Research skills are as vital for the workplace as they are for academic development. Research skills enable students to identify a problem, collect informational resources that can help address the problem, evaluate the resources for quality and relevance, and come up with an effective solution to the problem. These are seen as essential skills by employers for most positions in industry, to support a range of duties, for example report writing, building a business case, business planning, launching a new product or service.
The aim of this unit is to offer students the opportunity to engage in sustained research in a specific field of study. The unit enables students to demonstrate the capacity and ability to identify a research theme, to develop research aims, objectives and outcomes, and to present the outcomes of such research in both written and verbal formats. The unit also encourages students to reflect on their engagement in the research process, during which recommendations for future and personal development are key learning points.
This is a Pearson-set unit. Students will choose their own research project based on a theme provided by Pearson. Students are therefore requested to familiarise themselves with the Pearson set theme and choose a research topic for the research project accordingly. The project must be related to their specialist pathway of study (unless the student is studying the general business pathway). This will enable students to explore and examine a relevant and current topical aspect of business in the context of the business environment and their chosen specialist pathway.
On successful completion of this unit students will have the confidence to engage in problem-solving and research activities which are part of the function of a manager. Students will have the fundamental knowledge and skills to enable them to investigate workplace issues and problems, determine appropriate solutions and present evidence to various stakeholders in an acceptable and understandable format.
The aim of this assignment is to assess the learner’s knowledge of all aspects of the unit
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit, student will be able to:
1. Examine appropriate research methodologies and methods to identify those appropriate to the research process.
2. Develop a research proposal including a supporting literature review.
3. Analyse data using appropriate techniques to communicate research findings.
4. Reflect on the application of research methodologies and process.
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Submission Format |
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The submission in this unit has the following two parts. Part A: Research project proposal and Research ethical form The structure for both is given in detail in the assignment brief. Single spacing and font size 12 should be used. The recommended length is 1500 – 2,000 words, but you will not be penalised for exceeding this limit.
Part B: Research Project Report The development of an overall research project. Submission is in the form of an academic research report. This should be written in a concise, formal business style using single spacing and font size 12. You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs, and subsections as appropriate, and all work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system. A bibliography should be provided using the Harvard referencing system.
The recommended length is 4,500 – 6,000 words, but you will not be penalised for exceeding this. You must ensure you support the written report with a range of graphical illustrations and appropriate appendices.
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Assignment Brief and Guidance for Part A and B – LO1, LO2, LO3 & LO4 |
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Vocational Scenario You are employed as a Business Consultant within an organisation [a UK-based organisation of your choice or your own place of work if appropriate] and have been asked to conduct research in the form of an investigative case study which examines “Business Recovery” to meet the challenges posed by unexpected events and disasters.
The recent global pandemic i.e. Covid 19 dramatically impacted industry across all sectors, inevitably affecting disproportionately those businesses that exist to support social interactions and placing strains on both supply and demand. As the pandemic and other world events continues to affect industry: lock-down periods, and international and local restrictions on movement led to a huge drop in revenues and a situation of emergency due to financial difficulties: · Dramatically lower revenues · Operational and financial challenges, including issues with liquidity, debt repayments or how to develop “smart capex” on assets to maintain tariffs and/or competitive advantage. · Uncertainty about the timing and speed of the recovery depending on the arrival of treatments for the virus in order to return to “normal”.
To meet the challenges posed by unexpected events and disasters, businesses around the world need to react in agile and decisive ways. This involves businesses identifying capabilities and needs to strengthen, refactor, reopen, rehire, re-budget, resupply, by creating long term plans that allow for scaling up.
Students are to choose their own research topic based on the set theme. The Pearson-Set Theme for the academic year 2022/2023 is on:
“Business Recovery”
The range of topics discussed could cover the following: • Testing business continuity or crisis management plans • Integrated response and recovery initiatives • Examples of disaster recovery planning models • Developing a business recovery roadmap to rebuild opportunity after a natural. disaster, a global pandemic, or political disruption. • Building a resilient organization through resilient leadership and resilient teams. • Developing recovery strategies. • The importance of shifting focus from recovery to resilience.
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YOUR TASK
You should read the information provided above before starting to define and work through your research proposal. You should also refer to instructions given in the assignment brief while completing your research work for this unit. In particular, consider the following:
· Consider the development of a methodical and valid research proposal as the foundation for the project.
· Choose a topic of personal interest in accordance with the theme provided for the module. The topic chosen should allow a sufficient and suitable degree of research through the existence of adequate background materials.
· A good research proposal should encompass the following:
o Research topic. This can be stated as a research question, objectives, or hypothesis.
o A defined research aim, objectives, supported by review of relevant literature.
o An evaluation of the merits, limitations and pitfalls of the approaches (e.g. methodologies, methods, tools etc.) to data collection in compiling the research proposal which produces a justification for your research design choices.
o The proposal extends a current line of learning that will lend itself to further rigorous exploration.
o Ensure that your proposal is ethical, reliable and valid. An ethics form must be submitted prior to completion of research as part of the research proposal.
· Agree your research proposal with your tutor before beginning your research
· Conduct your research as outlined in the proposal agreed with your tutor.
· Conduct a detailed and methodological review of literature.
· Present the analysis of data using appropriate techniques, charts and tables to communicate the research findings, outcomes, conclusions and justified recommendations to the intended audience.
· Produce a critical self-reflection and insight from the research project process including the applied methods and methodologies, research project process, which results in lesson learnt in view of the outcomes, and recommended actions for improvement to inform future research.
· Finally, you must prepare and submit the research project report in order to complete your work for this unit. The structure of the mentioned research project report must be discussed and agreed with the tutor.
The Role of your Tutor
All students should have initial guidance in planning their work and regular monitoring meetings. However, when reviewing drafts of students’ work, tutors should ensure they use their professional judgement and do not give excessive guidance. The student should meet individually with their tutor to monitor the research project and ensure it is progressing in an appropriate direction and at a pace which will enable the student to meet the assessment requirements. Students will perform best if some time is allocated within the normal timetable for working on the research project.
All students must discuss the chosen organisation for the project with the tutor for guidance and approval before starting the project. Students are encouraged to be familiar with the assessment criteria and Learning Outcomes for the unit and complete the report following the holistic approach: follow the logical steps in conducting the research.
Recommended Research Proposal Structure
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Section One: Executive Summary |
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It is a short summary of the contents of the research proposal. This enables those who are not sure whether they wish to read the complete proposal to make an informed decision. For those who intend to read the whole proposal the executive summary prepares them for what is to come.
It should contain answers to the following questions: 1. Project title 2. What are your research aims and objectives? 3. Why is your research topic important? 4. How do you intend to go about answering the research aims and objectives? i.e. methods, methodology and other tools of your research design. 5. What are your expected timeframe, cost, and any other resources required for the project.
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Section Two: Title, objective, responsibilities |
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The section should give the reader a clear idea about the central issue of concern in your research. It should also include a full statement of your research aim, research objectives, research questions and research hypothesis (If any). Research project objectives (e.g., what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to learn, What do you want to find out?)
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Section Three: Reasons for choosing this research project |
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Why you think that this is worth studying? Reasons for choosing the project (e.g., links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important)
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Section Four: Literature sources searched |
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Initial literature review giving the background and conceptualisation of your proposed area of study. This should provide existing knowledge and benchmarks by which your data can be judged. |
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Section Five: Research approach and methodologies |
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Evaluate alternate research philosophies and research philosophy that you will use in your research project? Evaluate alternative research methodologies/approaches and suggest research approach that you will use in your research project? Research strategies that you will use in your research project and why?? Evaluate alternative research data collection methods and suggest data collection methods that you will use in your research project e.g., questionnaire or interview or both? Time horizon of your research? Sampling frame (if applicable) and sample size that you will use in your research Sampling Techniques that you will use in your research project? Analytical tools to be used? Any particular characteristics of your participants? Any other details of research settings. Critically evaluate and justify your selection given above. Any primary or secondary data access issues expected? Please also incorporate instructions given on page 5-6 of this assignment brief about research proposal.
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Section Six: Activities and timescales |
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Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g., research, development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation, writing the report) The above could be given in the form of a Gantt chart for your research project. You may provide same in the form of a simple table. |
How long this will take: |
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Milestone one: …………………………………………………………………………….. Target date (set by tutor): ………………………………………………………………………….. |
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Milestone two: …………………………………………………………………………….. Target date (set by tutor): …………………………………………………………………………… |
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Reference list. |
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List any applicable references
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Comments and agreement from tutor |
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Comments (optional): I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification and is appropriate. |
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Research Ethics Approval Form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data collected from human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
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Pass |
Merit |
Distinction |
| LO1 Examine appropriate research methodologies and methods to identify those appropriate to the research process |
LO1 and LO2 D1 Justify chosen research methodologies and processes supported by a credible academically underpinned literature review.
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| P1 Examine alternative research methodologies.
P2 Explore alternative methods and tools used for the collection of research data that consider costs, ethics and access. |
M1 Evaluate alternative research methodologies and data collection methods and justify choices made based on philosophical/theoretical frameworks.
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| LO2 Develop a research proposal, including a supporting literature review | ||
| P3 Produce a research proposal, including a defined aim and objectives supported by a literature review. | M2 Evaluate the merits, limitations and pitfalls of approaches to data collection in compiling the research proposal. | |
| LO3 Analyse data using appropriate techniques to communicate research findings |
D2 Communicate to the intended audience the research findings and outcomes, including justified recommendations.
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| P4 Conduct research using appropriate methods for a business research project.
P5 Analyse data from research findings to communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience. |
M3 Present the analysis of data utilising appropriate analytical techniques, charts and tables to meet the research aim and communicate outcomes.
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| LO4 Reflect on the application of research methodologies and process. |
D3 Demonstrate critical self-reflection and insight that results in recommended actions for improvements to inform future research.
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| P6 Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied in meeting objectives of the business research project.
P7 Consider alternative research methodologies and lessons learnt in view of outcomes. |
M4 Demonstrate self- reflection and engagement in the research project process, leading to recommended actions for future improvement.
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Specification of Assessment |
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Present your work in one business report style which should include · table of contents · In text references · reference list · foot or end notes and appendices if any · Include the reference code of this assignment on your assignment submission front page. · Your signature to certify it authenticity · Ensure the following information is in the footer on every page: · Your name and college ID number The production date of your submission The code number of your assignment brief The page number at the bottom right-hand side.
· Spell-check the document and make sure there are no grammatical errors. · Complete all the tasks. · Produce clear specific reasoning and arguments in support of your answers. · Submit your work in a single work processed document covering all Learning Outcomes as stated in the each of the task. You must include a bibliography at the end to show where your information was sourced. · Your sources must be identified using the Harvard referencing system. The words used in your bibliography will not be included in your word count.
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Plagiarism, Collusion , AI & Special requirements |
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Any act of plagiarism and collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below: ‘Plagiarism occurs when a student misrepresents, as his/her own work, the work, written or otherwise, of any other person (including another student) or of any institution. Examples of forms of plagiarism include[1]: · the verbatim (word for word) copying of another’s work without appropriate and correctly presented acknowledgement. · the close paraphrasing of another’s work by simply changing a few words or altering the order of presentation, without appropriate and correctly presented acknowledgement. · unacknowledged quotation of phrases from another’s work. · The deliberate and detailed presentation of another’s concept as one’s own.’ All types of work submitted by students are covered by this definition, including, written work, diagrams, designs, engineering drawings and pictures. ‘Collusion occurs when, unless with official approval (e.g. in the case of group projects), two or more students consciously collaborate in the preparation and production of work which is ultimately submitted by each in an identical, or substantially similar, form and/or is represented by each to be the product of his or her individual efforts. Collusion also occurs where there is unauthorised co-operation between a student and another person in the preparation and production of work which is presented as the student’s own (Carroll, J and Appleton, J.( 2001) Plagiarism – A Good Practice Guide. Oxford Brookes University/JISC, Oxford).
All work for assessment must be submitted with a Turnitin Report on plagiarism. The Maximum Turnitin score admissible is 15% (after deduction of 1% & 2% records). Assignments with more that this adjusted 15% score will be automatically referred for reworking and resubmission
In case a student has special requirements, they should contact the MRC Welfare section (MRH 1st floor) seeking guidance.
The student should ensure to submit a self-prepared, authentic piece of work. The students will be advised at a later stage about MRC policy about similarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools/resources.
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Extension and Late Submission |
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If an extension is necessary for a valid reason, requests can me made using a course work extension request form available from the college. Please note that the lecturers do not have the authority to extend the coursework deadlines and therefore do not ask them to award a coursework extension. The completed form must be accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you being sick.
Assignment Resubmission Policy A Resubmission is any work handed in for final assessment a second time. The Final Deadline is the date on which the whole assignment must be completed and submitted (usually in week 12 at the end of the semester). Work submitted To be Resubmitted 1 Referred after Final Deadline Two weeks after the final deadline
2 Missed Final Deadline End of next semester
3 Missed formative assessment(s) and. End of next semester referred after Final Deadline
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Support Material |
Textbooks
- COSTLEY, C., ELLIOT, G. and GIBBS, P. (2010) Doing Work Based Research: Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-researchers. London: SAGE.
- FLICK, U. (2011) Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner’s Guide to Doing a Research Project. London: SAGE.
- GRAY, D. (2009) Doing Research in the Real World. 2nd Ed. London: SAGE.
- SAUNDERS, M., LEWIS, P. and THORNHILL, A. (2012) Research methods for Business Students. 6th Ed. Harlow: Pearson.
Journals
- International Journal of Quantitative and Qualitative Research.
- Qualitative Research Journal.
Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 6: Managing a Successful Business Project (Pearson Set)