International Business Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

The dissertation brings together all relevant aspects of the course in research on an International Business issue or problem. International Business is an applied field and thus raises substantive questions of importance beyond the world of academia. Thus, this individual dissertation will show evidence of both conceptual and empirical rigour

The aim of this module is to allow students to have a further opportunity to develop their chosen specialism by preparing and presenting a research based dissertation of not more than  words. The dissertation will build on previous studies and will fuse them into a major piece of research related to an international business issue.

LEARNING OUTCOMES (9)

A successful student will be able to show that he/she can:

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:

K1 Understand the principles and practice of research in general and business and management research in particular

K2 Develop an in-depth knowledge of a topic within the international business domain through extensive reading and research

K3 Acquire knowledge of the two research traditions and how they impact on research practice

K4 Understand and be able to evaluate different research strategies and approaches.

INTELLECTUAL QUALITIES

I1 Learn how to build a critical literature review on a business and management topic

I2 Learn how to apply research theory to specific international business issues

I3 Develop writing skills and be able to build an argument on paper using multiple sources

I4 Learn how to motivate themselves and apply themselves to in-depth study of a topic within a challenging in an intensive timescale

PROFESSIONAL/PRACTICAL SKILLS

P1 Learn how to write a masters dissertation on an international business topic

P2 Be able to use a range of electronic search techniques in order to build a critical literature review on research theory and practice in international business

P3 Be given the skills to carry out empirical research on an international business subject at a Masters level, including analysing, interpreting and presenting data

P4 Carry out primary research by working closely with research respondents in the business community

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

T1 Demonstrate proficiency in written communication

T2 Demonstrate the ability to build complex arguments coherently and creatively

T3 Demonstrate the ability to independently engage in extensive study of relevant literatures within a chosen topic area

T4 Demonstrate the ability to grasp theoretical concepts and then apply them to practical research issues and questions in the international business domain

MODULE TEACHING (10)

600 hours of directed independent study, via the academic supervisor appointed to each student.

TEACHING PLAN – Indicative content (11)

The development of the dissertation will develop naturally from the student’s proposal which was submitted as part of the Research Methods module. All students will also keep a diary which describes the work being undertaken and reflects upon their learning. The diary must be kept up to date and available to the tutor at all meetings.

Supervision meetings will be on a weekly basis, on a day agreed between the student and his/her tutor.

BlackBoard Learn Content and Dissertation Seminar

·Dissertation Overview (presentation)

·Module BlackBoard Learn (BBL) overview

·Module handbook

·Student log book

·Submission date and process (hard & digital copies)

·Library and ACE team support

·Student representative selection

·Release form to publish dissertation in library

·Career’s support

Please note:

·Late submissions will not be accepted after this date unless supported by extenuating evidence as required by University of Ulster policy. Please refer to programme handbook.

·The assignments will be marked in accordance with the University Plagiarism policy. Please refer to programme handbook.

·The documents should be between 15,000 and 20,000 words long and they should be referenced using the Harvard system of referencing and page-numbered.

·Sources should be from recognised and reliable academic, industry, business and government sources.