module specification

This module introduces students to the essential methodologies, approaches and tools for strategic business research. The module takes over from the skills picked up at level 4, in particular, the quantitative and qualitative skills taught and assessed in various modules. It explores some of the philosophies and theoretical perspectives i=underpinning the many different ways of conducting research as well as providing practical examples and guidance on how research should be planned and implemented.

This module also provides a grounding to the final year dissertation for Business Management and related courses. The module enables students to gain lifelong and employability skills such as planning, searching, reading, gathering and analysing data, writing and referencing. It provides students with technological tools to achieve the necessary output efficiently.

The module helps students to reflect on how research has enabled global organisations to deal and adapt with their challenges.
The module introduces students to the key and current business concepts, their operationalisation and their association, through review of the literature. In doing so, it enables students to deal with theoretical debates and conflicting issues of ethics and equality. The key skills covered and assess on the module will include advanced use of technology in analysis (Numerical and textual) data and reporting.

A Quantitative method module from Level 4 or equivalent

• Introducing the principles of research processes (LO1)
• Navigating the issues of research ontology and epistemology (LO1)
• Conducting literature reviews and processes (LO1)
• Formulating research questions and hypotheses (LO1)
• Introducing the key stages of research methodology, designs and settings (LO2,3,4)
• Introducing qualitative data (LO2)
• Applying qualitative data analysis (LO2)
• Finding, Collecting and organising quantitative data (LO1,2)
• Introducing quantitative data analysis (LO3,4)
• Introducing Mixed methods (LO3,4)
• Communicating and reporting findings (LO1,2,3,4)

The research methods for strategic management module is designed to encourage students to work independently and, in a group, to some extent. The approach of blended learning on the module will follow the university’s combined face to face lectures and seminars with elements of online experiences. A significant aspect of the module is carried out in class through activities, both theoretical and practical (in the computer lab). Students will be regularly asked to reflect on the issues of leadership, time management, organisation, discipline, engagement and resilience with their studies. They will draw on the ethical research considerations, societal impact and more importantly the limitations of their research output when undertaking their final dissertation in the final year.

The assessment for this module, 100% weighted coursework, is designed to prepare students for their final year dissertation. It is informed principally by two aspects: The first aspect is to give students an opportunity to produce a research proposal. This aspect will cover a review of the literature based on specific research questions, designing an appropriate and practical methodology, and being aware of the impact it has on real organisations. The second aspect is informed by the next stage in the research process, that of data analysis, once the required data has been collected. Students will be initiated to the various tools to transform data into practical information to make recommendations or advice. The use of the artificial intelligence tools will be encouraged.

The module learning outcomes (LOs) are developed with sustainability and the use and evaluation of artificial intelligence (AI) in mind. Sustainability is catered for by making the module covering core skills such as reviewing the relevant literature, developing practical research methodologies, assessing the impact and being aware of the limitations of any research undertaking.

Moreover, the development of any research proposal cannot avoid the advantages offered by the artificial intelligence (AI) tools available in academia. These tools will not only be presented to students in order to allow for higher quality and in-depth learning, but students will be encouraged to using them in order to deepen their analyses, especially their statistical and thematic analyses, which are currently in use as evidence in research output.

• Conduct a qualitative proposal based on research questions and sustainability [LO1]
• Apply an appropriate qualitative analysis to data and big data [LO2]
• Conduct a quantitative research proposal based on research questions [LO3]
• Apply appropriate and in-depth statistical analyses using AI tools [LO4]

Reading List - Research Methods | London Metropolitan University

Core text:
Research Methods for Business Students, Pearson (2023), Saunders & al

Additional text:
An introduction to Data Analysis, Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed methods, Tiffany Bergin, Sage (2018)

Qualitative Research Methods for Business Students, A Global Approach, Sage (2024), Kingsley O. Omeihe and Christian Harrison
 
Journals
· International Journal of Qualitative Methods: Sage Journals
· Quantitative Research - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
· https://emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/1355-2554

Journals
• https://journals.sagepub.com/ijqa
• https://eajournals.org/ijqqrm
• https://emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/1355-2554