specific instructionsm

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1 Identification of a Suitable Topic

1.1 Selecting a topic

You should have studied research methods before starting your project, because this provides

essential guidance for good practice in research and will provide initial ideas for possible topics.

To select an area of study, the following questions may be of use:

- Where do I want to be in five years?

- What skills and knowledge do I additionally need to get there?

- What problem areas are there in my job or company that I would like to see tackled?

- What aspects of the course would I like to pursue further in their practical application to

my present or future circumstances?

- What organisational problems do my MD or other contacts see as being important

to investigate and solve?

- What practical outcome would I like to see achieved as the result of spending

considerable time on a study and investigation?

- Is the proposed project feasible? Am I likely to be able to get access to the required

information?

1.2 Academic approval of topic proposed

We will normally treat the project plan assignment as a project proposal. If your proposal isconsidered acceptable (and most are) it will be passed on to an appropriate academic supervisor

(see 2.1 below).


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2 Carrying Out Your Research Project

2.1 Academic support

An academic supervisor will be appointed to supervise your project.

It is your responsibility to make contact with your supervisor, to arrange a regular series of

tutorials and to make sure you are making satisfactory progress. It is not the supervisors role to

check you are carrying out the work to the agreed timetable. (The development of the ability to

work independently, and to arrange your own schedule of work, is an important part of the

Research Project process.)

Supervisors will try to respond to requests promptly - normally within ten days. Holidays, and

periods away on business, may interfere with this: supervisors should let students know of any

periods of ten days or more when they will not be available. It is a good idea to discuss the

scheduling of your project with your supervisor at an early date so that any problems can be

resolved.

You should also note that you cannot normally expect your supervisor to comment in detail on

revisions that you make in response to your supervisors comments. (Obviously if your

supervisor had to comment on every change, the job might never be finished!)

You should make sure you communicate with your supervisor to:

1 Discuss scope and obtain advice on background reading.

2 Discuss the literature review and how this links with your research.

3 Discuss your research design and methods. It is very important to check with your

supervisor before starting to collect empirical data (eg sending out questionnaires or

arranging interviews).

4 Discuss your analysis, conclusions and recommendations.

5 Review the final report. Obviously, you will need to allow time for your supervisor to

read the final draft and for you to respond to suggestionsyou should check with your

supervisor how long this is likely to take.

Your supervisor may also offer comments and feedback on your work at appropriate points


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during the project (e.g., looking at draft chapters). You should note, however, that a supervisors

role is not to provide a detailed check of your work, nor is it to correct your use of English or

your spelling. The supervisors role is to provide general guidance and advice on the content and

process of your research project.

3 Timescale of dissertationFrom past experience, on average, dissertations may take 13 weeks to complete by full-time

students:

1 WEEK - clarify aims and methods

2 WEEKS - background reading (a typical project is likely to have 20-50

Books, articles and internet sources in the reference list)

4 WEEKS - data collection

4 WEEKS - analysis, recommendations and report writing

1 WEEK - revisions

1 WEEK - the final week includes supplying a full draft copy to your

supervisor before submission, to allow for comments, feedback

and any revisions/improvements.

4 Layout of final report4.1Structure: See the file on Report structure4.2 Presentation

4.2.1 Paper

A4 size paper (210 x 297 mm) should be used. Plain white paper must be used, of good quality and of

sufficient opacity for normal reading. Only one side of the paper may be used.

4.2.2 Layout

Margins at the binding edge must be not less than 40 mm (1.5 inches) and other margins not less than 20mm (0.75 inches). Double or one-and-a-half spacing should be used in typescripts, except for indentedquotations or footnotes where single spacing may be used.

4.2.3 Pagination

All pages must be numbered in one continuous sequence, i.e. from the title page of the first volume to thelast page of type, in Arabic numerals from 1 onwards. This sequence must include everything bound in


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the volume, including maps, diagrams, blank pages, etc. Any material which cannot be bound in with thetext must be placed in a pocket inside or attached to the back cover or in a rigid container similar in

format to the bound thesis.

4.2.4 Font, Paragraph and Line spacing

Font: Times New Roman (Standard) for body text but any font compatible with the text may be used forheadings/sub-headings

Spacing: Double spacing

5 Submission date

You will be given a deadline for submitting your project.

6 Submission instructions

Two bound copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the Course Administrator. You must

also submit an electronic copy as a single Microsoft Word file on a CD or DVD. (Please put your

name on the CD. If possible, you should include the appendices on the CD or DVD, but this is

not essential.)

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