Assignment Question
Purpose of the Assessment The purpose of this assignment is to enable learners to develop advanced-level independent research and critical problem-solving skills within a business context. Learners will develop knowledge of, proficiency in, and application of a range of management research methodologies including qualitative and quantitative research methods resulting in proposals/ recommendations. Assessment Task In the current international economic environment, entrepreneurs and managers are frequently required to undertake business planning, project and consultancy work in addition to their core responsibilities. Frequently, these projects are focused upon investigating new business opportunities or potential strategic changes in order to create, retain and extend competitive position. The assessment task is to produce a 7500 words (±10%) research project report based on an independent research, which investigates a business/organisational or management problem, issue or challenge, applies appropriate research techniques and analysis, and consequently informs the development of a business plan and/ or results in recommendations for change. Where the submission exceeds the stipulated word limit by more than 10%, the submission will only be marked up to and including the additional 10%. Anything over this will not be included in the final grade for the assessment item. Abstracts, bibliographies, reference lists, appendices and footnotes are excluded from any word limit requirements. Where a submission is notably under the word limit, the full submission will be marked on the extent to which the requirements of the assessment brief have been met. Additional Guidance Projects should be submitted with the UoN Faculty of Business & Law Ethics Form which has been signed by your project supervisor. The blank Ethics Form, sample Participant Information and Consent Forms/ Templates are available at the end of this assignment brief.
See NILE for additional guidance about appendices. Ethics Approval Your primary research should be undertaken under cover of an authorised Ethics Application that must include all supporting documentation (eg research instrument, participant information sheet, informed consent form). If you do not include your approved Ethics Form in your submission, 10% of your final grade will be deducted. If you do not have Ethics Approval for your research, your submission will be an automatic AG (fail). Primary Data Sets All students should be prepared to present their primary data sets to support their submission. The University and Module Team reserve the right to request access to primary data sets at any time.
SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR THE PROJECT REPORT TITLE/ COVER PAGE The following details should be stated on your title page: The title of your project Student name and number Full Name & affiliation of Supervisor Your cover page should also include the University Logo and your Faculty of study ABSTRACT This is a summary of your report and should not be more than one page. Essentially your Abstract is a summary (NOT an outline) of the different sections of the proposal or report – for example a summary of the research topic describing the project, in terms of some background information, your project aim, your methodology, main outcomes and recommendations from your research.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank any people that have assisted/contributed to your project.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Provide a list of the sections of your project report with page numbers. Provide a list of the figures and tables presented in your project report, if applicable.
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION What is the setting/ context for your research project? What is your project about? What are the aim and objectives of your research project? What is/ are your research question(s) Describe how your project will assist the organization that is under study, if relevant and applicable. Describe the consultation process you have undertaken with the organization, if applicable.
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW What are the key concepts and theories that provide some background or platform for your research project? Discussing these entails a thorough review of relevant studies related to your research. Make sure you consult a wide range of relevant literature/ studies. Ensure this is a critical review – not just descriptive or an annotated bibliography. All sources should be correctly attributed using the Harvard Referencing format.
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY What methodology did you adopt and why? What is the principle or philosophy that guides & shapes your research project and why (example Positivist, interpretivist; inductive/deductive, etc.)? Who is your target audience or your research sample and why? What methods did you employ for collecting data and why? How did you ensure adequate ethical procedure? What are your hypotheses, if applicable? How did you analyse your data (analytical and statistical procedures employed) and why?
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS/ FINDINGS Provide clear and logical presentation of the findings or results of your research, sighting corresponding examples/ instances from your collected/ generated data These might include tables, graphs or other diagrams Ensure your results correspond with your stated research objectives/ research questions, or hypotheses (if applicable) You might want to consider integrating this section with Chapter 5 (below) or it can be a standalone Chapter.
CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION Provide an analytical/ critical discussion of your findings/ results aimed at addressing your research objectives or answering your stated research question(s)/ hypotheses. Refer to any diagrams, questionnaire results, graphs, etc. discussed/ presented in the Results/ Findings Chapter What are the implications of your findings? How do your findings link with existing research?
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS What do your findings show? What were the limitations of your project? What recommendations would you make on the basis of your findings/ results? Do you think your recommendations are innovative or entrepreneurial? Present your arguments such that they demonstrate how and why you think your recommendations are innovative or entrepreneurial.
CHAPTER 7: REFERENCES Full details of all the sources cited in your report. These should be formatted based on the recommended Harvard Referencing System
GUIDANCE ON APPENDICES These should include any material which is of interest, but which is peripheral to the project, e.g. approved ethics form, sample participant information sheet & consent form, tables of results, graphs, photos, raw data from surveys and interviews, etc. You should try and keep any such appendices to a minimum.
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|