module specification

Useful business research, like useful reflection, leads to change.  To that end students will be encouraged to take a pragmatic approach to their research, seeking always to create actionable conclusions of value to business managers, owners and entrepreneurs.
The aims of the module are to:
1. Foster a critical awareness and deep interest in a management/business issue or topic associated with their subject specialist area and to combine knowledge and analyses acquired in core MSc modules to explore that topic in depth
2. Enable students to produce a full business research report and a management summary on an appropriate topic to a professional and engaging standard that provides the basis for action.
3. Encourage reflection to critically evaluate the success of a business-related project and assess personal competence in the light of current knowledge and skills.
4. Build each student’s knowledge and confidence in their chosen subject to facilitate employability.
The expectation is that students will undertake research in areas of interest to them that is relevant to their chosen programme and that develops knowledge and skills that support employment.  Examples of possible areas of research include e.g.:
• Evaluation of an opportunity to enter a new market e.g. is it feasible for a low cost airline to enter the market in Brazil?
• Evaluation of a specific firm’s strategy and performance e.g. how is Ford responding to the advent of electric vehicles, driverless technology and ride sharing?
• Analysis of the impact of technology change on a company, industry or sector e.g. how will driverless technology and ride sharing impact on car ownership?
• Analysis of trends to create potential strategic scenarios for a firm or industry e.g. what are the future scenarios for law firms in the light of the adoption of AI?
• Analysis of competition in a specific market or industry e.g. global competition in the rapidly growing e-bike industry
• Identifying solutions to a specific business problem e.g. with a small or medium sized business e.g. what needs to be done to grow the business to the next level
• Analysis of disruption in an industry and the implications for a specific incumbent e.g. how should a black cab driver respond to Uber and other ride sharing platforms?
• Analysis of the effect of government intervention in a particular industry e.g. the current trade dispute over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus

N/A

Students will be prepared for this module in the preceding term where they will be taught the necessary knowledge and skills to complete their research.  During the course students will meet with their supervisor on a regular basis to review progress and impediments. LO1-5

The student at this stage is an independent learner supported by a supervisor.  The summative portfolio includes a reflective statement linked to the PDP created in Term 1.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate good judgment in the planning, selection, prioritisation and collection of evidence to investigate the chosen issue or topic via primary and/or       secondary  data

2. Analyse and evaluate the findings of their research based on the primary and/or secondary data collected and in the light of the appropriate theoretical           background and the constraints introduced by practical and real-life business issues.

3. Communicate effectively the business project conclusions and recommendations including presentation of quantitative/qualitative data in appropriate format and      a well-structured professional report.

4. Demonstrate personal accountability and integrity in their work, leading to achieving the status of a trusted business advisor

5. Demonstrate the development of independent and self-managed learning

Students will submit a portfolio comprising a:

• Business Consultancy Report; an 8,000-word research report including a management summary, rationale of the research, literature review, methodology, findings, analysis, conclusions and recommendations (70% of the total marks)

• Research Poster and Presentation; a poster that presents the research problem, their methodology, the findings and a short discussion of them, and a presentation video providing a concise verbal presentation of the poster (10% of the total marks)

• Reflective Statement; a 1,500-word reflection discussing the challenges students faced during the consultancy / research project, how they dealt with them and whether and in what ways the learning journey benefited them as professionals and individuals. Links should be made to the PDP created in the Leadership and Developing People Module (10% of the total marks).

• Submission of Evidence of the Collected Data; Students need to submit the evidence (collected data) with their portfolio e.g. interview recordings and notes, data, analysis spreadsheets, screen shots and links to all the literature.

Note that all elements of the portfolio will be submitted as a single document file.

Textbooks:

Core Text:

SAUNDERS, M., LEWIS, P., & THORNHILL, A. (2016). Research methods for business students. Harlow, Pearson Education Limited.

Other Texts:

Bryman, A (2012). Social Research Methods. 4th ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press

Bell, E., Bryman, A., Harley, B. and Bryman, A. (2019). Business research methods. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Checkland, P & Poulter, J 2006, Learning for Action: A Short Definitive Account of Soft Systems Methodology and its Use, for Practitioners, Teachers and Students. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Chichester.

Gill, J. and Johnson, P (2010). Research methods for managers  London; Sage

Kuiper. S (2009). Contemporary Business Report Writing South Western Mason Ohio

Markham. C (2007). Practical management Consultancy Surrey CCH

McNiff, J. (2013) Action Research : Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

McNiff, J (2016), You and Your Action Research Project, London, Routledge.

Newton R (2010). The Management Consultant; Mastering the Art of Consultancy Harlow England; Financial Times/Prentice Hall

Richard, N 2010, Consultant ebook, Harlow, Pearson Education UK,.

Whitney, DD, & Trosten-Bloom, A (2010), The Power of Appreciative Inquiry : A Practical Guide to Positive Change, Oakland, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated,.

Wickham, L, & Wilcock, J 2016, Management Consulting 5th edn : Delivering an Effective Project, Harlow, United Kingdom, Pearson Education Limited.

Journals:

Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods
Harvard Business Review
Journal of Business Research
Journal of Small Business Management
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
London Business School Review
MIT Sloan Management Review
MIT Technology Review
Small Enterprise Research

Websites:

www.grouppartners.net
www.mckinsey.com
www.mindmapping.com
https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/management-tools-and-trends/

Electronic Databases:

Bloomberg
Fame
Mintel

Social Media Sources

Other