000-12,000 words, including 2000 words reflective section (Learning Outcomes, 1-7).
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. MGRCM0040).
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.
