Reference no: EM133102381

LD0480 Dissertation - Northumbria University

Research Proposal and Masters Dissertation

Learning Outcome 1: Plan and complete a major research project on a contemporary business, financial, management or leadership topic and organise the findings into a comprehensive and explicit structure that is critically assessed and is linked to the conclusions drawn;

Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate skills of analysis and synthesis in the selection and application of appropriate research methodology and method(s) to their chosen research topic;

Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of innovative and contemporary research on the business and management community.;

Learning Outcome 4: Critically reflect on the processes involved in the research, including reflection upon their own ethical values and the contribution of the research to the topic area;

Learning Outcome 5: Acquire, interpret and apply specialist functional knowledge in relation to their programme of study (specialist programmes only).

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: To develop the skills necessary for employment and career progression
1.1 Demonstrate awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses and the ability to engage in continuing self-development
1.2 Demonstrate the development of inter-personal and intra-personal skills
1.3 Demonstrate competence in contemporary analytical and ICT applications

Goal 2: Be culturally and ethically aware
2.1 Demonstrate their ability to work in culturally diverse groups and teams and make appropriate an personal contribution to team effectiveness
2.2 Reflect on their own ethical values
2.3 Understand the wider impact of individual or organisational decision making on social and environmental contexts

Goal 3: Have developed leadership and management capability
3.1 Analyse and communicate complex issues effectively
3.2 Demonstrate decision making, problem solving and project management skills

Goal 4: Have developed and applied knowledge of international business and management theory
4.1 Acquire, interpret and apply knowledge of international business, management and organisational functions
4.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of innovative and contemporary research on the business and management community
4.3 Acquire, interpret and apply specialist functional knowledge in relation to their programme of study (specialist programmes only)

Goal 5: Have developed a range of research skills and project capabilities
5.1 Plan and complete a major piece of research or project on a contemporary business, financial, management or leadership topic
5.2 Demonstrate skills of analysis and synthesis in the application of research methods to the exploration of contemporary business and management issues.

ASSESSMENT COMPONENT: DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

Section 1: Researchable Topic Area (Approx. 300 words)
You should include background and issue(s) underlying your research topic area.

Section 2: Objectives for the Research (Approx. 150 words)
You should state 3-4 maximum research objectives, relating to academic theories, your proposed investigations, your analysis and your conclusions.

Section 3: Literature Review (Approx. 1050 words)
You should identify and discuss the academic theories and some current research relevant to your researchable topic area.

Section 4: Details of your research (Approx. 1050 words)
You should identify who or what you will use to obtain your data or information; explain how you will collect this data / information and how you will get access; identify how you are going to analyse your data and information.

Section 5: Research Ethics (Approx. 150 words)
(a) If your study involves people, briefly describe what you will consider in order to ensure that your research follows the University's Ethical Policies and Procedures.
(b) If your study involves secondary data only, you should advise us of any ethical issues or the absence of any ethical issues.

Section 6: Conclusions (Approx. 300 words)
You should describe what your research will achieve by referring back to your objectives.

Section 7: Timetable for your research
Give a month by month indication of when you are going to work on various parts of your dissertation (e.g. your literature review; your collection of data / information; your analysis of data / information etc)

Section 8: References
List in sources you have used in the production of your proposal. This must be in the correct format (APA style).

ASSESSMENT COMPONENT: MASTERS DISSERATION

Main sections of the dissertation

Title - The title should be succinct yet clearly specify the content of the report. This should be descriptive and explicit rather than poetic or implicit. It should be agreed and finalised as part of the final draft. It may be different from the original proposed title.

Abstract - The purpose of the abstract is to summarise the entire dissertation, including a description of the problem, the student's contributions, and conclusions. Four keywords are required.

Acknowledgements - The student may wish to thank those people who have been particularly helpful in the preparation of the dissertation. Consideration of persons external to the Newcastle Business School is particularly appropriate. Facetious acknowledgements are not acceptable.

Declarations and Word Count - a declaration page signed by the student MUST be included. See the eLP forthe Declaration template. Please do not forget to sign the Declaration.

Introduction - The purpose of this section is to contextualise the study. This means that the significance or importance of the subject is set out. If there is no apparent importance to the study to any external reader, the topic may not be appropriate. Personal interest may inspire selection of the dissertation topic, but ultimately, its importance to others should be specified. This can often be done by positioning the dissertation in relation to other work that has been published either as an advancement, continuation, compilation or verification. This section should also tell the reader how the topic will be unfolded and the order of forthcoming material.

Body of Work - The sections of each dissertation will differ, but in any case should progress logically, starting with a critical review of existing knowledge (the literature review), presentation of a summary or synthesis, introduction of research methodology and findings, if applicable, or introduction of case material.

The Literature Review - This will include the following qualities:

• The topic of the dissertation will derive from a systematic body of knowledge;
• The review of this knowledge is made as current as possible;
• The knowledge is organised into a comprehensible and explicit structure;
• All major points are included, and extraneous information omitted;
• Critical theoretical analysis/evaluation informs the choice of research approaches/methods;
• A summary is produced outlining the current state of the knowledge.

It is further implied that the result of the literature review will be used either in 1) a situation for which the student has collected primary data OR 2) to critically examine and assess the operation of this knowledge in an existing case study OR 3) to re-evaluate existing published data or knowledge to derive new knowledge or meaning. The main points of the body of knowledge being synthesised are to be I) critically selected and analysed and ii) the strengths and weaknesses of the synthesis itself are to be discussed and appropriate conclusions drawn.

Research methodology and methods - A degree of proficiency in the understanding, selection and execution of research methodologies and methods must be evident. It is expected that these procedures will provide:

i) a defensible verification of the ideas put forward in the dissertation,
ii) development and exploration of the ideas in applied conditions. If an existing case is presented, sufficient secondary research must be attempted to produce a coherent and informed critical evaluation of that case.

It is also possible that the application of knowledge can be made under some other circumstances not directly indicated here, so long as the use of the knowledge is appropriate and illustrative.

The connection between the knowledge and the original case or primary data for the dissertation must be explicitly articulated and the case or data be presented as a valid and reliable means of verification of this knowledge. If the goal of the dissertation is not data based but conceptual in nature, then the validity and verifiability of the concepts must be established.

Conclusion - This section explains the relations between the body of knowledge and the case or new finding. It should present the case for the dissertation's success in meeting its goals, as well as any shortcomings and limitations that apply. It may suggest further work or study needed on the topic, as well as ways the new work can be used or applied in other cases. It is not meant to be a summary or restatement of the entire dissertation, which belongs in the abstract. If the student has developed any strong personal opinions about the subject this is the place where such content is appropriate.

Attachment:- Dissertation.rar