Identify a complex issue within the field of business studies or practice, formulate and articulate a sound research question, aim and objectives for a dissertation or a project of strategic benefit to an organisation.

Handbook

BUS7B68 - Final Project 

Index

1. Module Details 2

2. Overview 2

3. Teaching contact hours 2

4. Portfolio: Research Proposal and Presentation of Proposal 3

4.1 Research Proposal and Presentation 3

4.2 Research Project Learning Outcomes 4

4.3 Research Proposal Grading 4

4.2 Research Proposal Presentation Grading 4

5. Final Project 5

5.1 Dissertation/Project 5

5.2 Research Project Oral Presentation Learning Outcomes 5

5.3 Research Project Task 6

5.4 Research Project Submission Requirement 9

5.5 Research Project Grading 10

6. Final Project Oral Presentation 14

6.1 Project Oral Presentation 14

6.2 Research Project Findings Presentation Learning Outcomes 14

6.3 Research Project Findings Presentation Task 14

6.4 Research Project Findings Presentation Grading 15

7. Reading List 15

7.1 Core Text 15

7.2 Additional Text 15

Appendix 1: Extensions and Extenuating Circumstances 16

Appendix 2: Submission Checklist 17

Appendix 3: Declaration of Authorship 18

Appendix 4: Use of external editorial or proofreading services 20

1. Module Details

2. Overview

The final project is major research project-based activity.It is the final stage of the Master’s degree and provides the student with the opportunity to demonstrate that they have gained the necessary knowledge, understanding, conceptual awareness and skills in order to organise and conduct a research project.

The aim of this module is to support students as they apply the knowledge and skills gained during their course of studies to investigate a complex issue within the field of business studies or practice of their choice.The module will enhance students’ ability to develop research plans, select and apply appropriate research design, collect and analyse data, and present findings and recommendations. Students will demonstrate their ability to discuss the findings generated through research, and to demonstrate the robustness and rigour of such through critical awareness and evaluation.The module also aims to develop a high-level case of topic understanding that demonstrates the impact of an enquiry that demonstrates the student’s ability to bring together various aspects of research project and analysis leading to an overall conclusion that is aligned with the dissertation/project research question.This module gives students the opportunity to apply their prior, and on-going, knowledge and experience to produce and complete a substantial piece of academic research.

The module comprises three assessments, all summative and of all which must at least be attempted to pass.

3.Teaching contact hours 

The module will be completed over one term.

In the term prior to the module starting, students will attend 33 hours of lectures and learning sets.

Lectures: Provide a broad outline structure for each topic to be covered. Lectures offer a good way of covering a lot of information and, more importantly, of conveying ideas to many people at once.

Learning sets: Provide students with the opportunity to develop their own research ideas (initiated through the lecture) in a group environment, thereby allowing peer input and review.

Please note that after the lectures and learning sets and prior to the third term when the summative assessment takes place you will have the opportunity to have your proposal formatively assessed.

Throughout the project proposal and dissertation/project report completion stage, students are entitled to 7 hours of individual supervision.

The breakdown of the 33 lectures and learning sets contact hours this term is:

Individual supervision: By arrangement between student and supervisor.

4. Portfolio: Research Proposal and Presentation of Proposal

4.1 Research Proposal and Presentation 

 1 The grade is provisional until confirmed by the relevant assessment board(s).Your work will be marked in percentages.This is considered to deliver the most accurate and fair outcomes for students. Each assessment that you undertake will be assessed using the common grading system. Information about the grading system can be found in your Student Handbook, Section 13.

The Grade Criteria can be found in Appendix C of your Student Handbook.

4.2 Research Project Learning Outcomes

The Learning Outcome for the Portfolio is as follows:

·Identify a complex issue within the field of business studies or practice, formulate and articulate a sound research question, aim and objectives for a dissertation or a project of strategic benefit to an organisation.

5. Final Project

5.1 Dissertation/Project

5.2 Research Project Oral Presentation Learning Outcomes

The Learning Outcomes for the Dissertation/Project are as follows:

· Synthesise and critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship within the chosen subject area.

· Select, justify and apply an appropriate research design and associated methods.

· Process, clearly present and critically analyse and interpret data obtained through the application of outlined methodology.

· Critically examine the contribution and limitations of the undertaken study and propose recommendations in theoretical and applied terms.

2 The grade is provisional until confirmed by the relevant assessment board(s). Your work will be marked in percentages. This is considered to deliver the most accurate and fair outcomes for students. Each assessment that you undertake will be assessed using the common grading system. Information about the grading system can be found in your Student Handbook, Section 13.

The Grade Criteria can be found in Appendix C of your Student Handbook.

5.3 Research Project Task

Students need to choose a topic of their choice to research within the field of business studies or practice. In accordance with QAA M Level descriptors, studying at master’s Level at Bloomsbury Institute London requires you to shift emphasis from a passive to an active learner; from relying on judgments of others to forming your own judgment, and from utilising the research of others to undertaking your own research. In determining which topics to deal with in the Final Project, you will be required to:

a. Exercise judgment in considering the feasibility of a subject area

b. Determine the usefulness to your study

c. Consider the overall relevance to the area of Business Management that you want to major in

d. Justify its importance as an area of study

e. Import a substantial range of current research and scholastic activity.

The purpose of this assignment is to bring together key areas of interest in the student’s chosen specialist area into one coherent assignment. It is the culmination of the student’s studies on the programme.

In line with the validated programme specification, students will be allocated a supervisor and a total of seven hours of contact time spread of semester. You will be expected to keep in touch with your supervisor throughout the period. At this level, supervisors will have their preferred way of managing the supervisory process. It is expected that the two parties agree to the working relationship at the beginning of the process, and an agreement of the relationship is confirmed. The word count is 10,000 words (+- 10%)order now

Identify a complex issue within the field of business studies or practice, formulate and articulate a sound research question, aim and objectives for a dissertation or a project of strategic benefit to an organisation.

5.3.1 Business Administration Areas

The broad areas students can consider for the generation of a specific topic are: Marketing

Human Resources Strategy Entrepreneurship Finance/Accounting

5.3.2 Structure

Title Page Acknowledgements Abstract (300 words)

Abbreviations, illustrations, and list of tables Contents page

Chapter 1 Introduction (1200 words)

1.1 Background and Context

1.2 Purpose of the Study

1.3 Statement of the Problem

1.4 Research Aim and Question

1.5 Research Objectives

1.6 Project Structure

Chapter 2 Literature Review (3000 words)

2.1 Introduction

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5 Summary

Chapter 3 Research Methodology followed in this study (1500 words)

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Research Philosophy

3.3 Research Approach

3.4 Research Strategy

3.5 Research Design

3.6 Data Collection

3.7 Data Analysis

3.8 Ethical Considerations

3.9 Summary

Chapter 4 Findings/Results (1000 words)

Sub-headings should be used to categorize the findings

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Key Findings/Results

4.3 

4.4 

4.5 Summary

Chapter 5 Discussions of Findings (2000 words)

Sub-headings should be used to categorize the discussion of findings

5.1 Introduction

5.2

5.3

5.4 

5.5 Summary

Chapter 6 Conclusion and Recommendations (1000 words)

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Conclusion

6.3 Main Contributions

6.4 Recommendations

6.5 Limitations and Suggestions for Future Studies References APPENDICES

5.3.3 Formatting

The following formatting guidelines should be followed:

· Line spacing: 1.15

· Font size: 11

· Font type: Arial

· Headings should be consecutively numbered

· Referencing conforms to the Harvard system

5.4 Research Project Submission Requirement

You must submit your assignment by using the Turnitin gateway on the Final Project Canvas site. Please see Appendix 1 for Submission Checklist.

Please Note: The act of submitting your work electronically will be taken as a Declaration of Authorship of the work, see Appendix 2.

5.5 Research Project Grading

The criteria below are specific to the MBA/MSc Final Project:

6. Final Project Oral Presentation

6.1 Project Oral Presentation

6.2 Research Project Findings Presentation Learning Outcomes

The Learning Outcomes for the Dissertation/Project are as follows:

· Design and deliver a presentation on findings of the project.Our samples

6.3 Research Project Findings Presentation Task

This will take the form of a 10-minute oral presentation of the findings of the dissertation/project report which will be followed by a five minute questions and answers session.

3 The grade is provisional until confirmed by the relevant assessment board(s). Your work will be marked in percentages.This is considered to deliver the most accurate and fair outcomes for students. Each assessment that you undertake will be assessed using the common grading system. Information about the grading system can be found in your Student Handbook, Section 13.

The Grade Criteria can be found in Appendix C of your Student Handbook.

7. Reading List

7.1 Core Text

Denscombe, M. (2021) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects. 7th Edition. Open University Press. McGraw-Hill Education.

7.2 Additional Text

Gray, D (2019) Doing Research in the Business World, 2nd ed., Sage Publications, London.

Appendix 1: Extensions and Extenuating Circumstances

Information on extensions and extenuating circumstances can be found in the Student Handbook,

Section 13.

Applications for extensions should be submitted via the Student Self-service Portal, SSP.

Applications for extenuating circumstances, with supporting evidence (such as medical certificates) should be made through the e-Vision portal.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s Extenuating Circumstances Policy document can be accessed through our Quality and Enhancement Manual: QEM Section 3: All Policies and Procedures.

Appendix 2: Submission Checklist

1. Have you checked Canvas messages/announcements for any additional/final details of the assessment?

2. Are you submitting in the correct submission area e.g., if it is a resubmission of your second assignment it should be ‘AS2R’?

3. Make sure you are submitting the correct final version of your work.

4. Have you kept to the word limit? Remember, anything greater than 10% above the word count will not be marked.

5. Have you addressed the assessment requirements as outlined in the Assessment Brief?

6. Have you spell checked and proofread your work?

7. Is your work formatted correctly and consistently?

8. Are you submitting a document in the correct format?

9. Is your work written in an appropriate academic style?

10. Have you checked your citations and Reference List/Bibliography?

11. Have you submitted your work through Turnitin to get a similarity report to check you have paraphrased where required?

12. Have you read the Declaration of Authorship (Appendix 3)?

Appendix 3: Declaration of Authorship

By submitting this work electronically to Bloomsbury Institute and Wrexham Glyndŵr University, I confirm that I have read and understood the Declaration and Definitions below:

Declaration of Authorship:

1. I hold a copy of this assignment which can be produced if the original is lost/damaged.

2. This assignment is my original work and no part of it has been copied from any other student’s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement has been made.

3. No part of this assignment has been written for me by any other person except where such collaboration has been authorised in the Assessment Brief.

4. I have not previously submitted this work for any other course/module.

5. I have not submitted any work generated by Artificial Intelligence as my own, as this will be considered as an academic integrity violation. This includes the use of Artificial Intelligence to outline, write, create, or edit my assignment. e.g., work generated by Artificial Intelligence including chatbots, language models and learning algorithms.

6. Where applicable, I have included a declaration confirming external editorial or proofreading services (see Appendix 3).

Definitions

I understand that:

1. Plagiarism is defined as using another person’s words or ideas without acknowledgment and submitting them for assessment as if they were one’s own work. This can include copying, translating from one language to another or unacknowledged paraphrasing. It includes the use of quotations from the published or unpublished work of other persons, whether from books, articles, the internet, or any other format, when these quotations have not been acknowledged as such by being placed in quotation marks and acknowledged. It can also include the use of summaries of another person’s ideas, judgements, diagrams, graphs, drawings, computer programmes, laboratory, or survey results without reference to that person in the text and the source in the bibliography. Note: Wrexham Glyndŵr University will not accept a lack of understanding of the requirements for acknowledging the work of others as a legitimate defence for disregard of academic integrity.

2. Collusion is defined as work which has been undertaken by or with others but is submitted solely as the work of one person. This can also apply when the work of one person is submitted in the name of another. Where this is done with the knowledge of the originator, both parties can be considered to be at fault. This should not be confused with group working when clear advice will be provided on what students are permitted to submit for assessment. Unless specifically advised to the contrary, any work submitted for assessment should be that of the individual and not that of a group.

3. Contract cheating/Commissioning includes any action whereby a third party undertakes work on behalf of the student whether or not paid for by the student. The definition of third party includes a fellow student, friend, or family member but where it is another student, that student is also subject to action under this procedure.

4. Re-use of one’s own material (either in part or wholly) is where material has previously been submitted in support of an application for academic credit, except where this is appropriately referenced or where it is a resubmission of previously failed work and has been authorised by the programme team.

5. Fabrication of data involves making false claims to have carried out experiments, observations, interviews or other forms of data collection and analysis, or acting dishonestly in any other way.

6. Failure to obtain appropriate permission to conduct research: this directly relates to a student’s studies.

7. My completed assignment is submitted and checked for plagiarism through the use of plagiarism detection software called Turnitin.

Please note: Submitting work which is not your own and/or cheating in exams can be considered as fraud4 and handled in accordance with Wrexham Glyndŵr University‘s Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy. Penalties can include:

· Cancellation of the student’s marks in part or an instruction to the markers to ignore any plagiarised text when marking.

· The reduction of the degree result by one class or the non-award of a distinction, as appropriate.

The disqualification of the student from future examinations (applicable to offences occurring during examinations)

Further information on Academic Integrity can be found in your Student Handbook, Section 13.  

4 If a student is suspected of commissioning (e.g., paying someone to write an assignment for them), this could be classed as fraud under student disciplinary procedures, separate to academic misconduct procedures. If proven, the consequences would be severe, including removal from their course of study.