Indicate the research Question and objectives
Assignment Task
You are required to produce a research proposal for a dissertation in a management related field. The proposal prepared may be the one which you follow for your dissertation. It would therefore be sensible to think carefully about the topic choice and decide now what your dissertation will be about. For those on an MBA named route the eventual dissertation must relate to that route.
NB: I would prefer a research proposal in the area of Human resource management, something that addresses the issues of build staff moral and motivation in the public sector in order to increase staff performance and work output.
Your answer should include the detail below.
Format:
The format should broadly follow the plan provided below. Diagrams and charts may be added to clarify and illustrate points.
Research Questions & Objectives
Explanation of the problem/issue and justify why it is important, both from an organisational and a personal perspective, and a series of precisely written objectives, to include observable outcomes, that flow from this.
Literature review
Demonstrate knowledge of relevant literature by identifying key debates: concepts and theories within the topic area and how the literature will be utilised to inform your research.
Methodology
Explanation of fundamental issues in methodology followed by a full description of the methodological approach to be adopted. This and your data collection methods should be justified and you should explore issues of validity, reliability and generalisability of the research proposal and make reference to ethical issues. You should also discuss relevant practical issues relating to the research to be undertaken e.g. organisational consent and timescales. A more detailed project plan should be appended.
Overall Structure of Proposal
Appropriate use of references. BU Harvard referencing to be used in both the text and bibliography - all detail to be included. Logical structure, report format,the assignment must not exceed 3,000 words in length.
Key to marking scheme in each section:
0 = no evidence of meeting criteria; full marks = criteria is fully met
Research Questions and Objectives Clearly explains problem/issue, justifying why it is important both from an organisational and a personal perspective and provides precisely written research questions and observable outcomes that flow from this
Indicative Literature Review Demonstrates knowledge of the relevant literature by identifying key debates, concepts and theories and explains how the literature will be used to inform the research design
Methodology Provides an explanation of fundamental issues of research methodology.
Explains and justifies the research strategy and data collection methods to be used and in relation to the proposed research explores the concepts of validity, reliability and generalisability and ethical and practical issues. A detailed project plan should be appended.
Overall Structure Uses report format and presents items in a logical structure. Uses BU Harvard referencing in text and bibliography
Work on the research proposal.