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MN50639: Dissertation

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: School of Management
Further information on credits Credits: 30      [equivalent to 60 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 600
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Dissertation period
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Dissertation (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
This is an independent research project associated with developing a novel and feasible research question and relate it to relevant literature and empirical material and to develop a cogent, credible and sustained argument that addresses the research question, and to do this within a fixed time period. The project should relate to the fields of operations, logistics and/or supply chain management.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
* define and answer a research question in a chosen area of interest related to development
* support the argument with relevant empirical evidence and/or reference to appropriate theory, and/or linking together arguments from disparate literatures or disciplinary perspectives
* interpret the significance of findings from relevant sources of quantitative or qualitative evidence
* provide a new interpretation on existing information or provide an original view on an issue
* do all the above in written form in a dissertation that conforms to acceptable standards of presentation and expression, and
* complete the assignment within an agreed deadline.

Skills:
Intellectual skills:
* Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (F/A)
* Identify, synthesize, and analyse data from various sources to answer a research question (F/A)
* Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models (F/A)
Practical skills:
* Understand the applicability of various research methodologies across contexts (F/A)
* Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer (F/A)
Transferable skills
* Synthesize multiple perspectives on the same problem (F/A)
* Work independently, without close supervision or guidance (F/A).

Content:
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 or running focus groups. It will be the students' responsibility to choose their research area, organise their research activities and negotiate access with other organisations, if required. Further guidance and details about the dissertation will be provided in the course handbook and via student meetings with faculty supervisors.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MN50639 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

School of Management
  • TMMN-AFM42 : MSc Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.