Management Research Project
6HO520
University of Derby Online Learning
www.derby.ac.uk/onlineContents
Module Overview: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..2
Learning Outcomes: ……………………………………………………………………………………………….2
Assessment ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Formative Activities & Assessment……………………………………………………………………………3
Summative Assessment ………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Coursework 1: Research Proposal…………………………………………………………………………3
Submission date: ………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Submission format: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Submission methods:…………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Coursework 2: Management Research Project ………………………………………………………..5
Submission Date:………………………………………………………………………………………………..5
Submission format: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Submission methods:…………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Formatting advice for written reports: ……………………………………………………………………..6
Advice on presentations:………………………………………………………………………………………7
Assessment Criteria ……………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Coursework 1: Research Proposal…………………………………………………………………………7
Coursework 2: Management Research Project ………………………………………………………..8
Undergraduate Grade Descriptors …………………………………………………………………………9University of Derby Online Learning
2
Module Overview:
The service economy relies on particular research methods techniques in order cope with the
intangibility of the products and an inherent customer focus. Therefore, graduates with
analytic skills and the ability to match the importance of consumer awareness to research
skills are in demand within industry.
This module aims to provide an opportunity for you to engage in a small scale business
research project. The content of your project will be determined by you in response to an issue
in your current practice and the independent nature of this module offers you the opportunity
to develop your analytical and critical skills in an analysis of a service sector topic, selected by
you. You will be guided by your module tutor who will help you with the framing of the
research question.
You will be assessed a piece of work that presents the process and outcome of your own
research, which should produce the actionable results with practical impact within the
hospitality businesses, for example: practical problem solutions, providing ‘how-to’ knowledge,
or new product development. Through undertaking a series of activities and producing the
outcome, you will develop a set of transferable skills that includes professional awareness,
specific occupational skills, and certain technical skills. This is also a good PDP opportunity as
you will develop your expertise.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Identify the appropriate and feasible management research topic within the hospitality
industry context;
2. Design a research project that critically evaluates a problem or issue to a professional
standard;
3. Identify and employ appropriate research methods to collect data, analyse, and draw
conclusions, providing recommendations where appropriate;
4. Present the outcomes of the research project in the appropriate methods to the
stakeholders.University of Derby Online Learning
3
Assessment
Formative Activities & Assessment
Formative activities are opportunities for you to apply, practice and make sense of the learning
materials and content that you have encountered. In this module, these include multiple
choice questions, critical analysis of source materials, and reflection on your learning.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessments are the pieces of coursework that you complete which contribute
towards your final grade in this module. You should take the feedback that you receive from
the completion of coursework in this module and use it to help you improve your performance
in future assessments.
Summative assessment in this module is two pieces of submitted coursework. You will be
expected to submit your summative assignments via the Turnitin assessment points on the
Assessment page in Course Resources.
Coursework 1: Research Proposal
Learning Outcomes: 1 & 2 (20%)
1. Identify the appropriate and feasible management research topic within the hospitality
industry context;
2. Design a research project that critically evaluates a problem or issue to a professional
standard.
Task:
You are required to submit an individual outline of the study to be undertaken, displaying an
awareness of the theoretical framework and the practical issues to be investigated. This will
form the action plan, which supports the full study. Word count should be approximately
1,000 words.
The proposal is worth 20% of your overall grade. You can read more about what a research
proposal is in Veal (2006) Chapter 3, or Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2012) Chapter 2. Both
books can be accessed via module reading list available here.
Put simply, a research proposal is a way of you communicating in a concise and structured
manner, what your intentions for research are. It helps focus your mind and refine your
ideas to get the research off to a good start. Essentially, you are making a proposal of what
you would like to research and why so that your tutor can consider the feasibility of your
ideas and whether the work can be completed within the time frame available.
The proposal that you will need to submit is presented in a standard format as below:University of Derby Online Learning
4
Your name / student number:
Title of topic area of proposed study:
What is the aim of the study? (there should be 1 aim only)
What are the (smart) objectives of your study? (maximum of 4)
What is the rationale (both theoretical and organisational) for your study?
Identify 6 key academic publications that will support your study:
How do you plan to collect data for your study?
Type of data (qualitative/ quantitative/ mixed):
Method (s):
Sampling method:
Sample size:
Ethical issues:
How you will address any ethical issues:
What method will you use to analyse data?
What is your action plan for completing the project? (please create a Gantt chart)
Submission date:
9pm GMT on 21 June 2017
Submission format:
The format for submission is via the template provided above. Please upload your proposal
form to the relevant Turnitin submission point, which can be found within the Assessments
section on Blackboard.
Submission methods:
Via Turnitin on BlackboardUniversity of Derby Online Learning
5
Coursework 2: Management Research Project
Learning Outcomes: 2, 3 & 4 (80%)
2. Design a research project that critically evaluates a problem or issue to a professional
standard;
3. Identify and employ appropriate research methods to collect data, analyse, and draw
conclusions, providing recommendations where appropriate;
4. Present the outcomes of the research project in the appropriate methods to the
stakeholders.
Task:
You will submit an individual piece of work that presents the process and outcome of your own
research, which should produce the actionable results with practical impact within the
hospitality businesses. This may be in any form that can be submitted electronically, for
example: practical problem solutions in a report format, providing ‘how-to’ knowledge via
presentation with audio, or new product concepts presented in video presentation. You must
present evidence of critical analysis of theories, concepts and practical issues within the
hospitality industry. The textual length of your work should be between 3000-4000 words or
in case of presentation it should last no longer than 15 minutes.
For the second piece of assessed work which is worth 80% of your overall module grade, you
will need to complete the following activities:
Submission Date:
9pm GMT on 9 August 2017
Provide background and context to the issue you will be investigating
Give an academic and business rationale for the need for research on this issue
Articulate your focus for the research using research questions/ hypothesis and aim and
objectives
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theoretical ideas, concepts and models that
form the backdrop of your study
Plan and design methods of data collection
Present and analyse the results of the data collection
Conclude the extent to which the goals of the research were achieved and make a
precise and detailed set of recommendations to your organisation in light of your research
findingsUniversity of Derby Online Learning
6
Submission format:
Guidance on the format and presentation of the management research project will be explored
in more depth in Unit 10. You may choose a format for presentation which best suits the
company and the nature of the research. This might include a written report, a video
presentation, podcast, poster/flyer, booklet, etc.
Submission methods:
Written piece of work: via Turntin
Audio and Video files: via Blackboard Assignment; alternatively, you may upload your work
on the Internet site e.g. Youtube and submit the full URL via Blackboard.
********Students are required to comply with the University Of Derby Code Of Practice on
Research Ethics. Research should conform to the University’s policies on Health and Safety
and Equal Opportunities.
Formatting advice for written reports:
If you decide to submit your work in the format of a report, please bear in mind the following
formatting advice.
Getting started on writing the report can be quite difficult. One suggestion is that you write
down a list of headings of topics that will be discussed in the main body of the report; these
should be put in order. This provides a framework for the report and allows the work to be
completed section by section. The report has to be word processed at some point – it is a good
idea to begin this from day one.
Correct English grammar and language should be used throughout the report and you should
not use slang or ‘Americanised’ terms. Any complex terms that need to be used should be
explained by adding a glossary.
If a glossary is to be included, this should be compiled as the dissertation progresses, rather
than attempting to compile it at the end of the dissertation at which point it will be too difficult
to complete.
The final report should contain at least the following;
Title (cover) page
Abstract
Acknowledgements
List of contents
Table of figures
Chapters forming main body of the report
References/Bibliography
AppendicesUniversity of Derby Online Learning
7
Advice on presentations:
You may choose one of the following methods to create their presentations:
1. PowerPoint
Adding voice over to PowerPoint: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsyYRvnedrQ
How to put PowerPoint on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNEVVxIV8ZA
2. Prezi (free online presentation tool: http://prezi.com/)
Adding audio (voiceover) to Prezi: https://prezi.zendesk.com/entries/22596482
Turn a Prezi into a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvtyQEHsefs
3. Powtoon (free online presentation tool: http://www.powtoon.com/)
Sound Manager (a feature to add audio/voice over):
http://www.powtoon.com/tutorials/#prettyPhotoVideo/1/
Uploading PowToon on YouTube: http://support.powtoon.com/knowledgebase/articles/93785-
can-i-upload-my-powtoon-to-my-youtube-channelAssessment Criteria
Coursework 1: Research Proposal
It is important to remember that CW2 requires you to implement your proposal. Therefore it is
important to ensure that your proposal is of a sufficiently small scale to enable you to
implement it within the given timescales yet also provides you the opportunity to explore a
management issue and present a solution to that issue.
Your proposal must address how you plan to collect data to support your study and therefore it
is essential that specific consideration is given ethical issues associated with this form of
research.
In order to pass this assessment, you are required to:
Present the work on the given template
Submit your proposal by the stated deadline
Identify a clear working title which is illustrative of the intended content of the research
Establish a clear aim and several SMART objectives
Provide a basic justification for the research which draws upon organisational and
academic evidence
Identify at least 6 reputable academic publications that will support your study
Provide an outline of the data you plan to collect to support the study, how you will
collect it and who you will collect it from
Identify any potential ethical issues and explained how these will be addressed
Provide a plan of how you will use the 11 weeks effectively to complete the projectUniversity of Derby Online Learning
8
In order to achieve a higher grade, you are expected to (in addition to the above):
Provide a clear aim and SMART objectives
Demonstrate a high level of critical analysis and evaluation in providing your rationale
for research
Demonstrate a good understanding of research techniques and justify your choice of
techniques with the support of suitable academic literature
Demonstrate a good understanding of research ethics and make clear and feasible
suggestions of how ethical issues will be addressed
Include clear evidence of original thinking, selecting a research topic that will be of
value to your organisation and your future career
Include extensive academic underpinning and clear evidence of wider reading to
support your proposal
Present the proposal clearly, coherently and logically
Use the Harvard Referencing System accurately
Coursework 2: Management Research Project
In order to pass this assessment, you are required to:
Implement the research proposed within CW1 whilst acting ethically at all times
Demonstrate a fair level of critical analysis and evaluation within your discussion of
existing knowledge within the subject domain
Demonstrate an adequate application of research techniques
Select an appropriate method through which to analyse and present your data
Discuss how your research findings relate to existing theories and models
Draw out significant conclusions from your research and make specific
recommendations to your organisation as to how the issue that you have investigated
can be resolved
Apply the most appropriate method of delivering your research findings either in written
or presented form
Ensure that the work is professionally presented
Use the Harvard Referencing System throughout
In order to achieve a higher grade, you are expected to (in addition to the above):
Demonstrate a high level of critical analysis and evaluation of both the existing
literature on the topic but also when discussing your results against existing theories
Demonstrate a good application of research techniques and clear explanation of the
techniques used
Present a thorough analysis of your results and present your results in a highly
effective manner
Include clear evidence of original thinking in the manner in which you handle and
present your results and the recommendations you put forward to your organisation
Create a product that is of practical value and impact to your organisationUniversity of Derby Online Learning
9
Include a high level of academic underpinning throughout
Include extensive evidence of wider reading
Be presented to a highly professional standard within the allocated time.
Use the Harvard Referencing System accurately and comprehensively
Undergraduate Grade Descriptors
% mark Mark Descriptors Class
70-100% Excellent
Outstanding; high to very high standard; a high level of critical analysis and
evaluation, incisive original thinking; commendable originality; exceptionally well
researched; high quality presentation; exceptional clarity of ideas; excellent coherence
and logic. Trivial or very minor errors.
First
60-69% Very good
A very good standard; a very good level of critical analysis and evaluation; significant
originality; well researched; a very good standard of presentation; pleasing clarity of
ideas; thoughtful and effective presentation; very good sense of coherence and logic;
Minor errors only.
Second
Div 1
50-59% Good
A good standard; a fairly good level of critical analysis and evaluation; some evidence
of original thinking or originality; quite well researched; a good standard of
presentation; ideas generally clear and coherent, some evidence of
misunderstandings; some deficiencies in presentation.
Second
Div 2
40-49% Satisfactory
A sound standard of work; a fair level of critical analysis and evaluation; little evidence
of original thinking or originality; adequately researched; a sound standard of
presentation; ideas fairly clear and coherent, some significant misunderstandings and
errors; some weakness in style or presentation but satisfactory overall.
Third
35-39% Unsatisfactory
Overall marginally unsatisfactory; some sound aspects but some of the following
weaknesses are evident; inadequate critical analysis and evaluation; little evidence of
originality; not well researched; standard of presentation unacceptable; ideas unclear
and incoherent; some significant errors and misunderstandings. Marginal fail.
Marginal
Fail
1-34% Very poor
Well below the pass standard; a poor critical analysis and evaluation; no evidence of
originality; poorly researched; standard of presentation totally unacceptable; ideas
confused and incoherent, some serious misunderstandings and errors. A clear fail
well short of the pass standard. At the bottom of the range the work demonstrates
nothing of merit.
Fail
NS Non-submission No work has been submitted.
Z Academic offence notation Applies to proven instances of academic offence.
The full explanation of the Undergraduate Programmes assessment regulations can be found
within Part F Assessment Regulations for Undergraduate Programmes (3Rs for Students on
Taught Programmes) via the university website, academic regulations.
You can access the Programme Handbook from here.