ASSESSMENT STRATEGY The assessment involves five elements: 1. Project Outline 2. Problem Formulation Report 3. Research Report 4. Client Report 5. Final Combined Report The above elements follow in succession (see Figure 1), with the first one commencing at the end of the taught part of the module. Figure 1. Elements of assessment. Project Outline is a brief formulation of the project idea, which is used to allocate a suitable supervisor for the project. Problem Formulation Report develops ideas from the Project Outline into a clearly defined business problem for ones research, along with the proposed research strategy, timeline and expected deliverables. Research Report then provides full academic account of the research carried out. Client Report in turn provides a concise account of practical recommendations generated in the Research Report. Final Combined Report comprises the Problem Formulation Report, Research Report and Client Report, and is the last element of submission. The Project Outline is submitted online via Studyspace in its respective Turnitin Assignments box for feedback purposes only. The Problem Formulation Report, Research Report and Client Report are submitted twice – firstly, offline directly to supervisor, throughout the project on set dates for feedback and revision (formative assessment); secondly, in a reworked form, as part of the Final Combined Report at the project completion, for marking (summative assessment); the Final Combined Report should be produced as one seamless report containing selected elements of the reworked Problem Formulation Report, Research Report and Client Report. The Final Combined Report mark is returned to the student. The Final Combined Report is submitted online via Studyspace in its respective Turnitin Assignments box. The respective word count limit and percentage allocation of marks within the Final Combined Report are outlined in Table 1 below. Element of assessment Indicative word count* Weighting Project Outline -- -- Elements of Problem Formulation Report 800 – 1,000 10% Elements of Research Report 6,000 – 7,000 70% Elements of Client Report 1,000 – 1,200 20% Final Combined Report Up to 10,000 100% Table 1. Word count limits / weightings. * Word count does not include contents of executive summaries, appendices and references. A tolerance of +/- 10% can be allowed per each individual part of submission subject to supervisor’s discretion. Individual elements of assessment Below follows a detailed description of the purpose, contents and marking criteria for the Project Outline, Problem Formulation Report, Research Report, Client Report and the Final Combined Report. Project Outline The Project Outline is used by the Module Leader for identifying and allocating suitable supervisor for the project. It has no special template or word count limit, but it should be brief and to the point. Student should answer the following questions in the document: • Is the topic / research problem interesting and why? • What type(s) of data are you going to collect to help address this research problem? • Is the data accessible? How are you planning to collect the data? • A rough idea of the timeline for the project? After the student submits the document, the Module Leader will allocate a supervisor, then the Module Administrators would inform both the student and supervisor of the allocation. At this point the supervisor should review the Project Outline and provide feedback (verbal or written) on the suitability of the topic; there is no mark for the Project Outline. The student must then arrange to meet their supervisor and discuss the feedback, then proceed with the project. Problem Formulation Report The Problem Formulation Report provides a clearly defined business research problem, including a wellargued rationale for conducting the research, and its proposed usefulness to the focal organisation/industry where the problem is situated. The document should also provide an overview and justification of the research methods proposed for addressing the issue/problem, and finally some indication of the research timeline and deliverables expected of the research. Content of the document should include [but not be limited to] the following: - Introduction - Background of research problem - Research problem statement • Problem definition and scope • Relate problem to focal industry and research discipline (e.g., finance, HR, marketing, operation, etc.) - Rationale for conducting research - Brief evaluation of research problem from academic perspective • Highlight research attempts/findings of existing studies related to research issue/problem • Highlight conceptual/theoretical framework(s) applicable to research issue/problem (where appropriate) - Overview and justification of proposed research design • Should include issues concerning proposed sampling design and types of data, methods data collection and analysis. - Possible outcomes and use for the organisation/company in question - Work/action plan • Key project components with deadlines – can be summarised in a Gantt chart - References and appendices (where appropriate). Research Report The Research Report is the substantive part of the project. As such it should present the student’s research skills in the most robust and systematic fashion. The document should provide a set of relevant propositions, research questions/hypotheses, or a conceptual framework based on a critical evaluation of current management research around key issues that relate to your research issue/problem; it should also offer a clear and specific research method detailing data collection and analysis which adequately address the research aim and objectives. Content of the document should include [but not be limited to] the following: - Introduction to report - Research aim and objectives - Critical review of academic literature - Conceptual model or framework for your research - Methodology • Research design/methodology • Target population and sampling • Methods and procedures involved in data collection • Methods and procedures involved in data analysis - Presentation of analytical findings and general discussion - Research limitations - Conclusions Client Report In the Client Report students are expected to articulate their research findings in a style and language that makes sense to decision makers in the concerned organisation or firm. In this sense, this document “translates” technical or academic findings of the research results/output into practical implications, options and recommendations for managers within organisation or industry where problem is situated. The document should be structured in a way that decision makers in the concerned organisation or firm could clearly see the relevant options and the pros and cons for choosing or not choosing any one of these options. Content of the document should include [but not be limited to] the following: - Title page, contents, executive summary - Outline of key implications of research findings to managerial decision-making - Decision regarding general presentation and layout is at the student’s discretion based on the nature of student’s research and findings. - Recommendations and benefits based on research outcomes - Recommendation for decision making - Should be submitted as part of bound final project submission - References and appendices (where appropriate) Final Combined Report The document comprises elements of the updated versions of the Problem Formulation Report, Research Report and Client Report, and is the final stage of the project. The mark for this stage is the overall mark for the project. The supervisor and second marker mark the submission, and then the mark is published on Studyspace along with the combined feedback from both markers. Table 2 below presents the Final Combined Report contents / marking scheme: Final Combined Report Points Max Actual Elements of Problem Formulation Report 10 Background and focus Rationale for choosing the topic Problem definition and scope Explanation of research aims and objectives Practical organisational context Elements of Research Report 70 Literature review 25 Coverage, format Critical discussion Identification and formulation of research questions / hypotheses Research design 25 Overview of existing studies related to research issue/problem Outline of conceptual/theoretical framework(s) applicable to research issue/problem Approach (likely to use the research onion as a reference) Methods for data collection and analysis Discussion of limitations of the design proposed Analysis of findings 10 Critical discussion Addressing the research questions / hypotheses Conclusions 10 Validity Practical value Elements of Client Report 20 Recommendations 17 Practical recommendations for decision making Costs / benefits of key recommendations Key aspects of the study / business issues addressed? Appropriateness of language for the target audience References for the entire submission (format) 3 Final Combined Report 100 Table 2. The Final Combined Report contents / marking scheme.