module specification

This module will enable students to develop awareness of what is involved in being a practitioner researcher and undertaking ethical work-based research associated with responsible and sustainable management practice in an organisational context. The concepts of positionality and reflexivity will be explored, and will support students in identifying the factors that influence the identification of the problem and the factors that influence practitioner research choices when planning ways to explore this problem. Candidates will actively consider the ethical issues that need to be taken into account when undertaking practitioner research including changing roles and identities, risk and organisational reputation.

They will be enabled to explore their own contexts more critically and reflexively with the aim of finding sustainable solutions to key challenges in the working environment. Development of professionals with these capabilities is key to tackling the ‘wicked’ problems confronting organisations and societies
Activities undertaken on this module and feedback provided will feedforward into development of the doctoral study

• Work-based research; Evidence-based decision making
• The researcher within, undertaking research as an insider
• Positionality and reflexivity
• Ethical concerns in practitioner research
• Problem identification
• Impacting organisational practice
• Identifying factors influencing research choices
• Principles associated with responsible and sustainable management
• The Researcher Development Framework
• Identifying and monitoring research development needs

All students are required to take account of university policy on the use of Generative AI
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/your-studies/student-administration/rules-and-regulations/academic-misconduct/

Students will participate in scheduled  lectures workshops, tutorial and independent activities to enable them to identify factors associated with practice-based research and to support justification of a research problem in an identified context

Candidates will also work independently, especially when undertaking self-analysis using the Vitae RDF and the Open University Digital and Information Literacy Framework,  DILhttps://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/pages/dilframework/ to  develop a Personal Development Plan which will be continuously monitored and developed

Students will receive tutorial support throughout the module

On completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Identify and justify a problem which will form the foundations for a research study
2. Explore the factors influencing practitioner researcher choices in designing a study to ethically explore a problem associated with responsible and sustainable management practice
3. Critically reflect upon and evaluate research skills development
4. Critically reflect upon and evaluate progress as a practitioner researcher

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/0C8B850A-2CEA-AE3C-4D48-F1785FC42A3B.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Brannick, T. and Coghlan, D. (2006), Reflexivity in Management and Business Research: What Do We Mean?, The Irish Journal of Management, Vol. 27, (2), pp. 143-160.

Costley, C. Elliot, G. and Gibbs, P. (2010), Doing Work Based Research: Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-Researchers. London: Sage

Fulton, J., Kuit, J., Sanders, G. and Smith, P. (2013). The professional doctorate: a practical guide. Macmillan Research Skills. London: Red Globe Press.

Johnson, P. and Duberley, J. (2003), ‘Reflexivity in Management Research’, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 40, (5), pp. 1279–1303.

Laasch, O.  and Conaway, R. (2024). Principles of Responsible Management: glocal responsibility, sustainability and ethics. [3rd edition]. Stamford; Cengage Learning

Laasch, O.  and Conaway, R. (2016).  Responsible Business: The Textbook for Management Learning, Competence and Innovation. Abingdon: Routledge.

Molthan-Hill, P.ed.  (2023).Sustainable Management: A complete guide for faculty and students.  [3rd ed]. Abingdon: Routledge.

Moon, J. (2000), Reflection in Learning and Professional Practice.  Oxford: Routledge.

Moon, J. (2004), A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning: Theory and Practice, Oxford, RoutledgeFalmer

Ortlipp, M, (2008), Keeping and Using Reflective Journals in the Qualitative Research Process, Qualitative Report, 13(4) pp695-705

Pedler, M, Burgoyne, J, & Boydell, T. (2013), A manager's guide to self development. Maidenhead, England, McGraw-Hill Education Professional.

Raelin, J.A. (2008), Work-Based Learning: bridging knowledge and action in the workplace. San Francisco: Jossey Bass 

Rimanoczy, R. (2020). The Sustainability Mindset Principles: A Guide to Developing a Mindset for a Better World. Abingdon: Routledge

Schon, D. (1995), The Reflective Practitioner, New York, NY: BasicBooks

Research texts
Bell, E., Bryman,  A. and Harley, B.. (2022), Business Research Methods,  Oxford University Press: Oxford

Easterby-Smith, M., Jaspersen, L.J. Thorpe, R. and Valizade, D. (2021) Management & Business Research. [7th Edition]. Sage.

Hallebone, E.  and Priest, J. (2009). Business and Management Research: paradigms and practices. Basingstoke: Palgrave

Johnson, P. and Duberley, J. (2003), Reflexivity in Management Research, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 40, (5),pp. 1279–1303

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A. (2023). Research methods for business students. [9th edition].Harlow: Pearson

Additional reading
Alvesson, M. and Skoldberg, K. (2018), Reflexive Methodology: New Vistas for Qualitative Research, 3rd ed. London: Sage.

Bolton, G. and Delderfield, R.  (2018) Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development, 4th ed, London: Sage Publications

Coghlan, D. (2019), Doing Action Research in Your Own Organisation, 5th ed. California: Sage

Dilworth, R.; and  Boshyk, Y. (2010), Action Learning and its Applications: history and evolution. Palgrave Macmillan UK

Herr, K.G. and Anderson, G.L. (2015), The Action Research Dissertation: a guide for students and faculty. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Klein, S. (2012), Action Research Methods : Plain and Simple, USA: Palgrave Macmillan

Marshall, J. Coleman, G. and Reason, P., (2023), Leadership for Sustainability: an action research approach.  Aldershot: Routledge.

McNiff, J. (2017), Action Research: all you need to know.  London:  Sage Publications
.
McNiff, J. and Whitehead (2009), Doing and Writing Action Research. London:  Sage Publications.

Pedler, M. (2012), Action Learning in Practice, Abingdon: Routledge.

Reason, P. and Torbert, W.R. (2001), ‘The Action Turn: Toward a Transformational Social Science’, Concepts and Transformation, Vol. 6,  (1), pp. 1–37

Zuber-Skerritt, O. and Perry, C. (2002), ‘Action Research within Organisations and University Thesis Writing’, The Learning Organisation, Vol. 9, (4), pp. 171–179.

Websites
The Researcher Development Framework (RDF) https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers-professional-development/about-the-vitae-researcher-development-framework
The Open University Digital and Information Literacy Framework (OU DILF) https://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/pages/dilframework/
Jisc Digital Capabilities Framework https://repository.jisc.ac.uk/7278/1/BDCP-DC-Framework-Individual-6E-110319.pdf

Other resources determined by the teacher/tutor/lecturer.