BMM6324 - Work-based Research Project

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
enhance their personal effective working relationships as part of the team working for the organisation/agency concerned;
negotiate learning outcomes related to a critical issue under investigation within the workplace to a satisfactory agreement and contract with both the employer and with Leeds Trinity University, including managing research ethics issues;
demonstrate an ability to analyse critically, synthesise and evaluate data/information and research, constructing an informed argument and presenting their findings appropriately;
design an appropriate format of assessment to meet the expectations of Level 6 study, including a demonstration of independence of study and argument.

Content:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to: enhance their personal effective working relationships as part of the team working for the organisation/agency concerned;
negotiate learning outcomes related to a critical issue under investigation within the workplace to a satisfactory agreement and contract with both the employer and with Leeds Trinity University, including managing research ethics issues;
demonstrate an ability to analyse critically, synthesise and evaluate data/information and research, constructing an informed argument and presenting their findings appropriately; design an appropriate format of assessment to meet the expectations of Level 6 study, including a demonstration of independence of study and argument.

Learning and Teaching Information:

As a negotiated, self-managed module, students will receive initial tutorial support to establish the learning outcomes and appropriate assessment methods. They will engage in online support and students will be expected to schedule 4 further tutorials either face to face, online or by telephone to ensure progression and the academic rigour of the project.

Initial tutorials
Hours: 4
Intended Group size: 10

Periodic review tutorials
Hours: 4
Intended Group size: 1

Online/telephone support
Hours: 12

Guided work-based study
Hours: 380

Further details relating to assessment
1 A tri-partite agreement/contract to undertake the project is required to be negotiated by the student, between the student, Leeds Trinity and the project host/employer organisation (the contract should include research ethics considerations/approval – as indicated in the section below).
2 Although assessments will broadly follow the convention of a written report and standard oral presentation, students will be expected to negotiate the exact format, for example Business Reports, Product/Service Development Plans, Marketing Plans/Campaigns, etc. Presentations may be directed at specific audiences, e.g. employer staff, customers, directors, etc.
3 The oral presentation is on the development, completion and outcomes of the project. Liaison with the project host/employer organisation will be on-going and updates will be requested throughout the process.

Other relevant matters
Registration for the module is subject to students providing clear evidence during Level 5 study of active engagement, completion and evaluation of the PDP module and initial negotiations with their employer/placement provider with regard to a potential work-based learning project for Level 6, as well as successful completion of BMM 5582 Business Research module.
Though not part of the summative assessment, employers are required to provide a minimum of three reports on student progress – the first report is initial approval and signed agreement for the project to proceed, the second report is required by January at the latest, providing an interim report of progress, and the final report is required at the assessment submission date, providing evaluation of the project outcome. These reports will assist and inform the project supervisor of work-based value.
As a result of Leeds Trinity’s responsibility for ensuring that research conducted by its staff and research students abides by accepted standards of conduct and ethics, this element is integrated within the content of the course and students need to seek ethical approval of their project. The process is coordinated by a module leader and requires the signing of an ethical approval form before any project can be actioned. The process follows key principles of Leeds Trinity’s Code of Research Conduct and Ethics, available on the intranet.
There are two aspects of volunteering within organisation-based experience: i) taking a work placement as a volunteer in a charity not-for-profit organisation; and ii) suggesting student’s own topic for an organisation-based project (some volunteering options may include extra-curricular activities).