MM358: Dissertation

Module code: MM358

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Joseph Lane, email: j.lane@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Entry to module to be determined by application (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE AC317 OR TAKE IC305 OR TAKE MM310 (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module leads to the production of a dissertation of 10,000 words, excluding title page, contents page, tables, illustrations and their captions, appendices and bibliography. The aim is to allow a student to conduct an extended in-depth examination of a chosen topic in business and management broadly speaking, based on guided independent research.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and summarise a key issue / problem / research topic within a business and management area.
2. Conduct a literature review demonstrating, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the contribution of a range of academic and professional authors.
3. Select the appropriate research methodology or methodologies.
4. Engage in a significant piece of independent academic research.
5. Critically appraise ideas / contributions from theoretical, empirical and practice-based sources.
6. Organise and critically evaluate different types of data or information.
7. Organise and present information clearly, succinctly and in the required format to be able to formulate defensible conclusions based on robust evidence.
8. Make an effective oral presentation on their dissertation topic and respond effectively to questions.

Module content

Students will engage in the following academic activities relating to the production of the Dissertation:

• Identification and Development of a Dissertation topic.
• Searching for, and organisation of, source material.
• Framing the study and consideration of appropriate methods.
• Construction of an in-depth literature review.
• Collection and analysis of data/material.
• Evaluation of data.
• Interpretation of meaning and discussion of findings.
• Referencing sources.
• Preparing a presentation for oral examination.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Guided independent study is the main teaching and learning method for the dissertation. Students opting for the module will be briefed at the end of the Semester 2 of Part 2 and asked to begin thinking about topic ideas over the Summer break.

An initial series of lectures and briefing tutorials/seminars in Semester 1 will deliver more focussed research methods training. Following the production of a substantive research proposal, a more specialist supervisor will guide the student to completion of the dissertation.

Study hours

At least 6 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will submit a dissertation proposal document to their supervisor during Semester 1 for formative feedback on the early stages of idea development and research.

Reassessment

Additional costs