Research Project Report (7500 words)

Research Project Report (7500 words) Purpose of the Assessment The purpose of this assignment is to report on an in" rel="nofollow">independent piece of research based upon an actual busin" rel="nofollow">iness case situation. Assessment Task In the current in" rel="nofollow">international economic environment, entrepreneurs and managers are frequently required to undertake busin" rel="nofollow">iness plannin" rel="nofollow">ing, project and consultancy work in" rel="nofollow">in addition to their core responsibilities. Frequently, these projects are focused upon in" rel="nofollow">investigatin" rel="nofollow">ing new busin" rel="nofollow">iness opportunities or potential strategic changes in" rel="nofollow">in order to create, retain" rel="nofollow">in and extend competitive position. The assessment task is to design and deliver a 7500 words (+10%) research report, through the application of appropriate research methods to a consultancy project, busin" rel="nofollow">iness project or in" rel="nofollow">industry-wide busin" rel="nofollow">iness issue. Assessment Breakdown A B C F Structure & Content Effective structure with a clear, logical flow. Command of written communication, use of vocabulary and grammar relevant to the form of the assignment. Presentation style is consistently appropriate to the assignment brief. A structure with a coherent sense of direction. Effective written communication. Use of vocabulary and grammar relevant to the form of the assignment. Presentation style is appropriate, overall, to the assignment brief. Acceptable structure and flow is demonstrated. Acceptable standard of vocabulary and grammar. Presentation style is generally appropriate to the assignment brief. The work does not flow logically or smoothly. Poor and/or in" rel="nofollow">inappropriate use of vocabulary and grammar Presentation style is in" rel="nofollow">inappropriate. Literature Review The problem, challenge, or topic is clearly and succin" rel="nofollow">inctly summarized and presented. The appropriate literature is covered in" rel="nofollow">in depth without bein" rel="nofollow">ing redundant. Significance to research project unquestionable. The overall problem, challenge, or topic is clear. All major aspects of the literature are in" rel="nofollow">included in" rel="nofollow">in sufficient depth but the relevance of some elements is unclear. Significance to research project is evident. The overall problem, challenge, or topic is mostly clear. Some major aspects of the literature are in" rel="nofollow">included, but not covered in" rel="nofollow">in as much depth, or as explicit, as expected. Significance to research project is mostly evident. The overall problem, challenge, or topic is unclear or absent. Major sections of pertin" rel="nofollow">inent literature have been omitted. The identified themes have limited significance to the research project. Research Design Demonstrates clear and robust understandin" rel="nofollow">ing of design methodology. Design in" rel="nofollow">includes a primary research in" rel="nofollow">intervention. Demonstrates clear understandin" rel="nofollow">ing of design methodology. Design in" rel="nofollow">includes a primary research in" rel="nofollow">intervention. Demonstrates satisfactory understandin" rel="nofollow">ing of design methodology. Design in" rel="nofollow">includes a primary research in" rel="nofollow">intervention. Understandin" rel="nofollow">ing of research methodologies is limited or absent. Research Question The research question(s) is clear, succin" rel="nofollow">inct, related to, and in" rel="nofollow">informed by, the busin" rel="nofollow">iness problem and literature review. The research question (s) is stated and is related to the busin" rel="nofollow">iness problem and/or literature review. The research question(s) is stated but relationship with the busin" rel="nofollow">iness problem and/or literature review is not fully articulated. Research questions are unclear or absent. Synthesis and conclusion The author was able to make succin" rel="nofollow">inct and precise conclusions that demonstrate analysis and synthesis of ideas. Insights in" rel="nofollow">into the problem are appropriate. The author provides concludin" rel="nofollow">ing remarks that show an analysis and synthesis of ideas occurred. The author provides concludin" rel="nofollow">ing remarks that show an analysis and synthesis of ideas occurred. Some of the conclusions were not supported in" rel="nofollow">in the body of the report. There is limited evidence that the author tried to synthesize the in" rel="nofollow">information or draw a conclusion. Recommendations An excellent range of specific and relevant recommendations have been provided. Atttention is given to operational and fin" rel="nofollow">inancial details and viability of proposals. Clear evidence of in" rel="nofollow">innovation. A range of relevant recommendations have been made. Atttention is given to the operational and fin" rel="nofollow">inancial details and viability of proposals There may be some evidence of in" rel="nofollow">innovation. Some relevant recommendations have been made. Reasonable atttention is given to the operational and fin" rel="nofollow">inancial details and viability of proposals. Limited evidence of in" rel="nofollow">innovation. Largely absent or irrelevant recommendations. Limited or absent attention to the operational and fin" rel="nofollow">inancial details and viability of proposals. Harvard Referencin" rel="nofollow">ing Correct Harvard referencin" rel="nofollow">ing Correct Harvard referencin" rel="nofollow">ing A few min" rel="nofollow">inor errors in" rel="nofollow">in referencin" rel="nofollow">ing. Incorrect or absent referencin" rel="nofollow">ing. Assessment Submission To submit your work, please go to the ‘Submit your work’ area of the Module NILE site. It is important that you submit your work to the correct module NILE site, and that your work is submitted on time. Assessment Guidance SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR THE PROJECT REPORT The format below is recommended. You may also wish to refer to this in" rel="nofollow">in the design stages of your project as it in" rel="nofollow">includes lots of prompts that you may fin" rel="nofollow">ind useful. TITLE PAGE The followin" rel="nofollow">ing details should be stated on your title page: • The title of your project • Student number • Name of supervisor ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank any people that have assisted/contributed to your project. CONTENTS Provide a list of the sections of your project with page numbers. SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION • What is the settin" rel="nofollow">ing for your project? • What are the aims of your project? • What is your project about? • How and why did you choose the project? • Describe how your project will assist the organization, if relevant. • Describe the consultation process you have undertaken with the organization, if appropriate. SECTION 2: LITERATURE REVIEW Review of relevant literature related to your research. Make sure you consult a wide range of relevant literature. Ensure this is a critical review – not just a survey. All sources should be correctly attributed usin" rel="nofollow">ing the Harvard format. SECTION 3: PROCESS • What methodology did you adopt (in" rel="nofollow">inductive or deductive?) • What methods did you choose? • How did you carry out your project? • Who did you work with? • Why did you choose this particular approach? SECTION 4: RESULTS • Clear presentation of the results of your primary research • Might in" rel="nofollow">include tables, graphs or other diagrams • You might want to consider in" rel="nofollow">integratin" rel="nofollow">ing this section with Section 5 (below) or it can be a standalone Section. SECTION 5: DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION • An analytical critical discussion of your fin" rel="nofollow">indin" rel="nofollow">ings with reference to literature to support your arguments. • How far do your fin" rel="nofollow">indin" rel="nofollow">ings contradict/confirm existin" rel="nofollow">ing research? • What are the implications? SECTION 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS • What do your fin" rel="nofollow">indin" rel="nofollow">ings show? • What were the limitations of you project? • What recommendations would you make on the basis of your fin" rel="nofollow">indin" rel="nofollow">ings? • Do you thin" rel="nofollow">ink your recommendations are in" rel="nofollow">innovative or entrepreneurial? How and why are they? SECTION 7: REFERENCES • A list of references usin" rel="nofollow">ing the Harvard system. GUIDANCE ON APPENDICES • These should in" rel="nofollow">include any material which is of in" rel="nofollow">interest but which is peripheral to the project, e.g. sample consent forms, tables of results, graphs, photos, surveys, in" rel="nofollow">interviews, etc. • You should try and keep any such appendices to a min" rel="nofollow">inimum. Academic Practice This is an in" rel="nofollow">individual assignment. The University of Northampton policy will apply in" rel="nofollow">in all cases of copyin" rel="nofollow">ing, plagiarism or any other methods by which students have obtain" rel="nofollow">ined (or attempted to obtain" rel="nofollow">in) an unfair advantage. Support and guidance on assessments and academic in" rel="nofollow">integrity can be found from the followin" rel="nofollow">ing resources SkillsHub: http://skillshub.northampton.ac.uk Learnin" rel="nofollow">ing Development: Access via NILE Learnin" rel="nofollow">ing outcomes On successful completion of the module, participants will be able to: Knowledge and Understandin" rel="nofollow">ing a) Identify, understand and deploy various research methodolgies, both quantitative and qualitative, in" rel="nofollow">in order to conduct research in" rel="nofollow">into a range of management problems and issues. b) Critically examin" rel="nofollow">ine and articulate the importance of the varyin" rel="nofollow">ing philosophical positions that in" rel="nofollow">influence management research and the researcher. c) Identify and apply the key data triangulation techniques required to analyse busin" rel="nofollow">iness case problems, plans and issues. d) Demonstrate and enact the chief ethical considerations that impact management research. Subject Specific Skills e) Apply a range of quantitative and qualitative research techniques to management problems and issues. f) Use appropriate software such as SPSS and Nvivo to analyse quantitative and qualitative data. g) Source, identify and critically review primary and secondary data material. Key Skills f) Develop and demonstrate the ability to work in" rel="nofollow">independently and to manage the entire research process from question formulation through to analysis and in" rel="nofollow">interpretation of results. h) Develop and demonstrate an appropriate report writin" rel="nofollow">ing style that balances the demands of brevity, comprehension and criticality and is appropriate for both academic submission and for corporate requirements. i) Develop report presentin" rel="nofollow">ing skills in" rel="nofollow">in both written and oral forms in" rel="nofollow">includin" rel="nofollow">ing defence strategies and summarisin" rel="nofollow">ing skills.