Business Finance - Management Management Investigation Assignment Brief
SJ/-Assignment - Deadline within 9 days
2 years ago
40
files (4)19-44-56_LiteralGradingScheme.pdf
ManagementInvestigation-AssignmentBrief.docx
19-43-25_MIPGuidelines.pptx
- 19-38-06_ManagementInvestigationReportTemplate1.docx
19-44-56_LiteralGradingScheme.pdf
Literal Grading Scale
Literal grade
Grade Point
Evaluative descriptor
A+ 4.5 Excellent overall. Demonstrates an excellent grasp of the subject matter. Excellent capacity for original and creative enquiry. Excellent ability to critically evaluate, analyse, synthesise and integrate complex information. Excellent communication skills. Exceptional in at least one of the above.
A 4 Excellent overall. Demonstrates an excellent grasp of the subject matter. Excellent capacity for original and creative enquiry. Excellent ability to critically evaluate, analyse, synthesise and integrate complex information. Excellent communication skills.
B+ 3.5 Very good overall. Demonstrates a very good grasp of the subject matter. Very good capacity for original and creative enquiry. Very good ability to critically evaluate, analyse, synthesise and integrate complex information. Very good communication skills. Excellent in at least one of the above but overall performance deemed to be very good.
B 3 Very good overall. Demonstrates a very good grasp of the subject matter. Very good capacity for original and creative enquiry. Very good ability to critically evaluate, analyse, synthesise and integrate complex information. Very good communication skills.
C+ 2.5 Good overall. Demonstrates a good grasp of the subject matter. Good capacity for original and creative enquiry. Good ability to critically evaluate, analyse, synthesise and integrate complex information. Good communication skills Very good in at least one of the above but overall performance deemed to be good.
C 2 Good overall. Demonstrates a good grasp of the subject matter. Good capacity for original and creative enquiry. Good ability to critically evaluate, analyse, synthesise and integrate complex information. Good communication skills
D+ 1.5 Satisfactory overall. Demonstrates a satisfactory grasp of the subject matter but limited grasp in some areas
Satisfactory capacity for original and creative enquiry. Satisfactory ability to critically evaluate, analyse, synthesise and integrate information. Satisfactory communication skills
D 1 Adequate. Achievement of all threshold standards but grasp of some subject areas and graduate attribute development may be more limited.
MF 0.5 Marginal fail. Performance just below the threshold standard. A reasonable expectation that a pass is achievable by reassessment without the need to repeat the module.
F 0.0 Fail. Performance well below the threshold level. Some limited evidence of achievement of the outcomes.
NS No assessments submitted.
ManagementInvestigation-AssignmentBrief.docx
Abertay University
MBA555 Management Investigation
2024/25
Summative Assessment
Main Diet
This module includes one summative assessment. Student performance will be assessed based on their final submission – a consultancy report or a theory-based report. A consultancy report will show better understanding of a problem and/or outline practical solutions for handling a problem in an organisation, which should be supported by data, analysis and conclusions. A theory-based report will provide insights into an identified gap by collecting and analysing data, delineating findings, drawing conclusions, and outlining implications.
The report must be in the cognate area of the student’s chosen programme, e.g. a specialist MBA will require a student to study in that specialist area, or an MSc will require a study within the area of the student programme.
Requirements:
• The report should be 6,000 to 7,000 words (+/- 10%) in length, excluding references and appendices.
• It must have a title page with the following information: The title of the report, i.e. what it is about, rather than that it is for module MBA555, the student name and the full title of their programme (if on a pathway, it must be shown here).
• All work must be clearly referenced using the Harvard referencing style.
• The report should be uploaded on an online platform (Canvas). Submissions by email will not be accepted.
Submission deadline: The report should be submitted by 12:00 noon UK time on Monday of Week 16.
Grades and feedback will be available in 15 working days after the submission deadline.
The grading criteria are as follows.
Background of the Study
Is the problem well explained? Is it worth investigating? Why? Does the write-up give sufficient detail of the context?
Literature Review
Does the literature review show evidence of critical analysis of literature or other suitable sources? Does the student demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast a range of views in the literature, draw conclusions and identify gaps?
NOTE: For a consultancy project, literature review may not be required. However, making use of literature by providing references and, hence, supporting own analysis throughout the consultancy report is required. Instead of a literature review, in a consultancy report a student may need to choose a theoretical framework using which the problems in an organisation are considered and recommendations are developed. In this case, a brief explanation of a theoretical framework and how it will be useful for the study is required, with supporting references.
Research Questions and Objectives, or Research Aims for a Consultancy Project
Are research questions and/or hypotheses clear? Are they suitable for guiding the development of the investigation?
For a consultancy project, are aims clearly stated? Is it clear what a consulting project intends to achieve?
Methods of Data Collection
Are data collection instruments and processes clear? Is there sufficient level of detail about the study participants, their selection criteria, how a student collected data, what tools and/or platforms were used? Are data collection methods suitable for the study? Does the student provide rationale for the chosen research design? Does the student demonstrate effective handing of the project’s ethical dimensions?
Data Analysis and Findings
Is there clear identification of the analytical or statistical methods (quantitative/qualitative /mixed) used for the analysis? Is it clear how, from what sources findings were identified? Were analysis of the data and findings tied back to the research question(s) and/or consultancy project’s aims and questions? Are findings clearly stated?
Discussion
Does the discussion show critical reflection? Does the discussion show what the findings mean? Was the student able to place the findings within the broader context of literature and the practical/industry environment? Has the study answered the research questions and filled the gaps identified in the literature review? If so, to what extent? Have the consultancy report’s aims been met and/or questions answered?
Conclusions
Are there clear conclusions stemming from the analysis? Does the report show the originality of the knowledge generated? Have the implications been identified and spelled out? Have the limitations of this research design or consultancy project been critically discussed?
For a consultancy report, have improvement opportunities been identified? Have recommendations been made? Do they have a sufficient level of detail? Are they realistic, from the implementation perspective?
References
Is there sufficient use of supporting references throughout the write-up? Are references drawn mostly from the academic sources, rather than the Internet pages? Are references properly formatted using the Harvard referencing style?
Formatting
Is the write-up professionally formatted? Are headings and subheadings appropriate? Is the write-up free from spelling and grammar errors?
Viva Voce
Viva voce is required where a student should demonstrate knowledge of the theme and ownership of a write-up. Successful performance in the viva is required to pass this module, and assessment of performance must have impact on the final grade. If a student’s performance is inadequate, this should be reflected in feedback and might result in a failing grade regardless of the write-up’s quality. In some cases, the requirement to attend a viva might be waived by a module tutor.
Note for Abertay University’s partner institutions
Viva voce is required for all students.
2
19-43-25_MIPGuidelines.pptx
Writing your Research project
Dissertation – Chapter-wise word count (6000- 7000 words with + - 10%)
Rough estimates as to the word counts per chapter:
Chapter 1 Introduction – 1000 words
Chapter 2 Literature review – 2000 -2500 words
Chapter 3 Research Design and Methodology (Process of Research) 1500 -2000 words
Chapter 4 Results (Findings) and Discussions – 1500 words
Chapter 5 Conclusions, recommendations– 750 words
Dissertation structure – Abstract/Executive Summary
Points to be covered:
What were my research questions and why were they important?
How did I go about answering the research questions? (methodology)
What did I find out in response to these questions?(findings)
What conclusions can be drawn?
Saunders et al. (2009)
Dissertation structure – Introduction and literature review
Chapter 1: Introduction:
Brief background and a guide to the research study
Brief introduction to the chosen organization (Management Investigation)
Scope and aim of the study
The research questions(s) and a clear statement of research objectives.
Chapter 2: Literature review:
To set your study in the wider context
To show how your study supplements existing work
Include conceptual and/or theoretical framework (Management Investigation)
Include critical review as per the research objectives/questions
Literature Gap
Saunders et al. (2009)
Chapter 3- Research Design and Methodology
Research Philosophy and Paradigm
Research Strategy
Research Approach
Sampling Design and Technique
Data Collection Instruments
Data Analysis Tools
Reliability and Validity of research instruments
Time Horizons of the study
Ethical considerations
Dissertation structure – Results and discussion
Chapter 4- Results (Findings) and Discussions
To report the results of your research - graphs, tables, charts in case quantitative research
Present findings in case of qualitative analysis (coding of data, thematic analysis)
To support the facts with quotes from participants
Include discussions from secondary literature
To interpret results and relate the findings to the original research goals and objectives
To indicate implications of the research
Saunders et al. (2009)
Dissertation structure – Conclusion
Chapter 5- Conclusion:
To answer the research question(s) and meet the research objectives
To consider the findings and reflect on alternative methods
To present any contributions (academic and managerial) to the topic displayed in the literature
Saunders et al. (2009)
Dissertation structure – References and appendices
References:
Use a convention that is accepted by your university (e.g. Harvard)
Cite all sources referred to in the text
Check all citations to prevent plagiarism
Appendix:
Include only essential supporting material
Include copy of questionnaire
For interviews, include interviewee consent from
Include company approval letter (Management Investigation)
Include Interviewee Consent forms for Interviews conducted.
Saunders et al. (2009)
The do’s of writing a dissertation
Chapter-by-chapter overview
Clearly structured and flowing
Paragraphing
Form of language –third person
Past or present tense – use present tense except when writing your methodology and data analysis where you should use past tense.
Cite the sources and direct quotations
The don’ts of writing a dissertation
Inadequate outline of research questions with an unclear focus.
Poor referencing – plagiarism
Do not make unsupported claims or offer anecdotal arguments
Make sure all your points are appropriately developed so that they are clear.
Avoid using slang or colloquialisms and over-using contractions and avoid over-writing, and convoluted and exaggerated language
Not doing enough research
Untidy dissertation – typographical and grammatical errors
REFERENCES (Not included in the word count)
This part of the dissertation lists what research sources were used across the whole submission apart from the actual collected data.
The data sources would be listed in chapter 3 and evidenced in appendices.
All books, articles, sources of statistical data and web sites used in the dissertation must be listed in this section.
Entries must be formatted using the Harvard Referencing system.
11
APPENDICES (Not included in the word count)
All quantitative working (e.g. screen prints from SPSS/excel);organisation policies and procedures; letters of authorisation/confidentiality agreements; progress reports/meeting notes/other relevant communications, sample observation/field notes, any visual records of data, etc.
To qualify for inclusion in the Appendices, material should be referred to somewhere within the body of the dissertation. E.g.: Example of instrument for primary data collection e.g. base questionnaire, structured interview pro-forma.
FORMATTING/GENERAL:
Headers (containing short title of dissertation) and Footers (containing Student Name, Module Code, and Page Numbering) are required.
Text alignment should be fully justified (i.e. in a block with no ragged right margin)
All spacing between paragraphs should be consistent
Type font Times Roman/Courier/Arial size 12
All headings should be Bold
Accurate Harvard Referencing must be used throughout
Students must submit the work through LMS project submission gateway. No hard copy submissions are required or accepted.
To summarise
Writing is a creative process and a powerful way to clarifying your thinking
A project report needs a clear structure that helps to develop the storyline
All the information should be readily accessible to the reader
Use a clear writing style free and check for spelling and grammatical errors
Be prepared to rewrite the first draft several times
Remember to check the assessment criteria
