SG7002 Assessment handbook 2020 PDF

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ROYAL DOCKS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND LAW

SG7002 - The Applied Business Project MBA COHORT Submission date: 4pm, 6th Sept. 2021. Academic Year: 2020/21 SEM C

: DL4.20

Timetabled Teaching There is no scheduled teaching for SG7002. The only scheduled “contact” time is between the student and his/her supervisor, during the academic year. 1

How to access your timetable To access your personal timetable log into the intranet and click on the timetable box and save to your favourite browser, or use the intranet link (UEL ID required to login) https://uelac.sharepoint.com/students/Pages/TimetableandAttendance.aspx All room numbers on our campuses follow the same pattern – the initial of the building, followed by the floor number and finally the room number e.g. DL4.01 is room 1 on the 4th floor of the Dockland Library building. Campus maps can be found on https://www.uel.ac.uk/About/Finding-us Initials AE AVA DL CC EB ED

Building name

ITC KD LT MLT RB SD UH US

Arthur Edwards AVA Building Docklands Library Conference and Computer Centre East Building School of Cass Education and Communities IT clusters – Library Knowledge Dock Lecture Theatre Main Lecture Theatre R Building Sports Dock University House University Square Stratford

WB

West Building

Campus Stratford Docklands Docklands Stratford Docklands Stratford Docklands Docklands Stratford Docklands Stratford Docklands Stratford University Square Stratford Docklands

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INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE Welcome to SG7002 Business Project Module. This is the capstone project for postgraduate programmes at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law and requires students to conduct independent business research under the supervision of an academic member of staff. This Module Handbook is intended to be a definitive guide, for both students and supervisors, as to the Project Process at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law. It includes the module specification, a detailed overview of the research planning process, the supervisory process, the structure and contents of a Business Project and details of electronic submission.

MODULE AIMS In the Postgraduate Business Project module students will complete an independent research project. You will have a course-specific project leader who will provide you with a choice of projects for your course in line with professional body accreditation. These might include: applied research on a contemporary business issue based on primary research, a work-based project, business simulation, Bloomberg project, project management report, case study or other empirical research. You will undertake your project under the supervision of an academic member of staff. The module aims to develop students’ critical thinking, methodological, analytical and writing skills through the research process in undertaking a project. Students must choose a project on offer within the course they are undertaking, and work under the supervision of the allocated supervisor for a period of 12 weeks. In undertaking a business project, students will critically engage with literature on their chosen topic, formulate valid project questions and objectives, evaluate different methodological alternatives, execute appropriate data collection and analytical techniques, develop cogent academic explanations of their findings and address the project question and objectives originally posed in their study. Students should also be able to provide recommendations for academic theory and/or management practice as an outcome of their research project. The postgraduate business project aims to help students to understand the dynamics of business research and to develop their research as well as project management skills. It provides students with a unique opportunity to specialise in a particular area of expertise, and is extremely valuable if students’ wish to work in a specific industry sector or undertake research in future study/employment. Overall, the module 3

aims to develop both employability.

students’

independent

research

and their

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES: The learning outcomes assessed in the Project assessment are: The following codes identify where a learning outcome meets one of the UEL core competencies,        

Digital Proficiency - Code = (DP) Industry Connections - Code = (IC) Social & Emotional Intelligence - Code = (SEI) Physical Intelligence - Code = (PI) Cultural Intelligence - Code = (CI) Community Connections & UEL Give Back - Code = (CC) Cognitive Intelligence – Code = (COI) Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (EE)

At the end of this module, students will be able to: Knowledge 1. Demonstrate the ability to analyse complex business and management problems critically and rigorously and make evidenced based management recommendations (COI, EE, SEI) 2. Demonstrate high levels of expertise in selecting and conducting research methods and addressing strategically significant organisational problems and issues. (COI, EE) Thinking skills 3. Demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and skills by applying appropriate research strategies and philosophies to organisational issues (COI, EE, DP) 4. Demonstrate self-directed capacity to plan, design and monitor an individual piece of research (SEI, EE) 5. Design and present a well-defined and structured report covering the investigation with appropriate and justified conclusions and recommendations, while showing awareness of their limitations (SEI, COI, EE) Subject based skills 6. Identify, interpret and engage in critical analysis and discussion of contemporary literature in your professional field. (COI) 7. Demonstrate the ability to effectively analyse business problems from the professional practitioner perspective in your field and make meaningful and where appropriate costed business 4

recommendations (COI, EE, CI, IC) 8. Demonstrate the skills of logical thought, critical evaluation, data analysis and reflection that will enhance influencing and negotiation capabilities as practitioner in your relevant field (SEI, COI, DP, EE) Skills for life 9. Demonstrate the ability for self-directed learning and the ability to reflect on learning, and emotional and social intelligence, which will inform future practice (SEI, CI) 10. Exhibit digital proficiency in computer aided research skills that promotes the effective presentation of research findings and recommendations (DP)

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MODULE SCHEDULE Week

Durati on (Hrs)

Week 1 – Live Webinar & recorded videos

2

Week 2 – Meet with your superviso r

1

Week 3 – Live Webinar & recorded videos

2

Week 4 – Meet with your superviso r

1

Week 5 – Live Webinar & recorded videos

2

The workshop vidoes this week and the live webinar focuses on research methodology

1

Meet with your supervisor to review submitted research methodology and Supervisor to provide formative feedback

Week 6 – Meet with your superviso r

Aims & Activity

The activities this week (videos and live webinars) will help to show you how to choose a relevant research topic & questions. After this, students should be able to provide their proposal or area of investigation to their potential supervisors in week 2, so that they can plan the process with their supervisors

Meet with your supervisor this week to review your research topic and proposal. Discuss with your supervisor the ethical research application if you are undertaking primary research.

You should be starting your review of literature by now. Please watch the relevant workshop video on lit. review and attend the live webinar if you still need some further guidance. The vidoes/webinar will teach you how to conduct systematic review of lit. using academic sources. The workshop will also cover the ethics process.

Meeting with your supervisor to discuss any completed literature review and supervisor to provide formative feedback. You should also get your ethical research application to your supervisor and obtain e-Signature on ethical research application form.

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Access video workshops on MOODLE on data collection and analysis, as well as attend the live webinars for further discussion

Week 7 – Live Webinar & recorded videos

2

Week 8 – Meet with your superviso r

1

Meet with your supervisor to review work submitted on data collection and analysis, and Supervisor to provide formative feedback

Week 9 – Live Webinar & recorded videos

2

Access videos on writing up the research. The workshop videos and the live webinar will help teach students how to complete the various report structures – dissertation, business report, etc. and how to lay out the discussions of their findings.

Week 10 – Meet with your superviso r

1

Meet with your supervisor to review draft of your work completed so far and possible conclusions and supervisor to provide formative feedback

Week 11 – Live Webinar & recorded videos

2

Week 12 – Meet with your superviso r

1

Watch the workshop video on preparing for submission and also attend the live webinar for further discussions. Students should have everything they need to submit on time and a reflective discussion should occur with the supervisor in week 12, where the student identifies the areas of learning, both substantive and process-based – the supervisor can then advise on their future trajectory, i.e. how they can use their dissertation and experience for employment/career development Final meeting to review submitted analysis and possible conclusions. Supervisor to provide formative feedback on Introduction and Conclusion chapters. Final opportunity for you to receive guidance on completing your project.

Please access video workshops on MOODLE on developing a research work and also attend the live webinars if you have any questions or concerns that need addressing.

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SUPERVISOR ALLOCATION Students will be allocated a supervisor on the basis of the project and/or topic they select for their project. Students should choose a topic that is relevant to the course they are studying. All supervisory allocations will be made by the course leader within the Royal Docks School of Business and Law and will be located on a spreadsheet at the top of the SG7002 MOODLE page.

SUPERVISOR RELATIONSHIPS Once students have been allocated a supervisor, they will work with that academic member of staff for the dissertation semester period (12 weeks). Once students establish who their supervisor is, they should engage with them throughout the term.

ROLE OF THE SUPERVISOR The role of the supervisor is to oversee the research process and act as a sounding board for the student’s ideas and research approach. The supervisor’s role is not to “co-produce” the work, but to provide critical commentary on the development of the work and offer advice for improvement. All key decisions regarding literature, research question, methodology and data analysis approaches are made by the student, and ultimately it is the student who is responsible for his/her final grade. They should therefore take ownership of their project and adopt a proactive approach with their supervisor; students’ should not wait to be instructed by their supervisors at each stage of the research process. The supervisor is there to offer guidance to the student and ensure the project is progressing adequately, and students’ are advised to maintain a professional relationship with their supervisors.

MINIMUM CONTACT TIME Students are entitled to a minimum of 6 hours face-to-face contact time with a supervisor and a minimum of four separate supervisory sessions. This includes email contact and the time it will take a supervisor to read a chapter draft, students and supervisors can agree Skype contact as part of these contact hours, but only if this is acceptable to both parties (students on Tier 4 Visas must attend supervisory meetings in person). Supervisors are expected to provide comments upon only one draft per chapter and will not read multiple drafts of the same chapter. Students should not bombard supervisors with email contact and attachments, and should provide for a period of 72 hours to allow a supervisor to respond to an email communication (particularly if this is in the summer period) 8

and comment upon the work. Students are also advised to keep regular contact with their supervisors throughout the dissertation process, and not leave all communications until the final weeks and days prior to submission. If students choose not to engage with a supervisor until shortly before the dissertation deadline, the supervisor can reserve the right to deregister the student from the module. Any student who is having difficulty contacting a supervisor should email the project leader for assistance.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES The student is ultimately responsible for his/her dissertation project and should see the supervisor as an academic advisor for their work. Supervisors do not necessarily have to be experts in a particular research topic; their role is to supervise the research process itself. Students have relationship:      

the

following

responsibilities

in

the

supervisory

To attend meetings regularly and punctually. To email draft work in advance of any scheduled meeting. To treat supervisors with respect and consider their advice. To inform the supervisor of any difficulties or issues they may be experiencing. To minimise email contact to essential communication and allow a reasonable period of response. To be professional and take ownership of their own work.

CONDUCTING FIELDWORK FROM ABROAD International students (on Tier 4 visas) must write their dissertations from the UK, and a record of their dissertation supervision and attendance must be kept by supervisors should this be requested by the UK Border Agency. However, international students are permitted to travel to their home country during the dissertation period should they wish to collect research data. Permission must be obtained from their supervisor and Head of School of the Royal Docks School of Business and Law. A “Permission to Travel” form for students is available on the SG7002 Moodle page. Students must return once their data collection has been completed and must write up their dissertations from the UK – students on Tier 4 visas cannot write their dissertations from their home 9

country unless this has been pre-agreed with the supervisor and the Royal Docks School of Business and Law. Any plans to collect research data from home must be discussed with your supervisor at the outset of your dissertation, as research ethics approval will need to be attained prior to conducting the fieldwork. Students who are not on an International visa can write and conduct dissertations from their home country (as there is no visa requirement for attendance), provided prior agreement has been sought with the allocated supervisor.

GENERAL READING AND RESOURCES LIST Bell, E., Bryman, M. and Harley, B. (2018), Business research methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Boles, B. (2014) The Art of self-directed learning: 23 tips for giving yourself an unconventional education. 1st ed. USA: Tells Peak Press Birkinshaw, J. and Brannen, M.Y. and Tung, R.L. (2011) ‘From a distance and generalizable to up close and grounded: Reclaiming a place for qualitative methods in international business research’, Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 42, Issue 5, pp 573–581 Brooks, C. (2019) Introductory econometrics for finance. Cambridge University Press. Creswell J.W. and Creswell J.D. (2018) Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. London: Sage Publications Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2003) Business research: a practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate student. London: Macmillan Press Ltd. Crowther, D. and Lancaster, G. (2012) Research Methods a concise introduction to research in management and business consultancy. 2nd ed. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis Davies, M.B. and Hughes, N., 2014. Doing a successful research project: Using qualitative or quantitative methods. Basingstoke: Macmillan International Higher Doz, Y. (2011) ‘Qualitative research for international business’, Journal of International Business Studies. 42 (5), pp. 582-590 Eva, M., Hindle K. and Rollason C. (2014) Business analysis. 2nd edn. Swindon: British Informatics Society Ltd.

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Ketchen, D.J. and Bergh, D.D. (2004) Research methodology in strategy and management. Vol. 1. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald Krivokapic-Skoko, B. and O’Neill, G. (2011) ‘Beyond the qualitative– quantitative distinction: Some innovative methods for business and management research’, International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches. 5, (3) pp. 290-300 Saunders, M., Lewis,P and Thornhill, A (2012) Research methods for business. 6th ed. London: Prentice Hall Somekh, B. and Lewin, C. (2005) Research methods in the social sciences. London: Thousand Oaks, Calif. Strangman, L. and Knowles, E. (2012) ‘Improving the Development of Student's Research Questions and Hypotheses in an Introductory Business Research Methods Course’, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. 6 (2) pp. 1-13. Tarí, J. (2011) ‘Research into Quality Management and Responsibility’, Journal of Business Ethics. 102 (4) pp.623-638

Social

ASSESSMENT The business project for Masters programmes at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, requires students to conduct applied research under the supervision of an academic member of staff. It is a 6000-word project which accounts for 30 credits of your programme of study. The expectation is that you will undertake an applied business project which is appropriate to your vocational area. This could include primary or secondary research into a business problem, a work-based project, business simulation or Bloomberg live project, management or business report, case study or other empirical research. For some course’s students will have to select a particular activity based on programme or professional body accreditation requirements (please see below for details). The project takes one semester to complete and submission takes place in December (Term 1), April (Term 2) and September (Term 3). Please note that postgraduate projects are not subject to the usual “resit coursework” deadline, and students who must resit must do so at the next available opportunity. Please confirm with your supervisor as to when you should re-sit.

COLLEGE RESEARCH ETHICS BOARD (CREB)

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All research projects involving primary research using human participants in the Royal Docks School of Business and Law must first seek approval from our College Research Ethics Board (CREB). Please discuss the ethical research process with your supervisor as he/she is responsible for your application. Primary research undertaken without ethical approval will achieve a mark of 0 at the exam board. Please see the RDSBL Ethics MOODLE page for guidance on the Ethics process and the ethical application proforma which you need to complete to receive approval for your research. The link to the RDSBL Ethics MOODLE page is here: Course: RDSBL Research Ethics 2020/2021 (uel.ac.uk)

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APPLIED RESEARCH BUSINESS PROJECT If you are undertaking a dissertation style business project, involving primary or secondary research, this section guides you on what is required. Students are required to produce applied research that contains six c...