Planning Your Dissertation: Selecting a Topic and Creating a Dissertation Plan

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Identify, determine and justify a disciplinary-relevant project, including its aims, scopes and objectives.

2. Self-manage research, including managing the supervisory process and reflecting critically on the work undertaken to identify improvements in research and project practice

3. Understand how to identify and synthesise the relevant conceptual theory and methodological techniques from the programme pathway, using a range of sources and data, applying them to a particular topic, case or organisation.

4. Professionally present the analysis of the data and the results of the project, including drawing appropriate conclusions and providing recommendations and guidance for managerial judgements and decision making in the chosen discipline or pathway.

5. To understand the ethical request process and apply it appropriately to the research project.

· Selecting a topic for investigation. This was covered in the MAN7057 Research Practice module but your topic may still require adjustment according to the feedback you have received from your supervisor on your proposal.

· Establishing the precise focus of your study by deciding on the aims and objectives of the dissertation and formulating the question(s) to be investigated. Again this was covered in but may require adjustment.

· Drawing up an initial dissertation outline in line with the aims and objectives of the dissertation.

· Devising a timetable to ensure that all stages, including writing of the dissertation will be completed on time. The timetable should include provision for regular contact with your  dissertation supervisor. Again, you were asked to draft a schedule in your proposal for but this may require adjustment.

3. The Choice of Dissertation Topic You were required to choose a dissertation topic under the MAN7057 Research Practice module. Your topic may change as your research develops but your final topic should be consistent with your approved ethics request form.

It should also comply with the following conditions. Firstly, it should be:

· Relevant to business, defined broadly

· Clearly focused so as to facilitate an in-depth approach, subject to the availability of adequate sources and to your own knowledge;

· Of value and interest to you and your personal development.

In addition, students must choose a topic that is aligned with their chosen subject pathway. For example: MSc Management and Marketing students must chose a marketing topic; MSc Management and International Business must choose a relevant topic related to International Business; and MSc Management and Finance must choose a Finance-related topic.

Identifying a Relevant Research Project

It is recommended that you should have a dissertation plan to guide you right from the outset. Essentially, the dissertation plan is an outline of what you intend to do, chapter- by- chapter, and therefore should reflect the aims and objectives of your dissertation.

 It provides a focus for your thoughts.

 It provides your dissertation supervisor with an opportunity at an early stage of your work to make constructive comments and help guide the direction of your research

 The writing of a plan is the first formal stage of the writing process, and therefore helps build up your confidence.

 In many ways, the plan encourages you to come to terms with the reading, thinking and writing in a systematic and integrated way, with plenty of time left for changes.

The following requirements must be adhered to in the format of the final dissertation.

1) Your final report will automatically be checked by the Turnitin software. You may only upload a single file containing the whole of your dissertation including your title page, abstract, table of contents, list of references and appendices.

2) The dissertation should be 8,000 words in length. The normal 10% “rule” applies so you may in fact submit up to 8,800 words without being penalised. The word limit excludes the title page, abstract, contents list, references and appendices. You must declare the number of words at the end of the main body of your report. In addition, the maximum number of pages, including the title page, abstract, contents list, references, and appendices should not exceed 250.

3) The dissertation should word processed in Arial 11 point type. Larger fonts should be  used for chapter and section headings.

4) The outside front sheet shall bear the title of the work in at least Arial 24 point type. The name and initials of the candidate, the qualification and the year of submission shall also be shown on the front

5) One-and-a half spacing must be used in typescript except for indented quotations or footnotes where single space may be used (use these sparingly). All margins should be set at 2.5cm.

6) Pages shall be numbered consecutively through the main text including photographs and/ or diagrams which are included as whole pages.

7) The front (title) page shall give the following information:

· The full title of the dissertation,

· The full name of the student and student ID number (8 digits),

· The statement: “This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the MSc Management Programme”

· The Faculty and University title plus the Collaborating Establishment, if any,