MBA7033 - Business Research and Analytics

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 Explore and analyse a real-life business or management related issue in the context of client/business needs and potential benefits.
2 Define the problem and formulate both business and research aim, as well as specific research objectives associated with the latter.
3 Critically situate the project proposal in relation to existing academic and industry-based literature and other relevant sources, identify gaps in existing research, select theoretical investigative and analytical frameworks and justify the novelty/originality of the project.
4 Select and justify an appropriate research methodology for data collection and data analysis. Also identify and manage research ethics associated with the project.

Content:

The module is focused on investigation into real-life business and management issues and presenting it in the form of a project proposal, including problem definition in the light of a business context and potential client’s needs/benefits, and the ability to agree project scope and design, as well as research aims and specific objectives.

The module includes conducting a preliminary literature review, leading to the identification of i) research gaps and novelty/originality of the proposed business project; ii) theoretical investigative and analytical frameworks, as well as iii) following appropriate reference practice in writing the project proposal.

You will also delve into methodology, including selecting and justifying appropriate and academically grounded research and data collection methods, following code of research conduct and ethics, as well as suggestions for further data analysis.

The module will also focus on preparing a research proposal presenting all the above information and following the agreed format and academic conventions.

The challenging nature of research projects, fast changing external environment and client / research sponsor relations should be taken into account, analysed and mitigated as students are encouraged to enhance their own resilience capabilities in preparing and planning their research project.

Communication and networking are focal aspects of this module, as students should proactively develop their professional and personal networks to identify potential research project sponsors / clients and negotiate scope and boundaries of the project, as well as manage client’s expectations.

The other key aspect of the module is combining and balancing theoretical (academic) and practical / applied business requirements, by helping research sponsors / clients in defining and formulating actual business problems / needs and converting them into a mutually agreed set of research aim and objectives, which should be also well situated in the broader field of research addressing existing gaps and being a novel / original in-depth investigation of the issue.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module is designed to support self-directed learning through enquiry and research. It encourages deep learning through the critical analysis of relevant literature and the investigative research process. The module introduces the principles of social science research and key business, management and marketing research methodologies.

The module sessions are delivered as a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops (including Research Ethics forms preparation) - ten sessions of 4 hours each.

All these will allow coverage of the iterative development of research project, reading, investigative/analytical frameworks and studies of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed approaches and techniques, including survey, case study, focus groups and statistical analysis, etc.

In parallel, students will be offered an opportunity to match their research and consultancy interests with an external organisation's needs (private or public sector). Special sessions on client management skills will prepare students to work with a client, identify real life business issues, manage expectations and agree a project scope and timeline.

Lectures/Seminars/Workshops
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 260

Further Details Relating to Assessment

The summative assessments for this module include Project Proposal (Poster Presentation) -40% and Preliminary Research Project Proposal - 60%.

The structure of the Proposal may vary depending on the potential research sponsors/client needs (particularly in the case of organisation-based projects), but, in principle, it should include the following aspects: i) business context / problem definition ii) associated research aim and objectives iii) key papers / references and theoretical / investigative / analytical frameworks iv) research methods for data collection v) research ethics issues.

Desk-based research is possible but will require a strong focus on the analytical aspect of the project.

Students will receive actionable feedback on Project Proposals in weeks 9-10 of the term, which should help them to develop the Preliminary Research Project Proposal, providing further details on: i) business context / problem definition ii) associated research aim and objectives iii) literature review and theoretical / investigative / analytical frameworks iv) research methods for data collection v) research ethics issues; vi) references.

Full details, structures and requirements associated with these proposal elements are described in the Module Handbook.

Assessment:

001 Project proposal; poster presentation; 2,000 word equivalent; week 9 of term 2 40%
002 Preliminary research project proposal; 3,000 word equivalent; end of term 2 60%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Efan Johnson
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7T27T1JL

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