Assignment 2
Key Task and word count
You will design, conduct, and justify an individual research project worth 85% of the module mark. You will submit an individual final project report which develops an argument based on empirical research. Your report should explain the background to your topic, review relevant literature, rationalise your methodology, demonstrate your analysis and evaluation of your findings, and reach conclusions, and if appropriate, recommendations. Your report will include a critical reflection.
The report forms an individual assignment of 7,000 words. Your report should be managed within this limit.
Your project will include: a title page; a contents page; acknowledgements; an abstract; a reference list of your sources of information; and conceivably some supplementary information (included as appendices). None of these aspects are included in your word count. Further advice on how to manage this will be offered in the module delivery.
Module Learning Outcomes
- Identify and critique business theme within the organisation.
- Construct a research project which uses research methods, data analysis, problem solving and decision-making techniques to addresses an organisational problem and inform stakeholders.
- Summarise the implications of your findings for stakeholders (internal or external), customers, or suppliers.
This Assessment will Contribute to the Achievement of the following Programme Learning Outcomes:
- PLO1. Apply critical thinking to practical and theoretical problems in a Retail organisational context.
- PLO2. Communicate effectively using a range of media.
- PLO3. Demonstrate ethical and sustainable awareness in a Retail organisational context.
- PLO4. Demonstrate professional and commercial awareness in a Retail organisational context.
- PLO5. Demonstrate subject specific knowledge and skills in Retail Business Management.
- PLO6. Synthesize the development of academic and work-based skills and knowledge through a reflective and self-managed approach to personal development.
- PLO7. Demonstrate personal and interpersonal competence required by employers in order to operate effectively in a Management role in a Retail organisation.
The purpose of this section is to help you to identify the professional skills which you will have gained or developed through completing this assessment, so that you can add them to your skills portfolio as part of your professional development (PPD). As a matter of course, this assignment will help further develop your information gathering capabilities, critical analysis and critical thinking skills, and practical decision making as well as enhancing your written communication skills. It will also augment your knowledge of innovations in business practice.
Assignment Details
You will design, conduct, and justify an individual project report of 7,000 words which develops an argument based on empirical research. Your report should explain the background to your topic, review relevant literature, rationalise your methodology, demonstrate your analysis and evaluation of your findings, and reach conclusions, and if appropriate, recommendations. You will articulate a critical reflection of 500 words, to be included as part of your appendices.
You must cite all your sources in text and include a full reference entry in your reference list for all citations, in accordance with the Cite Them Right Harvard referencing system.
Brief Summary of Assessment Requirements
This assignment requires students to design, conduct, and justify an individual empirical research project of 7,000 words, forming 85% of the module mark. The main purpose is to construct a research-driven argument that investigates a business theme within an organisation and provides evidence-based conclusions.
Key Requirements
Students must include:
- Background and context of the chosen research topic
- Comprehensive literature review demonstrating understanding of existing knowledge
- Justified methodology, explaining choice of methods, data sources, and ethical considerations
- Analysis and evaluation of empirical findings
- Conclusions and recommendations, where appropriate
- Critical reflection (500 words in the appendices)
- Full Harvard (Cite Them Right) referencing
The project must also include:
- Title page
- Contents page
- Acknowledgements
- Abstract
- Reference list
- Appendices (not included in the word count)
Module Learning Outcomes Covered
- Critically identify and evaluate a business theme in an organisational context
- Construct a research project using appropriate methods, data analysis and decision-making tools
- Summarise implications of findings for stakeholders
Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs) Addressed
Includes development of critical thinking, communication skills, ethical awareness, commercial awareness, subject-specific knowledge, reflective ability, and professional competence skills essential for management roles in retail organisations