mba dissertation (1)

8/3/2019 MBA Dissertation (1)

1/23

MBA Dissertation


2/23

Expected outcomes

To achieve this, you are required to produce a Dissertation project ofbetween 15,000 and 20,000 words by choosing one of the following:

1. A work-based project, which will involve you working in aconsultatative capacity with a specific organisation, where the

emphasis will be on analysing and evaluating substantive strategicproblems or issues within the organisation and formulatingappropriate solutions and/or recommendations.

Or:

2. A project which will involve analysing and evaluating substantivestrategic problems in a specific business sector and formulatingperspectives on how the problems might be tackled and making anassessment of the future changes that will affect developments inthat sector.


3/23

Regardless of which type of project you decide toundertake, you must address the following key areas:

How your recommendations could be implemented giventhe studies that you have undertaken and your priorexperience of the organisation or business sector. Youwill also be expected to include within yourrecommendations an outline plan detailing thetimescales, management interventions andresources that would be need to be available to

implement the recommendations. A reflection upon the development of your skills and

competences derived from the experience of undertakingthe dissertation.


4/23

Upon successful completion of this

module, students will be able to: Identify specific substantive problems/issues/tasks within

organisational/business sector placing them in a strategic

context in their investigations. Formulate a related research question via a review of theactivities and operations of the organisation/businesssector and the environment within which it operates.

Demonstrate a clear understanding of different research

methodologies and their limitations, and be able toexplain when one might be more appropriate thananother in the context of the chosen research project.


5/23

Apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative

research methods including action research as

necessary to analyse organisational/business

sector strategic problems.

Critically review your own personal development

as a manager and set actionable objectives.

Demonstrate appropriate skills in recording,interpreting and analysing qualitative and

quantitative data relating to the research topic.


6/23

Demonstrate that the project findings have been

logically derived and that conclusions,

solutions/recommendations are fully supported

by evidence.

Derive strategic recommendations for changes

in an organisations or business sectors

activities and strategies and articulate these in a

concise and coherent manner for

implementation by management.


7/23

FORMAT OF YOUR THESIS


8/23

Front Matter

Cover page

Declaration page declaration as given bysunderland

ABSTRACT page

Acknowledgements/Dedication page

List of tables

List of Figures

Abbreviations page


9/23

ABSTRACT/SYNOPSIS.

SEE WORD DOCUMENT


10/23

CHAPTER ONE

Heading is

INTRODUCTION Setting a Context for the Chosen Topic You must provide an insight into the context

underpinning the project, e.g. you may need

to give a review of what is currently happeningwithin a specific organisation or particularbusiness sector and to review some keythemes relating to the strategic problems

you are investigating. Setting an appropriatecontext will help the reader to appreciate whyyou have chosen the topic and why thetopic is significant.


11/23

3. Stating clear Objectives for your Dissertation

Topic

You must provide a coherent statement of

what you hope to achieve by undertaking yourinvestigations. The stated objectives will help the

reader to appreciate the scope of the work

undertaken. A specific research question or

questions needs also to be stated and this would

often be supported by specific research

hypotheses.


12/23

1. Brief discussion of base theory usuallylink to corporate strategy and operationalissues e.g. if area of study is marketing

strategy 2. Brief discussion of case study-

Name of company, products, size, brief

history. Need clear statement of research

question/ objective(s) of study


13/23

CHAPTER TWO Heading is

Literature Review

Undertake a Literature Review

You must carry out a comprehensive review of thepublished work from secondary sources, which is ofspecific interest to the central themes of your

intended investigation. When doing this, you needto:

Identify the leading authors and practitioners andreflect upon the implications of their contribution to thecentral themes of the topic area.

Clearly state the aims and objectives of the review andprovide a logical presentation of the research done.

State the specific research question(s) supportedwhere applicable with a specific researchhypotheses.


14/23

Requirements 4000-6000 words review of

relevant literature including review of key

strategic and operational literature.

NB the literature review should underpin/

guide the research

20 50 up to date refs books + journals

Analytical + Integrated with key questions


15/23

CHAPTER THREE

4. Developing Valid Methodologies

You must provide substantive evidence of why youhave used particular research methods andtechniques to take your investigations forward.

When doing so, you will need to: Explain why such techniques and methods are

appropriate.

Indicate that you are aware of the scope and limitationsof the methods adopted.

Discuss the theories, concepts and models used, theirrationale and how They have been applied.(conceptualandOperational framework)

Checkworddocumentformoreinformation.


16/23

Notes - 1500 2500 words

Explanations and Justification


17/23

CHAPTER FOUR/five heading will be

Data Review/ Analysis of

Findings/ Data Analysis (4000-5000 words) You need to critical evaluate the

factors/issues/problems relating to your chosen

topic area. You must recognise that there are different

perspectives on problems/issues and on thesolutions to those problems/issues.

Therefore you need to generate balancedarguments and use illustrative examples to

justify your findings.


18/23

CHAPTER FIVE/SIX Heading will be

Conclusions and

Recommendations 7. Conclusions/Solutions/Recommendations You must summarise the results of your

investigation and emphasise the significance of theresults. When doing so, you will need to:

State solutions to problems. Make future recommendations for future action and

future research.

Include time scales relating to the review of yourrecommendations and

their potential implementation together with theresources and management actions likely to berequired to support the measures that need to betaken.(CHECK WORD DOCUMENT)


19/23

APPENDICES


20/23

Personal Development

.(CHECK WORD DOCUMENT)


21/23

. Referencing

You will have used a wide range of

sources in undertaking the dissertation. Allsources of information will need to be

appropriately acknowledged and

referenced as per the Harvard Convention

(Refer to the Student Handbook).


22/23

Clear and easy to follow

Professionally produced

Full refs in alphabetical order Harvardstyle


23/23

From Today , what next???

1) Research Topics/Titles to be

In ( Rose) on the 6th, October

2011.2) A 1500 proposal/synopsis to

be send to Sunderland by 27th,

October2011

mba dissertation (1)

Documents