Options Talks 2015
6 May (Wed.)
Crawford 1
Doing a Dissertation in the Final Year
- What you need to know  BMAN20851 Research Methodology (2nd year option)
Course Coordinator: Dr Christine Mclean
 BMAN31500 Dissertation (3rd year option)
Course Coordinator: Dr Faith Hatani
Research Methodology
(2nd year)
• How to conduct your Research & write a
Dissertation
• Assumptions & Perspectives
• Research Questions & Conceptual/Literature
Review
• Research Methods
• Plan & Organize Research Process – proposal
• Lectures/ Seminars/ Feedback Surgeries
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Course Outcomes
• Undergraduate Dissertations – overall process;
proposals, researching planning, supervision,
writing a dissertation...
• Postgraduate Research
 Coursework – presenting different arguments,
examining literature & evidence, writing
critical & coherent examinations of issues &
debates, reviewing papers & understanding
different perspectives & assumptions.
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Coursework
• Research Questions & Assumptions – Discuss
different methodological approaches &
assumptions - Select a research area/topic &
develop research questions for this study:
1,000 words (30%)
• Research Proposal – research questions,
conceptual & literature review (view of issues &
concepts; links to other studies), research
methods (data collection, presentation & ethics)
& plan: 2,200 words (70%)
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Research Proposals: Examples
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Consumer Behr & Marketing – Nike, Obesity, Image…
Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, Google +)
Operations & Quality Mgt – TQM & Lean
Mobile Phone Technology (Android vs Apple)
Environmental Mgt & Sustainability – alternative energy
(petrol/electric/nuclear), solar/wind farms, plastic bags….
Genetically Modified (GM) Foods
Music Piracy & revenue streams – CD vs MP3
Uprising in North Africa – Arab Springs
Banking Crisis – Regulation, Impacts, Housing Mkt
Banking & M-Commerce
Management Accounting & Control in Orgns
Psychometric Testing in Orgn’s – Selection/Promotion
Stress & Motivation
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BMAN31500 Dissertation
(3rd year)
 BMAN 31500 is an all-year course option
(30 credits) in your final year.
 No timetabled lecture/seminar
 The information of this course can be
found in the page “Dissertations” of the
online UG Handbook at;
https://ughandbook.portals.mbs.ac.uk/Myprogramme/Dissertations.aspx
• Once you register for the dissertation course in your
final year, then you will have access to the Blackboard
page of this course.
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What is a dissertation?
• A dissertation must be your independent,
original research work.
• A supervisor will provide you with guidance
and suggestions.
• Word limit: approx. 15,000 to 18,000 words.
• Deadline for submission of a full
dissertation: Week 11 of semester-2
• Assessment: a dissertation (100%)
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What is required?
• Prerequisite: BMAN20851 Research
Methodology (2nd year, sem-1)
• In the summer (before you start your final year),
you must secure a supervisor to register for
BMAN31500 Dissertation.
• Then, you need to submit your Dissertation
Proposal to the UG office in the beginning of
October.
• Before Christmas, you need to submit a Progress
Report to your supervisor. (1000-1500 words; this
report is not graded, but compulsory).
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This is the
Dissertation page
in the Handbook
More details are
provided in
sub-sections.
Please also see additional
links and attachments on
each page of sub sections.
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Contact us for more details
 BMAN20851 Research Methodology (2nd year option)
Course Coordinator (and Lectures/Seminars/Feedback
surgeries):
Dr Christine Mclean ( chris.mclean@mbs.ac.uk )
 BMAN31500 Dissertation (3rd year option)
Course Coordinator (general issues related to your
dissertation):
Dr Faith Hatani ( faith.hatani@mbs.ac.uk )
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