The dissertation is a research-based activity involving sustained private study over a three-four month period, culminating in submission of a) a dissertation of not more than 8,000 words and b) a management style executive summary of the dissertation targeting potential employers and presented in a professional, visually appealing format including text (maximum of 12 slides and 1,000 words) and visuals.
Module will run
None
Module aims
The dissertation is a research-based activity involving sustained private study over a three-four month period, culminating in submission of a) a dissertation of not more than 8,000 words and b) a management style executive summary of the dissertation targeting potential employers and presented in a professional, visually appealing format including text (maximum of 12 slides and 1,000 words) and visuals.
The aim of the dissertation is to develop students’ abilities to initiate, design, and implement a substantial research project, and to write-up the results of it.
Module learning outcomes
Academic and graduate skills
Successful completion of the dissertation will demonstrate that students are able to
Undertake a significant research project
Apply knowledge of research philosophy and methods
Undertake empirical research involving collection of primary data (where appropriate)
Undertake secondary analysis of existing data and information (where appropriate)
Critically analyse significant bodies of literature in the chosen topic area
Prepare and write a well-presented and substantial analytical report of the research process in form of an academic and practitioner report
Engage with ethical issues in undertaking research
Module content
Subject content
In preparing the dissertation students will typically be required to:
Critically engage with the relevant literature in the chosen topic area
Engage with the key issues and questions arising in the topic area
Consider appropriate research methodologies and the philosophies of enquiry underpinning them
Collect and analyse data (where appropriate)
Extrapolate key findings from data analysis and relevant literatures
Consider the contribution of the dissertation to scholarship, policy, and practice
Dissertation completion timeline
End of term 2: Students submit their research idea for the purpose of supervisor allocation
Beginning of term 3: Students are allocated a supervisor and submit their research proposal to their supervisor. Support in developing such proposal is provided in the module Research Methods (Global Marketing), which includes a draft research proposal as summative assessment in term 1. Hence, students are able to further develop that proposal (by keeping or changing their original topic) looking towards submission to their supervisors at the beginning of term 3.
Term 3/Summer vacation: The completion of the dissertation is supported by at least 4 supervision meetings from May onwards through to submission in September.
Indicative assessment
Task
% of module mark
Essay/coursework
20
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation
80
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task
% of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation
100
Module feedback
Written feedback from both examiners is released to students after the final exam board. In cases of a marginal fail where minor amendments are permitted, students will be given written guidance on the required amendments.
Indicative reading
Brown, R. (2006 )Doing your dissertation in Business and Management, the reality of researching and writing, London, Sage
Additional readings to be provided in the “Advanced topics” sessions