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Dissertation in Accounting and Management (Academic) - MAN00154M

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 60 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25
  • Notes: This is an independent study module

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Semester 2023-24

Module aims

The module requires students to conduct academic research on a contemporary organization or management issue. It involves sustained private study over semester 3, culminating in submission of a dissertation of not more than 10,000 words. The aim of the module is to develop and demonstrate abilities to design and implement an independent academic research project, and to write-up the results .The dissertation will provide an in depth and critical review of the relevant research literature and a critical consideration of methods and methodology used to investigate the issue, presentation of research findings and a critical discussion of these. There will also be a reflective statement indicating what the student has learnt during the project, and how this learning might be applied in the future.

By undertaking a longer piece of sustained research and writing, students will demonstrate: critical analytical skills; ability to gather data and draw together information from a range of sources; writing and presentational skills; and subject-specific knowledge. As this is a self-study module, you will also draw on the skills that you have acquired throughout your degree, including self-management, working to deadlines, and subject knowledge.

Module learning outcomes

Academic and graduate skills

Successful completion of the dissertation will demonstrate that students are able to:

  • Undertake a 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 analyze significant bodies of literature in the chosen topic area

  • Prepare and write a well-presented and substantial piece of academic research

  • Engage with ethical issues in undertaking research

  • Critically reflect on the research skills and their relationship to future development and employability

Module content

In preparing the dissertation proposal and the dissertation itself, students will:

  • Critically engage with relevant literature in relation to their named degree

  • Identify a meaningful research question/topic/problem

  • Engage with the key issues and questions arising in the topic area

  • Identify and deploy an appropriate research methodology

  • Collect and analyze data (where appropriate)

  • Extrapolate key findings

  • Consider the contribution of the dissertation to scholarship, policy, and practice as appropriate

The “Research Proposal", to be completed by week 10 of the spring semester, will consist of the following elements:

- Indication of relevant literature and topic context

- Identification of a specific research problem/question(s)/topic

- Identification and explanation of an appropriate research method

- Research plan including an indication of potential data sources

- Consideration of Ethics,

Written feedback on the proposal will be provided, which will feed-forward into the completion of the dissertation itself.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

Indicative reading

  • Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods (3rd edn). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  • Bryman, A., Bell, E. and Harley, B. (2022) Business Research Methods (6th edn). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  • Buchanan, D. A. and Bryman, A. (Eds.) (2009) The Sage Handbook of Organizational Research Methods. London: Sage.

  • Cameron, S., & Price, D. (2009) Business Research Methods: A practical approach. London: Kogan Page Publishers.

  • Marschan-Piekkari, R. and Welch, C (Eds.) (2004) Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for International Business. London: Edward Elgar Publishing:

  • Neuman, W.L. (2011) Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Boston and London: Pearson Education

  • Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2019) Research Methods for Business Students (8th edn). London: Pearson.

  • Symon, G. and Cassell, C. (2012) Qualitative Organizational Research: Core Methods and Current Challenges. London: Sage.

  • Thomas, G. (2016). How to do your Case Study, 2nd edn. London: Sage.

  • Yin, R. K. (2018) Case Study Research: Design and Methods (6th edn). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.