1. Undergraduate Project Preparation – Literature review and referencing

2. Literature review - purpose To generate research ideas To identify theory relevant to analysis in your project area To understand the different strands of theory, conflicts, applicability and limitations To gather secondary information relevant to your research topic To broaden your knowledge To develop your analytical skills

3. Literature search Secondary research of Theory Existing information of the topic Research methods Literature review chapter Defines key concepts Identifies relevant theory Compares theories Shows how the theory will be used

4. Literature sources I Reports Theses Conference proceedings Company reports and documents – minutes, memos, emails, planning documents Government publications

5. Literature sources II Newspapers Magazines Books Journals – refereed academic, professional, trade On-line sources – databases, newspapers, journals

6. Literature sources III Search tools for finding information Indexes – search on author and key words Abstracts – like index plus summary - Anbar, ABI Inform, EBSCO Catalogues Encyclopaedias, Dictionaries, Bibliographies Citation indexes Internet search engines – Google etc Index to Theses, British National Bibliography for Report Literature

7. Some internet sources ABI Inform – index & full text journals Anbar – abstracts BIDS – indexes, full text journals OPAC – British library catalogues Emerald – index and full text journals Mintel – market reports http://www.bized.ac.uk

8. Planning the literature search Identify the area(s) of interest Subject area Business sector Geographical area Time period Identify key sources Identify key search words Review and refine the search

9. Conducting the search Search sources (indexes, catalogues etc.) based on keywords, authors, subjects Locate sources Read abstracts Read and make notes under theme headings on articles etc.

10. Evaluating the source Relevance to project theme(s) Reliability Quality of source Reputation of author(s)

11. Recording what you have read Author Date Article / Book title Journal and volume / publisher Page numbers Summary of content – relevance to theme(s) (grid)

12. Referencing – Harvard system See UNN document ‘cite them right’ for full details Books: author surname, initials, date, title, publisher Stonehouse, GH, Hamill, J, Campbell D, Purdie, A (2000) Global and Transnational Business: Strategy and Management, John Wiley, London Articles: author surname, initials, date, title, journal, volume / number, page numbers Stonehouse, GH and Pemberton, J (2001) ‘The Role of Knowledge Facilitators and Inhibitors: Lessons From Airline Reservations Systems’, Long Range Planning, 34(2) pp115- 138 Do not mix systems

13. The literature review Purpose To demonstrate your knowledge of theory Shows how you research relates to previous work Explains main points of relevant theory Discusses themes - critical comparison Provides theories which form analytical tools for your project - informs primary research Helps in evaluation of your arguments Provides basis for evaluating your evidence and drawing your conclusions