Business and Management Dissertation Module

Brief introduction to module

The Business and Management Dissertation module is an essential component in allowing the student to meet the goals that underpin the degree programme. It consists of an individual student led investigation into an applied business problem or issue selected by the student. The dissertation is an individual piece of work that presents a thorough and critical review of literature relevant to the research area under consideration. Dissertation is also a research project which tests the independent research skills and it employs gathering a first hand empirical data OR using secondary data (both options are feasible, both come with their own specific challenges). Finally, while dissertation is a piece of academic work that will draw on existing theory and practice, it should also make sense to a business practitioner. It will have academic references like a good essay or journal article and may make recommendations as to how to solve a business problem.

The short research proposal which constitutes a summative assessment in Part 1 of this module requires developing a clear outline for research which will be undertaken.

How the module develops Business Readiness

Students gain in-depth knowledge of business and management or their degree subject and can identify their own investigation through designing a research question for which they can plan an appropriate methodology and areas of research to explore and address issues. Students learn how to communicate their plans effectively and succinctly. Through the short research proposal students have demonstrated their curiosity and value for new learning and its application.

Module learning outcomes

Knowledge outcomes – You will be able to plan how you will conduct a dissertation based on your own area of investigation which will consolidate your in-depth knowledge of business and management or of the specialism of your business degree and its relationship to the wider organisation.

Intellectual /transferable skills outcomes – You will be able to identify and outline an appropriate methodology you will use to conduct an investigation, the results of which, through synthesis and evaluation, address a problem related to your degree discipline and/or its practice; plan which range of sources of information you will draw upon to support the investigation and which procedures and techniques will be appropriate to the analysis of a complex business situation. You will be able to plan how you will demonstrate criticality (independent thinking) in the evaluation and synthesis of information relating to the discipline and/or its practice. You will be able to present your plans/proposal in a professional or academic style.