Brief Summary of Assessment Requirements
The assessment requires students to identify and analyse a single engineering business management issue within Aviation Engineering Solutions Ltd., and develop a 2,500-word research proposal offering an academic investigation into the chosen issue. Rather than solving multiple organisational problems, the focus must remain on one significant management issue, such as project management inefficiencies, supply chain constraints, workforce retention, or risk management gaps.
The assessment emphasises academic writing structure aligned with the standards of high-ranking journals like the International Journal of Operations and Production Management. Students are expected to apply the Bath Harvard Referencing System for all factual claims and literature citations. The word limit is strictly 2,500 words (+/-10%), excluding references, cover page, and footnotes. The submission must be made in PDF format before the deadline of 27 October (12:00 midday UK time).
Key pointers to be covered in the research proposal include:
- Introduction – Define the organisation, background context, and problem statement.
- Research Aim and Objectives – Clearly state what the study intends to achieve.
- Literature Review – Critically analyse existing academic literature relevant to the chosen issue.
- Research Methodology – Describe the research approach, data collection, and analysis methods.
- Expected Outcomes and Implications – Outline the anticipated contributions and benefits.
- Ethical Considerations – Address ethical principles in data handling and reporting.
- Conclusion and Recommendations – Summarise findings and provide actionable insights.
Students must submit the assignment using the file naming convention UnitTitle_AssignmentTitle, ensuring no personal identifiers are included. Plagiarism detection tools will be applied, and all references must be appropriately cited.
Mentor-Guided Approach to Completing the Assessment
The academic mentor guided the student through a structured, step-by-step process, ensuring that each stage met the assessment standards and academic integrity expectations.
Step 1: Understanding the Assessment Context
The mentor began by explaining the purpose of the research proposal — to demonstrate critical thinking, academic research capability, and applied understanding of business management within the engineering domain. The mentor clarified that the proposal must focus on one management issue to ensure depth rather than breadth of analysis.
Step 2: Selecting a Suitable Research Topic
Through brainstorming sessions, the mentor helped the student narrow down potential issues within Aviation Engineering Solutions Ltd.. After evaluating various possibilities, the student selected “Project Management Inefficiencies” as the key area of investigation, owing to its relevance in operational performance, scheduling, and cost control.
Step 3: Structuring the Proposal
The mentor outlined the standard structure for an academic research proposal:
- Title Page and Word Count
- Abstract (Optional)
- Introduction
- Research Aim and Objectives
- Literature Review
- Research Methodology
- Expected Results
- Ethical and Practical Considerations
- Conclusion
- Reference List (Harvard Format)
Each section’s purpose and content expectations were discussed in detail.
Step 4: Developing the Introduction
The mentor guided the student in drafting an introduction that sets the organisational context, identifies key challenges in aviation engineering project management, and justifies the need for the proposed study. Emphasis was placed on maintaining an academic tone and avoiding generalisations.
Step 5: Framing the Research Aim and Objectives
The mentor demonstrated how to convert the main issue into a clear research aim, supported by three to four measurable objectives. These objectives guided the subsequent literature and methodology design.
Step 6: Conducting the Literature Review
Using academic databases, the mentor trained the student in sourcing peer-reviewed journals relevant to project management, aviation engineering, and organisational efficiency. The mentor emp