Procedures For Preparation And Submission Of MBA Business Development Essay.

The Role Of The Supervisor

This handbook sets out the procedures for the preparation and submission of the MBA Business Development Proposal. It also includes a brief discussion regarding the related Research Methods module, which is conducted in the second semester. If a successful submission is to be made within the time available, regular attendance at seminars and scheduled supervisory meetings, and a strict adherence to a clearly defined programme of work are essential. The procedures set out in this document are intended to provide maximum support to the student so as to ensure the successful submission of a Business Development Proposal that meets the University requirements.  This document should be read in conjunction with guidelines provided by The University of Wales Trinity Saint David .

The supervisors play a key role in the research and Business Development Proposal process. They are a specialist in the subject area chosen by the student and are experienced in the supervision of Masters Business Development Proposal Analysis. The student needs to have a close and continuing relationship with the supervisor and use him/her as a source of advice and support. The Business Development Proposal seminars and student-supervisor meetings scheduled on a weekly basis in the third semester are aimed at supporting the development of this crucial relationship.

Students will be assigned a Supervisor in the third semester. They are assigned a supervisor with expertise in the research area that they have chosen. The supervisor is given a group of students with a common area of interest. 

Students have 7 seminars and individual student-supervisor meetings during the third semester.  Each session is of three hours duration. Attendance at these sessions is compulsory and a prerequisite for submission of a Business Development Proposal.  Attendance is monitored by means of the standard attendance register currently in use for all other courses.  

The final Business Development Proposal seminar programme is scheduled in such a way that 2 weeks before the submission deadline students are expected to provide their supervisor with a full draft of their Business Development Proposal for review at this point before the final submission.  Their supervisor will then sign a Supervisor Declaration to verify that they have seen a final draft.  (Students will be unable to submit their Business Development Proposal without this document.) 

• The first hour of the Business Development Proposal Seminar should focus on discussing issues of common interest to the supervisory group (g. How to carry out and present the literature survey, how to present tables) and permit each student to present their research progress.  A presentation and report should be made every two or three weeks.  This enables supervisors to monitor progress, provide objectives and motivation for students and minimise the risk of plagiarism.  It will also create a feeling of group cohesion by making them aware of the progress of others.
  
  
• The second two hours of the three hour session is devoted to individual supervisory tuition. These are scheduled so that each student knows the time at which they will meet their supervisor each week. Because of numbers, each student will probably receive an individual meeting of a minimum of 30 minutes in length on a fortnightly basis.  A record is kept by the student and supervisor of the content of the discussion of each meeting, the agreed actions to be taken by the student before the next meeting and the time of the next meeting. The Record Form is shown in Appendix B. This form is completed at the end of each meeting and signed by the supervisor and the student. A copy is kept in the Attendance Record Register.
  
  
• Students who fail to attend the seminars will receive a warning after missing the first seminar. If a second seminar is missed the student will be called in for a disciplinary meeting and warning. If there are subsequent failures to attend (unless a medical certificate is provided), the student may be suspended and required to repeat the semester or asked to leave the School.
  
  
• Monitoring of progress. Students are required to submit written work for the supervisor’s approval in week 4 (2000 words) and week 8 (7000 words) of the Business Development Proposal phase and this should be recorded on their monitoring sheets in the Register. The staged submission of written work is an essential part of the strategy to reduce plagiarism.  In addition to assessing and advising the student on the academic quality of their work, the supervisor is required to check for plagiarism and report any cases to the Programme Leader. 

The content of the Business Development Proposal seminars in the third semester may follow the pattern below, although it may also vary depending on the needs of the particular group.  

Session 1

Review of the relevant University Business Development Proposal Guidelines with emphasis on Plagiarism, Citation and Referencing Guidelines.  Students should be informed about the importance of correct citation and referencing, and the consequences should their work be found to be plagiarized.  Details of the submission process should also be explained during this session. Introduction to the module to students and identifying as suitable business and set-up relevant information (UK Government and similar websites for small businesses) Alternative scenarios for the BDP

Session 2

Discussion / Explanation of a sample project. A presentation by each student of his/her project.  Each presentation will be followed by a discussion and supervisors comments

The Business Development Proposal Seminar Programme

Session 3

Market Research - Primary and secondary (proper identification of customer market, competition, sales potential).   Strategy-Review of Models for Strategic Analysis.  Appropriate Business Models (business configuration that will enable achievement of results through the selected strategy)

Session 4

Financial Feasibility;  Sales Forecasts and profitability; Forecasting Sales;  Cost-Volume Profitability Analysis;  Financial statements preparation; Planning capital requirements;  Drawing up  cash flow, P&L, Balance Sheets;  Investment Appraisal;  Project Implementation Schedule

Session 5

Progress reports on the process of data collection.  Discussion of problems encountered.

Session 6

Open sessions for review of students’ work and signing off.

Session 7

Open sessions for review of students’ work and signing off. 

Recommended Chapter Structure (to be preceded by a one page executive summary ). Use this structure as guidance and together with the Marking Scheme/Assessment Form shown in Section 10.

You will need to consider: 

• The business idea -scenario chosen, aim, strategic fit, feasibility of idea and important assumptions for success, brief implementation plan
  
  
• The Business Idea explained - rationale for the business idea;  scenario chosen;  Aims and objectives  of the work: structure of the work
  
  
• Primary and secondary market research - Feasibility (product/service, industry/market, organisational, financial feasibility issues; Resource requirement evaluation
  
  
• The Business Model – Strategic Analysis of the new business idea; identification of sources of competitiveadvantage and sustainability ; selection of strategies for success; development of appropriate Business Model
  
  
• The Business Plan - Business Plan schedule......from raising capital...stage by stage….setting out key   events/ resource requirements for successful operation of the Business Model; Discussion of critical success/failure factors 

The Research Reflective Report is designed to support the student’s self-critical consideration of the research and related business skills. Students are expected to demonstrate that they can:-

• Reflect and comment critically on what they have learnt during the MBA programme and during the process of conducting the research
  
  
• Carefully consider the research which they have carried out and critically comment on this
  
  
• Discuss the relationship of the research, research sources and evidence,  and researching activities to the production of the dissertation
  
  
• Critically comment on the key areas, examples, sources of the research
  
  
• Consider the relationship of the research, and researching, to both the dissertation and possible future employment opportunities

The Research Reflection Report is not only an academic exercise but also a piece of work which the student may wish to use in future employment contexts to demonstrate the ability to consider the importance of research and researching to:-

• business planning,
• business success,
• organisational contexts
• academic and business skills and the contribution which students can make to an organisation as a result of developing these skills

The Research Reflective Report therefore aims to support the student’s ability to be self-critical about their research. It also develops the students understanding and application of the core concepts of business and academic skills while developing their ability to perform more effectively within organisation in a real world context. The Report therefore encourages reflection on:-

1) Research Processes

2) The research methodologies considered and applied  

3) Research and researching as a problem solving process

4) The identification and discussion of key learning points which could be applied to other situations.

5) The relationship of research and the dissertation to professional development opportunities and career development intensions. 

Things to think about when completing your Research Reflective Report:-

The nature of your research and your Major Project

Why is it being done; why are you working on this subject and how significant is it to you and to future employers?  

Plan of your schedules

Have you managed effectively your research and Major Project schedules and are they logical?

Resources

What resources (i.e. people, evidence, references, and ideas) have you used and how are you using these? Why are they important?

Methodologies

Are the methods which you have used specified clearly, and are they sufficiently rigorous?  Are data/evidence/literature sources specified and available?  Are you conducting the research and the Major Project in a professional manner?  What analytical frameworks will be used to make sense of the work?  Are these appropriate?

Support and Barrier Issues

Have these been thought through by you?  How any barriers to be/being overcome?

Anticipated Benefits to you and to a future employment organisation

What are they? – Knowledge? : Ideas? : Learning Experience? : Efficiency?  : Effectiveness?  Financial?:  Organisational?: Skills?  

How will the project satisfy you?

How will the work contribute to your personal development?  How wide a range of skills and knowledge does it use from your programme?  Will it demonstrate that you have an understanding of your programme subject areas?

Major Project Conclusions: The conclusions which you are forming for your Major Project – are they based on rigorous reasoning and argument?