Module ASB-3413:
Business Management Dissertation Project

Module Facts

Run by Bangor Business School

30.000 Credits or 15.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Dr Azhdar Karami

Overall aims and purpose

This module provides students with an excellent opportunity to experience the process of an independent academic research project that addresses a business management issue. Students will be led through the systematic and academic process of writing a feasible proposal for research and also the production of a substantial academically-grounded 3rd year dissertation based on a business management (or related) issue. Students will learn invaluable project management, research and thesis writing skills which will enhance employability and instil confidence for both critiquing and conducting meaningful academically-informed business management research.

Notes: This module is NOT available to students on BA Business and ICT, BA Business and Law, or to students on joint honours degrees including a named subject in a school other than BBS. A version of this module is available through the medium of Welsh.

Course content

This module will introduce students to the key tenets of planning, designing, conducting and writing-up an effective research proposal and 3rd year undergraduate dissertation for business and management. Participants will be required to draft a proposal for a short research project within business management (and related) areas.
This will include (but is not limited to) the formulation of a research hypothesis/ research question, set of aims, objectives, brief literature review and proposed methodology and timescale etc. Students will then be supported through the principles underpinning a quality research project and will receive support through one to one supervision through to the completion of their third year dissertation. The dissertation should include (but not limited to) the formulation of a (revised) research hypothesis/ research question, set of aims, objectives, detailed critical literature review and methodology including research methods theory and analysis, conclusions, limitations and recommendations. The final submission should appropriately on its subject matter from any area of business management or marketing.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

D- to D+ (40-49%): Students must show that they have some grasp of the elements contributing towards a business related project. This will include some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements and some integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

excellent

A- to A* (70% +): Students will have shown an excellent grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practice elements and excellent integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

C- to C+

C- to C+ (50-59%): Students must demonstrate that they have a adequate grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements and adequate integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

good

B- to B+ (60-69%): Students must show that they have a good grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements and good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

Learning outcomes

  1. An appreciation and application of quality measures (such as reliability & validity) for measuring and reflecting on the quality of academic research projects

  2. Demonstrate key presentation, organisation and writing-up skills through planning, editing and compiling a substantial research dissertation.

  3. Appreciate the purpose of key aspects of planning and carrying out research into business and management

  4. An ability to synthesise and critically appraise a body of academic or industrial literature to generate a research proposal.

  5. An awareness of the issues facing businesses while focusing on a specific knowledge area while choosing across a wide spectrum of management topics, including but not limited by operations, human resources, marketing, entrepreneurship, information, and finance.

  6. Demonstrate academic data collection and analysis skills appropriate to level 6 (3rd year UGT) for conducting academically informed research

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Final Dissertation 80.00
Project Proposal 20.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study

130 hrs private study on Sem 1;

140 hrs private study on Sem 2.

 270
One-to-one supervision

Regular supervision in Sem 2 of the progress of the Business Project either for the individual research project by an assigned supervisor; or for the business plan by the business planning tutor.

 10
Lecture

In Semester 1 the lectures will introduce the challenges of Business and Management research through two possible approaches - Business Plan and Dissertation. The common substantial introduction to a business management project will include the structure of a business plan and a Dissertation and their appropriate methodologies.

 20

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
  • Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

Subject specific skills

  • An ability to understand financial statements, and a basic appreciation of the limitations of financial reporting practices and procedures (eg financial statement analysis; the relation between cash flow accounting and accrual accounting; discretionary accounting practices).
  • Problem solving and critical analysis: analysing facts and circumstances to determine the cause of a problem and identifying and selecting appropriate solutions.
  • Research: the ability to analyse and evaluate a range of business data, sources of information and appropriate methodologies, which includes the need for strong digital literacy, and to use that research for evidence-based decision-making.
  • Numeracy: the use of quantitative skills to manipulate data, evaluate, estimate and model business problems, functions and phenomena.
  • Articulating and effectively explaining information.
  • Communication and listening including the ability to produce clear, structured business communications in a variety of media.
  • Conceptual and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
  • Self-management: a readiness to accept responsibility and flexibility, to be resilient, self-starting and appropriately assertive, to plan, organise and manage time.
  • Self reflection: self-analysis and an awareness/sensitivity to diversity in terms of people and cultures. This includes a continuing appetite for development.

Resources

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/asb-3413.html

Reading list

Bell, Bryman, Harley (2019) Business Research Methods (5th Edition) Oxford University Press: London

Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., and Thornhill, A. (2019) Research methods for business students, 6th edition, Financial Times Press.

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., and Williams, J. M. (2008) The Craft of Research, Chicago, University of Chicago Press.

Blumberg, B., Cooper, D. R., and Schindler, P. S. (2014) Business research methods, Berkshire, McGraw-Hill Education.

Bryman, A., and Bell, E. (2011) Business research methods, 3rd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory. A practical guide through qualitative analysis. London: Sage.

Hendriks, C.M. (2007). Praxis stories: Experiencing interpretive policy research. Critical Policy Studies, 1: 278-300.

Ng, W., and Coakes, E. (2014) Business research, London, KoganPage.

Remenyi, D., Williams, B., Money, A., and Swartz, E. (2005) Doing research in business and management: an introduction to process and methods, London, Sage publications.

Silverman, D. (2013) Doing qualitative research, 4th edition, London, Sage.

Strauss, A.L. and Corbin, J.M. (1997) Grounded theory in practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: