1. Doing a Dissertation in the Final Year - What you need to know - Options Talks 2015 6 May (Wed.) Crawford 1  BMAN20851 Research Methodology (2 nd year option) Course Coordinator: Dr Christine Mclean  BMAN31500 Dissertation (3 rd year option) Course Coordinator: Dr Faith Hatani

2. Research Methodology (2 nd year) How to conduct your Research & write a Dissertation Assumptions & Perspectives Research Questions & Conceptual/Literature Review Research Methods Plan & Organize Research Process – proposal Lectures/ Seminars/ Feedback Surgeries 2

3. Course Outcomes Undergraduate Dissertations – overall process; proposals, researching planning, supervision, writing a dissertation... Postgraduate Research  Coursework – presenting different arguments, examining literature & evidence, writing critical & coherent examinations of issues & debates, reviewing papers & understanding different perspectives & assumptions. 3

4. Coursework Research Questions & Assumptions – Discuss different methodological approaches & assumptions - Select a research area/topic & develop research questions for this study: 1,000 words (30%) Research Proposal – research questions, conceptual & literature review (view of issues & concepts; links to other studies), research methods (data collection, presentation & ethics) & plan: 2,200 words (70%) 4

5. Research Proposals: Examples Consumer Behr & Marketing – Nike, Obesity, Image… Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, Google +) Operations & Quality Mgt – TQM & Lean Mobile Phone Technology (Android vs Apple) Environmental Mgt & Sustainability – alternative energy (petrol/electric/nuclear), solar/wind farms, plastic bags…. Genetically Modified (GM) Foods Music Piracy & revenue streams – CD vs MP3 Uprising in North Africa – Arab Springs Banking Crisis – Regulation, Impacts, Housing Mkt Banking & M-Commerce Management Accounting & Control in Orgns Psychometric Testing in Orgn’s – Selection/Promotion Stress & Motivation 5

6. BMAN31500 Dissertation (3 rd year)  BMAN 31500 is an all-year course option (30 credits) in your final year.  No timetabled lecture/seminar  The information of this course can be found in the page “Dissertations” of the online UG Handbook at; https://ughandbook.portals.mbs.ac.uk/Myprogramme/Dissertations.aspx Once you register for the dissertation course in your final year, then you will have access to the Blackboard page of this course. 6

7. A dissertation must be your independent, original research work. A supervisor will provide you with guidance and suggestions. Word limit: approx. 15,000 to 18,000 words. Deadline for submission of a full dissertation: Week 11 of semester-2 Assessment: a dissertation (100%) 7 What is a dissertation?

8. Prerequisite: BMAN20851 Research Methodology (2 nd year, sem-1) In the summer (before you start your final year), you must secure a supervisor to register for BMAN31500 Dissertation. Then, you need to submit your Dissertation Proposal to the UG office in the beginning of October. Before Christmas, you need to submit a Progress Report to your supervisor. (1000-1500 words; this report is not graded, but compulsory). 8 What is required?

9. 9 Please also see additional links and attachments on each page of sub sections. More details are provided in sub-sections. This is the Dissertation page in the Handbook

10. Contact us for more details  BMAN20851 Research Methodology ( 2 nd year option) Course Coordinator (and Lectures/Seminars/Feedback surgeries): Dr Christine Mclean ( chris.mclean@mbs.ac.uk )chris.mclean@mbs.ac.uk  BMAN31500 Dissertation (3 rd year option) Course Coordinator (general issues related to your dissertation): Dr Faith Hatani ( faith.hatani@mbs.ac.uk )faith.hatani@mbs.ac.uk 10