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On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Explore and analyse a real-life business or management related issue in the context of client/business needs and potential benefits.
Define the problem and formulate both business and research aim, as well as specific research objectives associated with the latter.
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.
Select and justify an appropriate research methodology for data collection and data analysis. Also identify and manage research ethics associated with the project.
The module is focused on the investigation of business and management issues. Throughout the module, the students will critically analyse and present these findings 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.
Students 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.
This module will contribute to the MBA themes in the following ways: -
- Radical Resilience – 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.
- Creative Connectivity – is one of the focal aspects of this module, as students should proactively develop their professional and personal networks to identify potential research project sponsors / clients, negotiate scope and boundaries of the project, as well as manage client’s expectations.
- Dynamic Discovery – is another key aspect of the modules 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.
The module is designed to support self-directed learning through enquiry and research. The module encourages deep learning through the critical analysis of relevant literature and the investigative research process. It introduces the principles of social science research and key business, management and marketing research methodologies. This module is delivered through the standard MBA workshop block-teaching method.
All these will allow coverage of the iterative development of research project, investigative/analytical frameworks, 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.
F2F (or, in case of international projects – Teams meetings, which are equivalent of F2F) will help students to receive actionable feedback from their supervisor and progress through their projects. Online sessions are not available to students based at a UK institution.
Workshops/seminars
Hours: 21
Intended Group Size: Cohort
Guided independent study
Hours: 129
Further details relating to assessment
The summative assessment for this module is a Project Portfolio. The composition of the portfolio may vary depending on the potential research sponsors/client needs, but, in principle, it should include 3 elements: i) project proposal ii) scoping document (including agreement with client, if needed), and iii) project plan / timeline (e.g. Gantt chart) and risk assessment/mitigation plan (e.g. Probability/Impact Risk Assessment Matrix) documentation.
The presentation addresses the student’s ability to use collected information and communicate meaningful direction.
An agreement (contract) to undertake the project may be required and negotiated by the student, between the student and the project host/employer organisation.
Full details, structures, and requirements associated with the 3 portfolio elements are described in the Module Handbook.
As a result of University responsibility for ensuring that research conducted by its staff and research students abides by accepted standards of conduct and ethics, this aspect is integrated within the content of this course and students need to seek ethical clearance of their project, as described within the University’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Ethics and Integrity Policy.
Presentation of the draft version of the portfolio can be conducted as an on-line submission (Powerpoint) or as an oral presentation (a viva) - oral or poster presentation.
001 Project portfolio; 2,500 words; term 3 75%
002 Presentation; 15 minutes; term 3 25%
Module Coordinator - Professor Denis Kobzev
Level - 7
Credit Value - 15
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7MB93