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MN50488: MBA final project/dissertation

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: School of Management
Further information on credits Credits: 36
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Dissertation period
Modular (no specific semester)
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • MBA Final Project/Dissertation (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Students must complete all core MBA units before taking this unit.
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
This unit consists of the Research Methods Workshop and subsequently the Final Project itself. The aims of the Research Methods workshop are:
* to provide the student with the knowledge and ability to conduct research;
* to prepare students for the process of planning and undertaking their final dissertation or project.
The aims of the Final Project itself are:
* to give the student the opportunity to apply and evaluate the knowledge gained through working on a strategically orientated project;
* to enable the student to focus on a business area of their own choosing and develop their own research agenda to solve a business problem.

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of the course, students should be able:
* to critically evaluate the theoretical and practical worth of management theories and apply them to relevant business problems;
* to build on theories and integrate various components of the total degree programme and their own experience;
* to plan and execute an original investigation into a management problem;
* to show evidence of personal skills especially those of organisation, negotiation, research, analysis and synthesis.

Skills:
Intellectual Skills
* a critical awareness of current issues and frameworks in management (A);
* the ability to acquire and analyse data, information and situations; to evaluate relevance and validity, and to synthesise it in the context of topical business problems (F/A);
* a conceptual understanding of theoretical concepts and frameworks that enables the student to meaningfully link theory and practice and the ability to critically appraise and apply both theory and practice (F/A).
Professional Practical Skills
* apply practical decision-making methods and tools at both tactical and strategic levels (A);
* operate independently and effectively (F/A)
* to hone consultancy skills (F/A)
Transferable/Key Skills
* an openness and capacity to continue learning with the ability to reflect on earlier knowledge and practice and integrate the new with past experience and effectively apply it to the present situations (F/A);
* ability to recognise ethical corporate/social responsibility issues and to manage in light of these issues (A).
Personal/Interpersonal
* the facility to communicate including presenting and marketing themselves and their ideas; preparation and production of effective business plans and reports (F/A).

Content:
Before attending the workshop, students will be sent a copy of the Project Guidelines which contains general instructions. During the workshop the following will be covered:
* Nature of suitable projects, working with the organisation(s), developing their project idea, the role of a supervisor, time management and research ethics.
* Nature and forces that shape research methodology; the use of different methodological approaches; the concepts of validity, reliability and generalisability; locating and evaluating secondary data; the role of theory in project work; sampling theory; quantitative and qualitative data analysis; and the use of different software packages to capture and analyse qualitative and quantitative data.
* Optional topics depending upon needs of the group may include inter alia the practicalities of undertaking specific research techniques, specific techniques under the broad headings of: qualitative interviewing; observation techniques; survey techniques; and experimental techniques.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MN50488 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

School of Management
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.