MBA Placement Dissertation Project Plan

1Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding

·A deep and systematic understanding and critical appreciation of a selected specialist area from within the MBA toolkit and through engagement with a work placement, demonstrate the ability to challenge existing preconceptions and develop positive and enquiring approaches to management and enterprise relating to issues at the forefront of research into professional practice.
 
2Demonstrate the following skills and abilities

·Independently design and undertake a rigorous and substantial investigation into an aspect of the leadership and management of a placement organisation and develop an applied and specific set of interventions, including resourcing and implementation planning that seeks to enhance organisational performance and address change management considerations.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

The MBA Placement dissertation deepens your exploration of the implementation of business decisions.  The assessment requires you to consider in depth one aspect of the implementation of decisions.  For Assignment 1 you will need to develop the plan for your project and a written Introduction (1000 words excluding references) that clearly outlines the plan under the following headings:  rationale, scope, aim, objectives, link between theoretical underpinning and empirical issue, method of analysis and evidence. 

Assignment 1 General Guidelines

1.Choose a topic which is linked with an issue that is faced by the firm were you do your placement.
2.Interpret this as meaning that the issue should examine the problems of implementation of strategy or some other major plan to inform decision making and change.  This will integrate different areas of the MBA.
3.You must start off with a clear rationale, scope, aim and careful, well–defined objectives
4.You must include directly relevant theory to inform the research
5.You must consider the method of analysis (not methodology) and availability of evidence (data) to meet the aim and objectives
6.You will need to demonstrate the relevance and feasibility of your project
7.Referencing must be complete and in the Harvard format.

The first assessment will be the production of a written proposal on a subject relevant to your placement organisation in agreement with your supervisor and placement organisation, and a detailed plan which you will create after discussion with your academic supervisor  and placement organisation mentor. 

Your individual proposal is due in week 6 of the placement and the submission should include:

·Academic literature to be considered for your area of research including the area of business application of the placement organisation.  
·Ethical consideration (including completion of your Ethics Form)
·Your research question(s) and objectives
·Outline of issues to be considered and research activities to be undertaken
·Research methodology
·Suggested primary and/or secondary research to be considered
·Outline the potential findings and value of the recommendations for the placement organisation
·Research plan of activities and timings
In addition to the research proposal you should also submit the Ethics Form for approval by the Business School Ethics Committee.
What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)
In order to pass Assessment 1 you will need to:
·Provide evidence that, after discussions with your supervisor, you have identified appropriate and achievable objectives for your placement related  project, supported by a plan of action
·Research, select and use appropriate subject-based theories and methodology and produce a dissertation proposal
·Be aware of ethical issues involved in conducting both quantitative and qualitative research, produce and submit an ethics form
·Present your proposal in a compelling way to address both academic and organisational issues that will arise during the completion of the dissertation.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?
We will be filling this section in together in class on Click or tap to enter a date. make sure you have downloaded/printed out the Assignment Brief and bring it to the session with you.

1. The structure:

Flexible. You can describe the theory you intend to use to support your standpoint, and then use practical situations to reinforce your work. There is no fixed order to structure this assignment.

2. The link between theory and practice:

Remember to relate the two together sufficiently! You need to relate the theory to evidence in your assessment. The evidence needs to be specific. Don’t use generalised and anecdotal evidence.

3. Use of literature:
Use academic source, i.e. books, journal articles etc. Refer to respected industry sources DO NOT overuse the Internet, do not use and / or quote from Wikipedia.

Reminder:

You are required to use in-text citations throughout and produce a reference list with full bibliographic details using the Harvard Referencing System.

4. The writing:
Try to approach this assignment in a logical and systematic way. Make sure you have a logical structure, a convincing argument, clear description of the situations which ‘set the scene’, and clear explanation which relate to theories, and a conclusion that draws your argument together.

Further guidance will be provided by your academic tutor and supervisor.
How does assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?
 This is an individual project. Your tutor will provide you guidance but most of the work will be done individually building up on what you have already studied. The tutoring session are here to provide individual guidance based on what you will present to your tutor