INTRODUCTION
The dissertation(Project) is one of the most important part of MBA degree. The dissertation(Project) process should allow the students to integrate the material contained in previous modules and give them some experience of coping with real-life unstructured problems.
This guideline is intended to help MBA students along the way by providing them with information on relevant organizational matters such as deadlines and the marking scheme, as well as some guidelines on what a dissertation(Project) should look like and how they should approach the writing up of the final report.
Aims of the dissertation(Project)
The dissertation(Project) project aims are:
- identifying a particular problem or topic in businessfield or discipline;
- developing researchable questions and/or hypotheses associated with this topic or problem;
- identifying relevant theory and displaying an ability to apply it to the issues addressed in the dissertation(Project);
- identifying and using a suitable method (or methods) for conducting the research;
- producing an organized piece of research;
- working independently on a substantial project with guidance from a supervisor.
Objectives
After completing the dissertation(Project), MBA students should be able to:
- apply relevant skills, knowledge, and know-how learnt in previous modules to real life situations;
- demonstrate the ability to identify a research topic of interest to management, organisations and/or academic researchers;
- demonstrate the ability to review relevant academic literature and research in the process of investigating the topic in question;
- demonstrate an ability to develop researchable questions and/or hypotheses in relation to a topic or problem, drawing on the relevant literature;
- demonstrate the ability to select an appropriate methodology and to conduct qualitative and/or quantitative research to answer the research questions and/or hypotheses (not for purely conceptual dissertation(Project)s);
- demonstrate the ability to organize and critically evaluate findings;
- explain the practical and theoretical relevance of the investigation.
The student-supervisor relationship
The following are the main things that can the students expect of the supervisor:
- Supervisors will discuss the ideas, plans, and reading with the student. In doing so, they will offer constructive feedback and suggestions and give general guidance on the development of the research questions, research tools, the timetabling of work, and the organization of dissertation(Project).
- Supervisors will endeavour to read work and reply to e-mails as quickly as possible, but, because of other commitments, they cannot be expected to read work to very tight deadlines or reply immediately to e-mails. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least a week between submitting any work and receiving feedback on it.
The responsibility for the dissertation(Project) is the student's, and not that of the supervisor. Supervisors will not meet unreasonable requests from students. A supervisor's advice will normally cover major points of substance and may not cover all points of detail. A supervisor cannot be expected to be actively researching each student's chosen topic.
Structure of the dissertation(Project)
Length
The dissertation(Project), within a limit of 60-70 pages (excluding appendices), will normally contain:
1) Introduction: A clear statement of the research problem (general aim and specific objectives), and the limitations that might be considered in your work.
2) A literature review placing aresearch in the context of other research in the field.
3) A statement of the methodology adopted and with appropriate justification.
4) Presentation and analysis of data captured.
5) Conclusions summarizing the research findings and linking them to the literature, evaluating the approach taken, recommendations in relation to the original objectives including suggestions for any future research directions.
When working on dissertation(Project), the essential criteria that reflect the quality of the work. Are:
- The introduction to the topic (clarity, relevance);
- Use of previous literature and synthesis of material with the project (critical inquiry, logical flow);
- Methodology and awareness of the study's limitations (appropriateness and logic);
- Success in meeting stated objectives and answering research questions (structure and coherence);
- Analytical depth, including: synthesis with prior literature, implications for theory, implications for practitioners and/or policy makers and identification of directions for future research (rigour and insightfulness).
- Relevance and practicality of recommendations (if appropriate);
- Creativity and originality;
- Presentation.