This module aims to:

Support students’ continuous professional development as people management practitioners through evidence-based approaches and the use of independent research skills.

Develop students’ ability to effectively use data and data analytics, to support people management decision making and develop the professional courage and integrity to bring about positive organisational change.

Enable students to develop the skills needed to effectively communicate how to bring strategic value to their role as people professionals.

Develop students’ skills in the acquisition, analysis and management of qualitative and quantitative information for both academic and professional decision-making purposes.

Orientate students around the sources of extant information that can be used to inform academic and managerial decisions.

Consider the nature of research both in an applied managerial and more overtly academic context.

Equip students with data analytic and data visualisation skills.

(LO1) Students will be able to critically analyse the quality and relevance of evidence available, by identifying sources of bias and using evidence-based questioning models.

(LO2) Students will be able to use people analytics and problem -solving techniques to explore stakeholder needs and concerns, identify and formulate a research problem and translate issues into answerable questions.

(LO3) Students will be able to use data and analytics to provide insight, answer questions and make decisions, using a range of data analysis software.

(LO4) Students will be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of the variety of available information research sources (published or commissioned) and be able to assess their utility in informing both academic and applied management research.

(LO5) Students will be able to report results and create data visualisation strategies in a clear, concise and credible way.

(LO6) Students will have a critical appreciation of the importance of adhering to relevant ethical standards in the design, conduct and dissemination of research.

(LO7) Students will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of evidence-based decision making and relevant analytical skills for people professionals.

(S1) Problem solving
Research issues can be viewed as problems to solve. This module will enable students to review data, analyse the data and consider how findings can solve the research questions. Students will learn the theory in lectures and put this into practice as they engage in learning activities and write their assignments.

(S2) Numeracy
The quantitative module content will focus on numeracy – how to identify and interpret datasets.

(S3) Commercial awareness
Students are asked to consider the commercial implications stemming from the findings/results of their data analysis.

(S4) Time management
This module has several components, and time management is key to delivering each assessment component.

(S5) Communication
Assessed formally via the individual report and developed in seminar classes.

(S6) IT skills
Developed through data review and analysis.

(S7) Lifelong learning
This is encouraged throughout the module, particularly as students use their knowledge in future work environment and apply the skills they learn in this module.

(S8) Ethical awareness
There are many ethical issues which students need to consider with respect to collecting and presenting data and these will be discussed during lectures and seminars. Students will be expected to have demonstrated an understanding of this in the work they present.

(S9) Data analytics and visualisation skills
Students will learn how to analyse people data and present them visually in an accessible, clear, enticing and engaging way to various audiences.

The module will be delivered over twelve weeks, comprising ten teaching weeks plus two enhancement weeks. The approach to teaching and learning will combine the use of large group in-person and asynchronous lectures, small group seminars (or workshops), scheduled seminar preparation sessions, and cross-programme contemporary issues sessions.

Lectures (total of 14 hours) - Each week will include at least a one-hour scheduled lecture, except for four weeks (scheduled at the beginning, mid-points and end of the module), which will be delivered as two-hour, in-person, live lectures. One-hour lectures could also be delivered live and in-person but may alternatively be provided online or asynchronously (including appropriate scaffolding and online supporting material) at the discretion of the module teaching team.

Seminars (total of 12 hours) - Each module will include six two-hour seminars. These seminars will be interactive small-group in-person workshops.

Seminar prep aration (total of 6 hours) - Each seminar will also include a scheduled one-hour preparation session, enabling students to engage in relevant preparation activities, as deemed necessary by the module teaching team.

Contemporary Issues Sessions (total of 4 hours) - The module will also include two two-hour contemporary issues lectures or events that are directly relevant to the module and broader programme of study. These may include a lecture from a member of faculty on their research, an external industry speaker or a member of the advisory board and will be organised by the Director of Studies in coordination with module teams.

Self-directed learning (total of 164 hours) – Students will engage in self-directed learning in a wide variety of ways throughout the programme. This will include engaging in scaffolded independent learning tasks set outside the classroom on the virtual learning platform, independent reading from essential and recommended sources (e.g., jour nal articles, textbooks, industry reports, practitioner publications), assignment development and preparation, formative online quizzes, case study analysis, simulation-based tasks, and self-directed group activities. Staff responsible for the module will also provide weekly office-hours and dedicated assessment and feedback sessions for students to seek individual support and formative feedback on their independent learning and progress.

Indicative syllabus:

Key approaches to people management research.

People analytics and data visualisation.

Developing research questions based on contemporary challenges in people management.

Evidence-based practice.

Research ethics.

Decision-making in people management practice.

Professional courage and influence in decision making.

Continuous professional development for self and others.