To provide a process which will enable students to refine and apply their research skills, underpinned by the knowledge of either the management, marketing or human resource management subject areas acquired during their programme of study;

To use appropriate management research methodologies in conjunction with primary/secondary data collection methods and/or simulation techniques to explore an area of interest within either the management, marketing or human resource management domains in significantly greater depth than the taught modules;

To help students acquire a more significant understanding of a topic related to their previous studies, and to bring together this knowledge with academic ideas in a way that develops both.

(LO1) Recognise and critically evaluate different management research designs and the assumptions upon which they are based;

(LO2) Refine and execute a structured plan of research based on informed choices about research design, and data collection and analysis methods;

(LO3) Conduct research into either the management, marketing or human resource management topics in a rigorous and systematic fashion;

(LO4) Present a logical, critical and sustained argument, and develop conclusions in a manner consistent with Masters level standards.

(S1) Communication Skills: Students will have opportunities to develop written communication skills through group discussions and coursework. This will be assessed by written assignments, individual work and the dissertation;

(S2) Problem Solving and Decision Making: Students will be challenged to think critically about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or programme of action in their course assessment;

(S3) Information and Communication Technology Skills: Students will have opportunities to improve their ICT skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of software applications including word processing, visual presentations, data bases, spread sheets and using the internet for information searches in the course of researching and presenting coursework;

(S4) Personal Effectiveness: This applies to all modules where students will be encouraged to think critically about theory and practice and to challenge and critique assumptions about the management of people and organisations. In doing so they will be able to recognise and consider issues such as corporate social responsibility, ethics, diversity, technology and strategy. This will be assessed through attaining the appropriate level of critical engagement with theory and practice in programme assignments;

(S5) Time management: This applies to all modules of the programme and is relevant for planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

Teaching Method 1 - Virtual classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected in the virtual classroom in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 3.

Teaching Method 2 - Non-classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected for reading, research and other individual work to support engagement in the classroom is 10.

Refining the research proposal developed in the Research Methods module;

Planning and executing the research project;

Utilising appropriate research methods;

Research ethics;

Writing for academic and practitioner audiences.