ULMS Electronic Module Catalogue

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title WORK BASED PROJECT
Code ULMS823
Coordinator Dr D Christopoulou
Strategy, IB and Entrepreneurship
D.Christopoulou@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 7 FHEQ Summer (June-September) 60

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:

 

Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours   12

      3

10

25
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 575
TOTAL HOURS 600

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Management and academic reports There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When): Summer    100       

Aims

This module prepares MBA students to undertake their work based project which is the final integrative activity of the MBA Programme.

The aim of this module is to provide a process which will enable students to use and extend knowledge and skills that they have acquired during their programme of study. Using appropriate management research methodologies and/or data collection methods, students will have the opportunity to explore an area of interest within management in significantly greater depth than during the taught modules themselves.

Students will work on a specific project for an organisation. The organisation selected will function as the 'client'. The aim of this path is to enable students to undertake a self managed process of systematic practitioner inquiry within the domain of management. The output will be:

A management report which addresses the issue or problem identified and agreed with the client, which should be in the format appropriate to that organisation;

An academic report detailing the stages of the research, the literature reviewed, the methodology and techniques deployed, and the rationale for these. This will also include a reflective piece on the student's personal development.

The combined wordcount for the two reports is likely to be in the range of 8,000-10,000 words.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Engage with a client organisation with the aim of investigating a current management problem.

(LO2) Diagnose and analyse client problems and issues using a structured programme of management research.

(LO3) Synthesise data from a wide variety of sources in order to evaluate client problems and issues.

(LO4) Prepare and present the consultancy findings, conclusions and recommendations in formats acceptable to the client.

(LO5) Reflect on their personal development throughout and as a result of this activity.

(S1) Problem solving skills. Often, the focus of a work-based project is to solve a particular problem or issue within the firm. Even minor improvements to systems or processes entail overcoming problems in reaching solutions to issues.

(S2) Numeracy. Developed through the quantitative research in the taught elements of the programme and assessed in the final project, via data analysis, critical evaluation of numeric data, and recommendations which need to have cost implications.

(S3) Commercial awareness. Lectures will focus on business examples and applications of data analysis. The work-based project, by its very nature, will demonstrate commercial awareness throughout.

(S4) Organisation skills. Developed via meeting with the client organisation, meeting the research brief, and meeting several phased deadlines throughout the project preparation.

(S5) Communication skills. The student will need to demonstrate high level written communication skills in the both the management and the academic parts of the project.

(S6) IT skills. Taught in the research methods training part of the module, and demonstrated in the project itself.

(S7) Lifelong learning skills. A compulsory element of the project is a reflection on learning, where students examine the skills they have developed and reflect on how they will continue to use these throughout their lives.

(S8) Ethical awareness. All research needs to be conducted under strict ethical guidelines, which are taught in the research methods training and applied in the project itself.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Mixed, hybrid delivery, with social distancing on campus

Face-to-face seminars x 12 hours
Synchronous face-to-face learning x 10 hours
Supervision x 3 hours
Self Directed Learning x 575 hours


Syllabus

 

The context for management research;

Developing a research proposal;

Methods of management research;

Planning and conducting the research project;

Data collection and analysis;

Composing the management report.


Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.