Contents
Please note that this module handbook serves as guidance for students taking this module.
Some minor changes related to literature and video sources, seminar activities etc. may change during the course of the module and will be communicated by the module leader
Key information such as the module learning outcomes, the methods of assessment and assessment deadlines will not change.
Ensure that you check the module Blackboard site and your University email regularly for announcements and updates.
INTRODUCTION & WELCOME TO THE MODULE
Welcome to the module! The module requires you to undertake a project to be submitted in the form of a report at the end of the course. The project is a very important part of the study programme. Its aims, content and manner of execution reflect the integrative nature of projects at Master’s level. This is a common practice on most taught postgraduate study programmes in the UK. In addition to applying theories studied in the different modules, you will be able to undertake an intensive study into a specific area of International Business of your choice. It is also envisaged that the different types of project chosen will be of practical relevance for you when you commence or re-commence your career.
The MA Project (7MNST003W) and MSc Project (7MNST004W) are 20 credit modules. The word limit for the final project should be between 10,000 – 12,000 words.
Your supervisor will be working with you from when you submit a proposed project title, to marking your proposal to guiding you before you hand in your project. This handbook will help to steer you, as well as providing tips on how to develop your project and manage the relationship with your supervisor. It is important that you plan your tutor meetings, because you will only have 4 or 5 face-to face meetings with your supervisor – so you need to ensure that they are as productive as possible. This means preparing for them in advance and taking on board the recommendations passed on to you. Do not expect your supervisor to write your project for you! You should use the ‘Meeting Logs’ that are included in the appendix. This is a good way to track your progress and ensure that your supervisor is providing their guidance most effectively.
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Employability Link to the Module
Graduate Attribute | How this module curriculum & assessment enhances your employability |
Critical and creative thinker | The project develops your ability to critically source literature as well as collect data and tests your ability to present ideas in ways that communicate meaning with impact. |
Literate and effective communicator | The project report tests the ability of students to undertake an intensive study into a specific area of business and management of interest. |
Entrepreneurial | You are expected to look for sources of data, get an access to organisations and/or secondary sources thereby developing your skills for networking and reaching out to wider audience. |
Global in outlook and engaged in communities | Most projects are undertaken in international settings and require you to reflect on cultural dimensions of the study under consideration |
Socially, ethically and environmentally aware | We encourage you to undertake projects which look at subjects which have a social/environmental dimension. All projects are required to fulfil the ethics requirements of research |
Careers and Employability Service:
Westminster Employability Award:
Volunteering Opportunities:
volunteering@westminster.ac.uk | 020 3506 6112
Engage Login: https://engage.westminster.ac.uk/
Mentoring: Zurria Qureshi: z.qureshi3@westminster.ac.uk
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MODULE AIMS, LEARNING OUTCOMES AND INDICATIVE CONTENT
Module Aims
MSc Project module aims to assess students’ ability to identify a business problem/issue worthy of investigation and also the ability to undertake an intensive study into a specific area of business and management of interest. As such, the process should reflect skills of formulating research questions/objectives, designing a methodology of enquiry appropriate to the investigation of the research problem, synthesising and critically analysing data, drawing insights and conclusions, and presenting findings in a systematic and coherent way.
MA Project module aims to test the analytical skills, motivation, the ability to organise a systematic study of a theme, time management and the presentation of a written report. The project is expected to reflect both a high order of independence in thinking and proficiency of execution of an academic task.
The MSc IBM and MA IBM Project modules are differentiated by the focus of topic, the type of research method(s) and the type of data analysis applied in the project.
For MSc IBM, it is expected that the majority of the projects will adopt a focus in Economics, Finance, Marketing Research or Leadership, and be more likely to apply quantitative or mixed methods and involve analysis of ‘hard’ and/or primary data. However, students are not prevented from applying qualitative data approaches and secondary sources to triangulate their findings. Also, other types of project are possible, subject to approval, such as a consultancy project. In all cases, the project must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the appropriate methodology.
For the MA IBM, it is expected that the majority of the projects will adopt a focus in for example Human Resource Management, Marketing Communications, Project Management and be more likely to apply qualitative or mixed methods and involve analysis of ‘soft’ and/or primary data. However, students are not prevented from applying quantitative data approaches and secondary sources, for instance, to triangulate their findings. Also, other types of project are possible, subject to approval, such as a consultancy project. In all cases, the project must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the appropriate methodology.
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
Investigate in depth an area of International Business by analysing a particular problem systematically, identifying causes and constraints and finding appropriate solutions to the problem
Apply proficiently the appropriate methodology of research to the analysis of an International Business problem
Derive appropriate conclusions from research and offer viable recommendations to enable the organization, business or institution to address the original problem
Work independently, conduct research investigation and present research findings in a professional manner
Indicative Syllabus Content
Students will be advised about the nature of the project and its aims and assessment criteria during an induction session at the beginning of their course. This will be underpinned by the Business Research Methods module.
There is no explicit taught element to this module but, under supervision, the student will be encouraged and directed to:
apply the knowledge of theoretical concepts, models and constructs learned from the course to the analysis of an issue in international Business and Management
integrate the theoretical knowledge and problem solving capabilities in relation to the research topic chosen
acquire transferable skills to undertake tasks in the analysis of modern international Business problems
test and consolidate the ability to apply the concepts, models, constructs and techniques learned on the course
enhance the capacity for independent action and competent presentation of results
Preparation for this module will include participation in the Business Research Methods module which includes a series of practically focused workshops, including those on SPSS, designed to prepare the students for their project.
Business Research Methods is a prerequisite for the Project module. This means you cannot proceed with the Project module until you pass the former.
The core and optional modules that make up the MA and MSc IBM courses enable students to acquire general and specialist knowledge in an area of business and management that is of particular interest. For example, for an MSc IBM student, one might choose 7MARK018W Quantitative Analysis for Marketing Management as an option to enhance quantitative research skills.
Each student will be allocated to a supervisor during their second semester. The supervisor will provide guidance on reading and data sources, as well as providing comment, encouragement and feedback at all stages of the work including supporting the students in refining their choice of project topic, advising students preparing the project proposal for the Business Research Methods module and discussing research outcomes when students are working towards their final project report.
Bear in mind that your proposal and dissertation are together worth 40 credits – effectively making it a double module. This means that, in total, the project will be challenging; you cannot expect to conduct a poorly thought-through survey and simply write up the results or undertake another essay or case study on a topic that has been done to death (such as ‘An analysis of Coke’s entry strategy into India’) and expect to pass. Projects involve hard work and require your commitment throughout the year.
ASSESSMENT
The University has arrangements for marking, internal moderation and external scrutiny. Further information can be found in Section 12 of the Handbook of Academic Regulations, westminster.ac.uk/study/current-students/resources/academic-regulations
The module is assessed by
Project
The pass mark for the module is 50%. If your mark for the module is between 40-49%, you will be eligible to resubmit and your mark for this will be capped at 50%. Any overall mark less than 40% is a Fail and you will need to retake the module.
There are two modes of submission of the project - through on-line blackboard link AS WELL AS through submission of the hard copy. The details are as under:
ONE copy of the final report must be posted into the post box on the wall in the corridor near the WBS Registry counter. They should be properly bound (spiral bind or hard cover) Do not use an envelope when posting your projects.
Include - a completed CA1 form to the FRONT of ONE copy (it should be the first page/front cover and can be bound with the entire document).
Include -a single Library Consent Form to one copy (this can be placed behind the first page /front cover).
Upload - an electronic version of your project on this blackboard site.
Submission is only valid if all of the above items are submitted before the 13:00 hours deadline
Anonymous marking As the coursework for this module is assessed by student supervisors, it is exempt from anonymous marking.Page Break
Assessment rationale, methods and weightings
The assessment will be based on a final project submission (100%). The submitted and bound project will be in the range of 10,000 words, plus appropriate appendices. This word count will include the project proposal, which will be subsumed with the final submission.
The assessment is designed to ensure that the students acquire and demonstrate proficiency in framing, developing and executing a research project related to International Business and management.
The dissertation should fulfil the following requirements and will be graded accordingly:
Ability to identify a business problem/issue worthy of investigation and capable of investigation within the resource and time availability
Design a methodology of enquiry appropriate to the investigation of the problem
Development and execution of an appropriate methodology
Development of an appropriate analytical framework from the relevant literature and theoretical learning to support the critical evaluation of the data collected
Ability to integrate the relevant concepts, models and constructs covered in the course to the problem under investigation in a way that is both practical and analytical
Critical evaluation of the data collected, together with assessment of its practical and wider implication, making use of the analytical framework developed
Sound conclusions developed from the analysis of the data and in line with the research proposal
Assessment criteria
Criteria
Weightings
Structure and Presentation
Clear Executive Summary /Abstract; Clear Introduction with background, aims, objectives and a clear research question; Chapters have clear titles, logical flows between chapters, well structured; References are cited and listed correctly; Documentation standard (word processing, structure, logical flow, use of English
10%
Research
Literature Review; evidence of a range of relevant background reading; Research methods are applied correctly; Methods used are clearly justified; Sources of data are wide and appropriate; Samples obtained for primary research, if used, are realistic and fully described
30%
Analysis
Critical argument; Independent thought; Application of knowledge gained from more than one subject area; Analysis is appropriate and thorough, including the use of theories from taught modules
50%
Conclusion
Conclusions are relevant, well formulated; Refer to original aims and objectives; Make links with literature review and analysis in chapters; Make appropriate recommendations for future work
10%
Eligibility of students for an ‘alternative assessment’
There is no alternative assignment offered for this module.
Assessment General Threshold Criteria
Generic Grade Descriptors at Level 7
80-100 An outstanding piece of work: All assessment criteria have been met at an exceptionally high standard.
Displays exceptional initiative, creativity, sophistication and originality.
Provides insightful analysis.
Demonstrates originality and rigour of argument.
Shows independent synthesis of ideas and understanding.
Demonstrates reflexivity and critical analysis to generate transformative solutions/responses.
Demonstrates substantial independent research.
Communicates complexity clearly and succinctly with excellent standard of presentation.
70-79 An excellent piece of work: All assessment criteria have been met at a high standard.
Demonstrates sophisticated understanding across the field of study and related areas.
Draws on a range of techniques and information sources for independent analysis.
Demonstrates creativity and flair in task/enquiry.
Provides robust and insightful argument.
Provides a high quality critical and reflexive analysis.
Demonstrates substantial independent research
Communicates ideas clearly and succinctly with good standard of presentation.
60-69 A good piece of work: All assessment criteria have been met at a good standard.
Demonstrates breadth and/or depth of understanding across the field of study and related areas.
Synthesises knowledge to address task/enquiry.
Presents argument cogently and clearly.
Demonstrates extensive research and critical use of resources.
Communicates ideas clearly with a good standard of presentation.
50-59 A sound piece of work: All assessment criteria have clearly been met.
Demonstrates understanding of appropriate range of concepts and theoretical approaches.
Provides an argument to frame response to enquiry/task.
Uses a range of relevant sources provided to undertake research.
Undertakes meaningful analysis/reflection in relation to the enquiry/task.
Communicates ideas using an appropriate format with few weaknesses in presentation.
40-49 FAIL: An inadequate piece of work: One or more relevant assessment criteria are not met.
Provides clear limitations in the range of concepts/principles explored
Demonstrates lack of clarity and depth of understanding in relation to the task/enquiry.
Uses a narrow range of sources to support task/enquiry.
Provides limited analysis/reflection.
Communication is unclear with significant weaknesses in presentation.
39-0 FAIL: A poor piece of work: Most of the relevant assessment criteria area not been met.
Demonstrates poor understanding of key concepts and principles.
Shows significant weaknesses and omissions in completing the task.
Omits analysis/reflection.
Uses inadequate information sources.
Communication is unclear with significant weaknesses in presentation.
Referencing requirements for assignments
Statements, assertions and ideas made in coursework should be supported by citing relevant sources. Sources cited in the text should be listed at the end of the assignment in a reference list. Any material that you read but do not cite in the report should go into a separate bibliography. Unless explicitly stated otherwise by the module teaching team, all referencing should be in Westminster Harvard format. If you are not sure about this, the library provides guidance (available via the library website pages).
Difficulties in submitting assignments on time
If you have difficulties for reasons beyond your control (e.g. serious illness, family problems etc.) that prevent you from submitting the assignment, make sure you apply to the Mitigating Circumstances board with evidence to support your claim as soon as possible. The WBS Registry or your personal tutor can advise on this.
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Submitting your coursework - checks
Please check that you have submitted the project through Turnitin as well as handed in a hard copy of your project to the Westminster Business School Registry- located at the ground floor of Chiltern Building, Marylebone Campus.
ONE COPY of the final report must be posted into the post box on the wall in the corridor near the WBS Registry counter. They should be properly bound (spiral bind or hard cover) Do not use an envelope when posting your projects.
Include - a completed CA1 form to the FRONT of the hardcopy (it should be the first page/front cover and can be bound with the entire document).
Include -a single Library Consent Form to one copy (this can be placed behind the first page /front cover).
Upload - an electronic version of your project on this blackboard site.
Submission is only valid if all of the above items are submitted before the 13:00 hours deadline.
At busy times the coursework submission process may run slowly. To ensure that your submission is not recorded as a late submission, avoid submitting very close to the deadline.
To submit your assignment:
Log on to Blackboard at http://learning.westminster.ac.uk;
Go to the Blackboard site for this module;
Click on the ‘Submit Coursework’ link in the navigation menu on the left-hand side
Click on the link for the assignment;
Follow the instructions.
REMEMBER
It is a requirement that you submit your work in this way. All coursework must be submitted by 13:00 (UK Time on the due date).
If you submit your coursework late but within 24 hours or one ‘working’ day of the specified deadline, 10% of the overall marks available for that assessment will be deducted as a penalty for late submission, except for work which is marked in the range 50-59% in which case the mark will be capped at the pass mark (50%)
If you submit your coursework more than 24 hours or more than one ‘working’ day after the specified deadline you will be given a mark of zero for the work in question.
The University’s mitigating circumstances procedures relating to the non-submission or late submission of coursework apply to all coursework.
If you are unclear about this, speak to your class leader or module leader.
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FEEDBACK ARRANGEMENTS
There is no formative feedback on this module. However, during the module, particularly at the time of the supervision meetings it is expected that the tutor gives feedback to the student on progress of the student. The key dates for the summative feedback are on the inside front cover. Summative written feedback will be made available to the student on-line - via the Grade Centre.
USING YOUR STUDY TIME EFFECTIVELY
You have primary responsibility for your own learning. You will have a schedule of formal study where you will be working with academic staff and this is outlined later in this handbook.
Alongside your scheduled studies, your private or ‘independent’ study is very important. This is the time that you spend learning without direct supervision from, or contact with, a member of teaching staff and this makes up a large part of your studies. It is likely to include background reading, preparation for seminars or tutorials, follow-up work, wider practice, the completion of assignments, revision and so on. Some independent study may be structured for you as a key part of your learning, but it also is the additional study you choose to undertake to further improve your learning.
To summarise, in general your study activity will break down into:
Scheduled contact/activity time (such as lectures, classes, tutorials, workshops, supervisions and other directed activities)
Structured independent study (such as reading and preparing for scheduled learning activity)
Module and course-based wider study (such as reading the business media, employability activities, personal tutoring activity )
Assessment (working on coursework and/or preparing for and taking tests/exams)
You should be putting in 10 hours of study time for every credit so you should plan to commit more hours than the class time in this module in order to gain the most of your studies.
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Below is an indicative split of study time for this module:
PG Activity Table
Activity type
Category
Student learning and teaching hours*
Lecture
Scheduled
0
Seminar
Scheduled
0
Tutorial
Scheduled
0
Project supervisor
Scheduled
4 hours
Demonstration
Scheduled
0
Practical Classes and workshops
Scheduled
0
Supervised time in studio/workshop
Scheduled
0
Fieldwork
Independent
Writing the project
Scheduled
96
Total Scheduled
Independent study
Independent
100
Total student learning and teaching hours
200
These hours are indicative only and may be subject to change. They also indicate what would be typical. Your particular study needs may vary.
If you are unclear on any aspect of making the best use of your study time on this module, speak to your class leader or the module leader.
Academic integrity
What you submit for assessment must be your own current work. It will automatically be scanned through a text matching system to check for possible plagiarism.
Do not reuse material from other assessments that you may have completed on other modules. Collusion with other students (except when working in groups), recycling previous assignments (unless this is explicitly allowed by the module leader) and/or plagiarism (copying) of other sources all are offences and are dealt with accordingly. If you are not sure about this, then speak to your class leader.
University of Westminster Quality & Standards statement
Plagiarism is a particular form of cheating. Plagiarism must be avoided at all costs and students who break the rules, however innocently, will be penalised. It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand correct referencing practices. As a University level student, you are expected to use appropriate references and keep carefully detailed notes of all your sources of material, including any material downloaded from the www.
Plagiarism is defined as submission for assessment of material (written, visual or oral) originally produced by another person or persons, without acknowledgement, in such a way that the work could be assumed to be your own. Plagiarism may involve the unattributed use of another person’s work, ideas, opinions, theory, facts, statistics, graphs, models, paintings, performance, computer code, drawings, quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words, or paraphrases of another person’s spoken or written words.
Plagiarism covers both direct copying and copying or paraphrasing with only minor adjustments:
a direct quotation from a text must be indicated by the use of quotation marks (or an indented paragraph in italics for a substantive section) and the source of the quote (title, author, page number and date of publication) provided;
a paraphrased summary must be indicated by attribution of the author, date and source of the material including page numbers for the section(s) which have been summarised.
Page BreakREADING AND KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Essential reading
Saunders, N.K., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2016). Research Methods for Business Students, 7th ed. Pearson.
Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2015). Business Research Methods, 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Further reading
Denzin, N. K. and Lincoln, Y. (eds.) (2005). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research, SAGE Publications.
Fisher, C. (2004). Research and Writing a Dissertation for Business Students, FT Prentice Hall, Harlow.
Swetnam, D. (2004). Writing Your Dissertation: The Bestselling Guide to Planning, Preparation and Presenting First Class Work, 3rd ed. (The How to Series) London.
White, B., (2003). Dissertation Skills: For Business & Management Students, Thompson Learning, London.
MODULE CALENDAR
Not applicable
Note:
Additional preparation materials may be posted on Blackboard. To benefit fully from your face-to-face taught sessions, these should be accessed and completed beforehand. Any changes to the schedule will be announced on Blackboard.
Lecture capture
Not applicable
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WBS PROFESSISONAL PRINCIPLES
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