Research Project Proposal Guidelines

Assessment Aim

This assignment aims to test the ability of the student to undertake research and investigate a topical challenge, issue or problem to produce an in-depth research report, with evidence showing the application of theoretical concepts and business principles to real-world situations. It will also testify to the method you have selected with justification for collecting data. The assignment also aims for the student to develop originality of thought and skills in independent research, critical analysis, argumentation and expression. 

The actual research depends on the student, the context of their area of learning, their focus of interest and the anticipated outcomes.

 

The success of any business, regardless of its size, depends highly on its understanding of the current and future environment, its customers’ tastes and technological developments. Therefore, the organisations that you may wish to consider include:

 

• Service businesses

 

• Manufacturing organisations

 

• SMEs and conglomerates

 

• Startups or established companies

 

• Entrepreneurial ideas 

Students will be allocated a Research Supervisor who will provide them with guidance on how to approach this report including its content and structure. Similar guidance is included in this Assessment Brief and its Appendices

 

The Research Project, which follows on from this proposal, is a significant piece of work that students are required to undertake to complete their degree. The completed project will form a valuable tool, which students will be able to show to prospective future employers as proof of the author’s acumen.

 

This Research Project will be the largest piece of work that a student is expected to produce as an undergraduate, which is why the amount of time given to work on it is set as it is. Students are therefore advised to commence work on their project at the earliest opportunity. The outcome of the work, in addition to the satisfaction of the production of such a high-quality piece of portfolio work, will also see the student achieving greater self-motivation, self-direction, autonomy and personal achievement.

The Project Proposal is one of the most important deliverables of any project. Its main aim is to define the scope and objectives of the project and the plan of work, which has to be undertaken for its successful completion.  In short, a Project Proposal Report should describe:

 

• What you are planning to do?

 

• Why you have chosen to do it?

 

Assessment Considerations

• How you are planning to achieve it?

 

• Who will be doing what?

 

• When you are planning to do it?

 

The Project Proposal Report provides a firm foundation for executing the project and acts as a baseline for monitoring and managing your progress. It will also improve your chances of completing your project successfully.  

The written Project Proposal should not be more than 1,500 words. It should consist of 1.5 spaced typescript, and an appropriate font style such as Times New Roman or Arial, with text size 12. The paragraph margins should be set as: top 2.5 cm, bottom 2 cm, left 3 cm and right 2 cm. You must leave an empty line between paragraphs.  

 

You must upload your Project Proposal electronically.  

 

Your proposal format should be as follows:  

• The Title page of the Project Proposal Report should identify:  

 

• Your details (full name, LondonMet ID and email).  

 

• The University Department/Faculty and Campus where you are doing your course  

 

• The Course you are doing (i.e. BA (Top-Up) Hospitality Management)  

 

• The module (Research Methods and Project –MN6P09GN)  

 

• The title of your project.  

 

• Your supervisor’s full name and email.  

 

• The date of submission (dd.mm.yyyy).

The background, the context, the aim, the objectives and the rationale of conducting that specific piece of research.   

Current knowledge including substantive findings, as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to your topic.

Identify and discuss a range of research methods and propose and justify the methods which you will be using for your research.

Conclusion

Your proposal should have a conclusion that summarises the entire work you have written. 

You are required to submit a completed ethics form depending on the type of research you will undertake. For instance, if your research is primary research and your data will be collected using the interview method, you will be expected to attach a completed ethics form.

References

Identification of literature and other sources that will be used and referred to in the main report. Submission of a report without references will not be allowed.

Students are referred to the College’s policy of Plagiarism and Collusion, as detailed during interview and induction and as included in the Students’ Handbook. Students are reminded that persistent offences in this area will result in the student’s termination

 

Any act of plagiarism and/or collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below:

 

“Using the work of others without acknowledging the source of the information or inspiration. Even if the words are changed or sentences are put in a different order, the result is still plagiarism”. (Cortell, 2003)

 

Collusion is the submission of work/assignments produced in collaboration with another student or students. Where one person shares his/her work with others who submit part or all of it as their work, then the incidence of collusion is established.

 

Collusion does not apply to group work, but only amongst members of the same group– two separate groups, using the same content, or partial content will count as collusion.