Reference no: EM132883700

Dissertation research proposal

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The research proposal will be no more than 3,000 words submitted via Moodle, to provide the key information for supervisors to judge on the extent to which you have a well-developed plan for the research project you aim to carry out for your dissertation.

Instructions

An MBA/MSc dissertation should report an investigation of a business or management related research question which:
- reflects the strategic management or international focus of the programme;
- is based on current research literature and current concerns;
- contributes to developing business practice and new knowledge.
The dissertation may be linked to a particular organisation to which you have access, but this is not essential. Whilst most dissertations are likely to involve the collection of primary data, any combination of primary and secondary data may be used. Your research proposal must take these requirements into account.
Prepare a research proposal (max 3,000 words) on a theme relevant to the strategic management focus of the programme. The proposal should include detailed research objectives, a literature review and bibliography, research strategy and methods, and an outline of the methods of analysis, using pilot survey or simulated data. The research proposal will be completed by the beginning of the summer term, to allow formal assessment and to carry forward discussion with your supervisor regarding your project.
You should make good use of the learning and development opportunities provide by the Management Research Methods module (particularly the private study undertaken) and the discussion(s) with your appointed supervisor.

Structure of the research proposal
Your research proposal should include the following:

- TITLE
Include a fully descriptive TITLE for the business research to be investigated. The title and scope of the proposal should have a strategic emphasis. This means that the research objectives should include a consideration of how the resolution of the problem affects the future development and direction of the organisation(s) concerned (investigation) and/or of other similar organisations. It may also include wider considerations in terms of sector, geographic or national policy implications.

- Section 1: INTRODUCTION and CONTEXT (ca. 300-500 words)
This section should introduce the RESEARCH PROBLEM to be investigated; provide an explanation of why the problem is important and/or interesting (including relevant citations to support the claims
1

made, both academic and business/professional); provide an explanation of the research context or organisational background, and your access for data collection; provide a discussion of the SPECIFIC (albeit tentative) RESEARCH OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS/HYPOTHESIS to be
investigated.

- Section 2: LITERATURE REVIEW (ca. 800-1,200 words)
1. Outlining the results of the literature search you have carried out and identifying a relevant theoretical framework. This must go beyond textbook material. Extensive use of academic publications is more essential and important for your conceptual framework.
2. Synthesising from 15+ credible sources 3. Identifying research/literature gap

- Section 3: INVESTIGATIVE APPROACH and METHODS (ca. 800-1,200 words)
This should cover the following areas, as appropriate:
1. Research approach and research philosophy (with justification); 2. Target population and sampling technique(s), tentative sample size (justified and explained);
3. Data collection: what data (evidence/ information) you aim to obtain in relation to your research questions/hypotheses and objectives; what the sources for such data are; how you will obtain the data (instruments of data collection);
4. Data analysis: how you will analyse the data collected (methods, instruments, tests), specific, including, when appropriate, draft questionnaire/interview questions, interview schedule, etc. (in appendices, not included in word count).

- Section 4: ETHICAL ISSUES (ca. 500 words)
Provide a concise but comprehensive discussion of the ethical issues that may arise in respect of your proposed research study, encompassing all the potential concerns, from the beginning (topic choice, data collection) till the end (i.e. the write up).

- Section 5: TIME PLAN and RESOURCES (ca. 100-500 words)
An outline of the TIME PLAN (all the milestones and tasks required to reach them) and TIME FRAME (from the moment you came up with the topic till the thesis submission deadline) for carrying out the research (best presented in the form of a Gantt chart) and a brief discussion of tall he RESOURCES to be involved in the successful completion of the research project. You need to demonstrate that your project is feasible/doable and that you are in a position to manage it effectively and complete it on time.

- Section 6: REFERENCES - unnumbered (not included in word count)
A single list should be given, closely following the HARVARD REFERENCING STYLE for bibliographical details, including websites, blogs or other digital materials.
NB: Do not include URLs for journal articles accessed via the web (e.g. On ResearchGate) but original publishing details (journal name, etc.)

- APPENDICES (not included in word count)

Full use should be made of appendices to provide supporting evidence, e.g. sample documents from the organisation(s) involved, questionnaires, interview outlines, samples of secondary data, etc. However, you must not use appendices to present key information.

Harvard reference style

Attachment:- Dissertation Assessment brief.rar