Assignment Brief Academic Year 2024-25

Internal approval: Name, Date

management, marketing, sustainable business) and for which there is a strategic business reason for intervention. You will need to justify your decision from a strategic business perspective. (LO1)

Formative assessment A - short presentation. Module tutor to agree project, allocating student to appropriate supervisory group / of action learning set.

1. You should undertake a systematic review of the academic and wider literature on this topic, focusing on the key areas of concern. This review should include reference to, and critical analysis of, relevant key models and theories. (LO1, LO3)

Formative assessment B – short presentation of literature review and action learning set – feedback given.

1. You need to identify and evaluate appropriate methods of research in response to this business issue and explain your reasons for choosing them. You will need to formulate some research questions that you will aim to answer using your research. You should devise a plan for the collection of primary data using your chosen method(s) and obtain ethical agreement for the collection of data. You should also consider identifying potential secondary data sets that can help you answer those research questions. (LO2).

Formative assessment C – discussion using action learning sets – feedback given.

1. Using the analysis of primary and secondary data, you should draw evidence based conclusions and make suitable recommendations for the organisation. (LO3)

Formative assessment D – discussion using action learning sets – feedback given.

1. Keep a journal of your research journey, reflecting on the decisions made and actions taken. You may find it helpful to use a reflective model. You will then edit this into a 1,000 word reflective piece.

Formative assessment E – discussion using action learning sets – feedback given.

Summative (marked) assessment

Finally, you will need to write up your project into an 8,000 word final project report detailing your research, and a 1,000 word reflective account of your research journey. All word counts are +/- 10%. This assessment is marked.

The suggested format is as follows:

Title Abstract

Table of contents

Introduction (500 words) (LO1)

a) Presentation of the problem that you have identified with supporting evidence and references for impact this is having on the business including the academic discipline the problem falls into with critical discussion and contextual factors.

b) Rationale for conducting the research. Why is it important and what is the impact of doing / not doing something about the issue?

c) Research aim, objectives and related research questions.

Literature review (2,500 words) (LO1, LO3) to include:

a) Explanation of how this literature supports your investigation into your chosen issue, and how your research might add to this knowledge.

b) Critical evaluation of selected concepts, models, theories and ideas which might be useful for investigating your research topic and taking it forward.

c) Discussion of material from a range of relevant academic journal articles, as well as appropriate secondary research.

d) Production of a theoretical or conceptual framework to guide your research project.

Methodology (1,500 words) (LO2) Primary data collection (and selection of secondary data sets) to include:

a) Your approach, strategy and choices.

b) Methods used and rationale for these. How do you propose to collect data?

c) Population and Sampling (for quantitative research).

d) Participants and criteria for selecting the participants (for qualitative research).

e) Ethical considerations – (what ethical issues you have identified and what you did to address them).

Results & Discussion (1,500 words) (LO3) to include:

a) Graphs, charts, etc.

b) Statistical review and analysis of data.

c) How does your research relate to the existing body of knowledge and how can this assist the organisation?

d) What are the limitations of this research?

Conclusions and Recommendations to the organisation (2,000 words) (LO3) to include:

a) Linking of results to research questions – have they been answered and what does it mean?

b) What are the key conclusions arising from your research?

c) Based on the evidence, what recommendations would you make to the organisation?

References Using Harvard style. You will be expected to use at least 60 sources.

Appendices

-Table of results for raw research data (quantitative)