New Advances in Business 2016-17 Assessment Three Page 1 of 5 Assessment Three Specification Assessment Title New Advances in Business Assignment Three Unit Title New Advances in Business Unit Code BSS007-3 Number of Credits 30 Unit Leader Andrew Wood Assessment Weighting (%) 15% Submission Deadline Friday 28th April 2017 (10:00am) Procedure for submission Electronic copy via BREO Expected Return Date 19th May 2017 Description of Assessment Task Assessment 3 requires you to write an individual research brief of 1,500 words, which develops the business topic you have analysed in Assessment 2 a step further. You are required to write a research plan or proposal that enables you / your client / your organisation to explore the business topic further through primary research. You should consider the various research methods introduced to you throughout the unit to develop a sound and practical plan to carry out a research project. Guidelines and Additional Information • Your Research proposal should address the following issues: • One or more research questions or research objectives, based on the critical literature review presented in Assessment 2, and any additional literature that you have consulted afterwards; • Choose and justify the research method(s) which is appropriate to address the research questions (including issues such as, type of data to be collected, how will the data be collected, how will the data be used or analysed); • Discuss potential issues you may encounter during the research process, such as accessibility to the data, time and resources needed to complete the research, validity of the data, and potential ethical issues; • Comment on the potential use and benefits of the findings of this research. • You should bear in mind that Assessment 2 and 3 areNew Advances in Business 2016-17 Assessment Three Page 2 of 5 closely linked. • Remember, you are not required to conduct the actual research in this brief, but to explain what you would do and how you would do it. You should bear in mind that this research brief might be presented to research agencies or businesses to inform their actual research design. • You are required to use the template provided as Annexure 1 attached. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 10% of your mark. • Students are required to use the Harvard referencing style for citing references – see http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/aguide-to-referencing/referencing Submission deadline: Submission deadline is 10:00am, 28th April 2017. The report must be submitted electronically via Breo. Unit Learning Outcomes assessed: ▪ Plan a credible primary research project employing appropriate research methods. Word Limit 1500 words Format Word document Students are required to use the template attached as Annexure 1 Resources/Support Available Research Brief Tutorial Lecture material, case studies, recommended texts, library resources Assessment Criteria Please refer to the Marking Grid Peer / Self Assessment Required NO Details of how feedback will be provided On BREONew Advances in Business 2016-17 Assessment Three Page 3 of 5 Annexure 1: Template for Structuring Assessment 3 Report Purpose of the Brief and Relation to Phase 2 Please note this is an example only! Phase 2 topic investigated whether government green energy strategies can provide a reliable basis for commercial wind farm initiatives. This research brief proposes a research study, to be conducted by The Wind Farm Company PLC, to investigate the environmental issues for a proposed new wind farm site. Structure of Assessment 3 1. Introduction and Background of Research Background of the research, why doing this research is important, what is the significance of doing this research 2. Research Questions Research questions this project will address. The research brief should be an extension from the individual advances report. Students are expected to identify issues where further research activities are needed to address the topics further through primary research. Students are expected to rephrase the selected topic into doable, actionable research questions, which narrow down the topic and focus the research project. The identification of the research questions should be based on a short review of relevant literature. 3. Aims and Objectives Ideally the aims/objectives should be researchable, realistic, and achievable. 4. Proposed Research Methods Research design of the primary research; Choose and justify the research method(s) which are appropriate to address the research questions; Type of data to be collected; how will the data be collected; how will the data be used or analysed. 5. Project Plan, Budget and Timeline Detailed explanation of project plan, project phases, activity timeline and budget of the project tasks.New Advances in Business 2016-17 Assessment Three Page 4 of 5 6. Issues to be considered Discuss on potential issues you may encounter during the research process, such as accessibility to the data, time and resources needed to complete the research, budget constraint, validity of the data, and potential ethical issues; 7. Potential use of the research findings What are the likely outcomes of the research? How research will benefit the target organization and other potential users of research? 8. Conclusion and recommendations Concluding remarks and recommendations to the client/other stakeholders in relation to the research project.New Advances in Business 2016-17 Assessment Three Page 5 of 5 Annexure 2: New Advances in Business Assessment 3 Grading Sheet Criterion Description 1 – 34% (F – F-) 35 – 39% (E) 40 – 49% (D- – D+) 50 – 59% (C- – C+) 60 – 69% (B- – B+) 70 – 100% (A- – A+) Problem definition and elaboration The research brief should be an extension from the individual advances report. Students are expected to identify issues where further research activities are needed to address the topics in advances further through primary research. Ideally the Objectives/research questions should be challengeable but achievable. The identification of the research questions should be based on review of relevant literatures. There are no clear research questions/objectives or research questions / objectives are not elaborated at all. A referral answer - elaboration of research questions/objectives is without support from the literature. Research questions/objectives make little sense to the reader. Poor elaboration of research questions/objectives with limited support of literature review. Research questions/objectives are related to the business context but have flaws. Average elaboration of research questions/objectives with some support from the literature review. Research questions/objectives make sense to the reader and are related to the relevant business context. Good elaboration of research questions/objectives with the support of literature review. Research questions are well presented without obvious flaws. Research questions or objectives have the potential to benefit the business. Excellent elaboration and presentation of research questions/objectives which are supported by relevant literatures. Research Questions/objectives have the potential to add value to the business and are achievable. Research design and application of research methods This section is concerned with the research design of the primary research. The research methods chosen should be logically presented and should be able to address the research questions/objectives. Student should demonstrate their understanding of various research methods and techniques and the ability to choose the best suitable research methods or approaches The research design is not/poorly described. No understanding of alternative techniques/methods demonstrated Poor description of the research design. There is major misunderstanding of research methods. Research design does not address the research objectives/questions. Little or no understanding of alternative techniques/methods demonstrated Inadequate description of research design. Some misunderstandings about the chosen method. Little understanding of alternative techniques/methods An adequate description of research design. Student is generally clear about the chosen research methods and has an adequate understanding of alternative methods and techniques Average description of research methods. There is evidence that the student appreciates various research methods/techniques, and is able to choose the best suitable method. Excellent description of research design. Clear understanding of alternative research methods. It is very clear that the chosen research methods are appropriate for the research questions/objectives. Understanding of research process Student should take into account various issues that may be encountered during the actual research process. There is no consideration of potential issues of doing research. Student is unaware of various issues of doing research. Student has limited understanding of the potential issues of doing research. Student is aware of potential issues of doing research Student has good understanding of various issues of doing research. Comprehensive consideration of various issues, e.g. ethical, financial, accessibility etc Presentation and completeness The report should be complete which include all the elements according to the requirements. A good report is expected to be organized logically and neatly. Use of language and grammar should not hinder the understanding of readers. Did not follow template provided, The report is incomplete. Main elements are missing. Did not follow template provided. Poorly organized report, without a clear structure, many required elements are missing. Some attempt to follow template but some required elements may be missing or misinterpreted.. The readers have difficulty understanding content of the report. Template used. All the required elements are included, but some elements may not have sufficient detail. The content of the report is clearly presented. Readers have no major difficulties understanding the content of the report Good implementation of the template - the report is well organized with a clear logic. All the elements as needed are included, but a clear flow between the sections may be missing. The content of the report is presented clearly and logically. Readers can follow the content without difficulty. Excellent implementation of the template with a logical flow and clear logic between sections. The report is comprehensive with all the required elements included. Readers can appreciate the content very easily.