School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 30 |
| Level:
| Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
Dissertation period |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
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| Description:
| Aims: The dissertation unit provides the capstone to the MSc in Innovation and Technology Management. It enables students to explore a particular topic that has been covered during the programme in-depth. Given the combined management and engineering nature of the programme, students may either choose to produce a dissertation that spans both management and engineering perspectives and methodologies or study perspectives from within one or other stance. The unit consists of a) a taught element to develop the students' understanding of the range of research methodologies that may be applied in engineering and management disciplines; b) an independent research project where students are responsible for pursuing a piece of academic research under the guidance of a supervisor from either Management or Engineering. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will be able to: * design and systematically undertake innovation and technology management dissertation research including the ability to select and justify the focus, scope and methodology of such research; * evaluate the rigour and validity of existing research in innovation and technology management and assess its relevance to new situations; * extrapolate from existing innovation and technology management research and scholarship to formulate focused research questions; * analyse a range of empirical data on innovation and technology management, relating findings to existing research and drawing appropriate conclusions; * provide a new interpretation on existing information or provide an original view on an issue; * capture the findings from a research project in a written report. Skills: * Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (e.g. essays) (Taught/Facilitated/Assessed). * Ability to select, analyse and present numerical and/or non-numerical data (T/F/A). * Ability to select, summarise and synthesise written information from multiple sources (T/F/A). * Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models (T/F/A). * Ability to synthesise multidisciplinary perspectives on the same problem (T/F/A). * Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer (T/F/A). * Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A). * Ability to work independently, without close supervision or guidance (T/F/A). Content: The dissertation may address any area of innovation and technology management for which an adequate level of supervision can be offered. Dissertations may involve any combination of a) review of published literature b) analysis of secondary data c) analysis of primary data collected by the student, for example through administering a questionnaire, conducting an in-depth case study, or conducting an experiment or simulation. The dissertation should include a discussion of the methodology employed in its production and will usually make explicit reference to at least one important innovation and technology management issue or theme covered as part of the Certificate or Diploma stage of the programme. It is the students' responsibility to choose their research area, organize their research activities and negotiate access with external organisations if required. |
| Programme availability: |
MN50421 is Compulsory on the following programmes:School of Management
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