| CODE | EMA5922 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Dissertation | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 30 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides students with an opportunity to develop and employ research skills by engaging in a substantive investigation individually. The dissertation may relate to a topic in any area of management, marketing and/or economics and must be of such a scope that it can be completed within the required timescale and prescribed word length. The dissertation must also be capable of being supervised by a member of the University's teaching staff or an approved alternative supervisor. Students need to draw proposals (1,000 words maximum length) for dissertations that must be: a) based on a reliable body of knowledge that presents intellectual demands appropriate at Master’s level; b) endorsed by a member of the academic staff within the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy; c) subject to approval by the Board of Studies for this study-unit. The student must have access to the relevant resources and the ability to interpret them. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit provides students with an opportunity to explore in depth a topic, subject or issue of relevance to the study of management, marketing and economics under the supervision of an academic member of staff. The entire research project is intended to help students develop analytical, evaluative and creative skills that help solve a clear problem that organizations face at a strategic level. Equally, the study-unit requires the student to undertake work that leads to the development a strong ability to engage with the literature, to review the more relevant material, to synthesize the material in a succinct way and to demonstrate a degree of mastery over the capability to answer a number of research questions and devise appropriate designs and analyses to answer them. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a) demonstrate a deep and specialized understanding of the studied problem and its applicable solution that is either unique or is shared by only a restricted number of scholars or specialists; b) classify, analyse and critically evaluate the material collected for studying the problem and devising a solution. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a) demonstrate research skills that help identify a clear problem, its nature and a clear strategic management and marketing solution; b) integrate the topic studied with broader strategic management and marketing issues; c) incorporate practical and theoretical aspects of strategy and marketing; d) gather suitable, valid and reliable data from different sources; e) set out independent thoughts about a specific problem/subject in a coherent and integrated way; f) demonstrate mature presentation skills, reflected in a final output that is of the form of a first draft of a publishable paper; g) work independently, managing time and scope proficiently; h) impart the knowledge emerging from this study and use it in own career and specialization at a higher level such as a Doctoral. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: A comprehensive and definite list of texts cannot be included because this will depend on the approved subject of the dissertation. Such a list of texts will certainly feature in the dissertation proposal. Students will however be expected to familiarize themselves with texts that follow hereunder, among potentially others. Main readings: - Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods (4th Edn). Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199588053. OR - Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students (5th Edn). Harlow, UK: Pearson Education UK. ISBN 9780273716860. Supplementary readings: - Furseth, I. & Everett, E.L. (2013). Doing your Master's dissertation - From start to finish. Sage Publishers. ISBN 978144626399. - Jesson, J.K., Matheson, L., & IB Lacey, F.M. (2011). Doing your literature review: Traditional and systematic techniques", Sage Publishers. ISBN 978 1848601543. - McMillan, K., & Weyers, J. (2007). How to write dissertations and project reports. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Ltd. ISBN 9780273726937. - Murray, R. (2011). How to write a thesis (3rd Edn). Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press. ISBN 978-0335244287. - Ridley, D. (2012). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students. (2nd Edn). Sage Publishers. ISBN 9781446201435. - Wallace, M., & Wray, A. (2011). Critical reading and writing for postgraduates (2nd Edn). London: SAGE Publications Inc. ISBN 9781849205627. - Wisker, G. (2008). The postgraduate research handbook. (2nd Edn). Palgrave Study Skills. ISBN 9780230521308. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Dissertation | ||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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