1 Identification of a Suitable Topic

1.1

Selecting a topic

You should have studied research methods before starting your project, because this provides essential guidance for good practice in research and will provide initial ideas for possible topics. To select an area of study, the following questions may be of use: Where do I want to be in five years? What skills and knowledge do I additionally need to get there? What problem areas are there in my job or company that I would like to see tackled? What aspects of the course would I like to pursue further in their practical application to my present or future circumstances? What organisational problems do my MD or other contacts see as being important to investigate and solve? What practical outcome would I like to see achieved as the result of spending considerable time on a study and investigation? Is the proposed project feasible? Am I likely to be able to get access to the required information?

1.2

Academic approval of topic proposed

We will normally treat the project plan assignment as a project proposal. If your proposal is considered acceptable (and most are) it will be passed on to an appropriate academic supervisor (see 2.1 below).

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2.1

Carrying Out Your Research Project

Academic support

An academic supervisor will be appointed to supervise your project. It is your responsibility to make contact with your supervisor, to arrange a regular series of tutorials and to make sure you are making satisfactory progress. It is not the supervisors role to check you are carrying out the work to the agreed timetable. (The development of the ability to work independently, and to arrange your own schedule of work, is an important part of the Research Project process.) Supervisors will try to respond to requests promptly - normally within ten days. Holidays, and periods away on business, may interfere with this: supervisors should let students know of any periods of ten days or more when they will not be available. It is a good idea to discuss the scheduling of your project with your supervisor at an early date so that any problems can be resolved. You should also note that you cannot normally expect your supervisor to comment in detail on revisions that you make in response to your supervisors comments. (Obviously if your supervisor had to comment on every change, the job might never be finished!) You should make sure you communicate with your supervisor to: 1 2 3 Discuss scope and obtain advice on background reading. Discuss the literature review and how this links with your research. Discuss your research design and methods. It is very important to check with your supervisor before starting to collect empirical data (eg sending out questionnaires or arranging interviews). Discuss your analysis, conclusions and recommendations. Review the final report. Obviously, you will need to allow time for your supervisor to read the final draft and for you to respond to suggestions you should check with your supervisor how long this is likely to take.

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Your supervisor may also offer comments and feedback on your work at appropriate points
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during the project (e.g., looking at draft chapters). You should note, however, that a supervisors role is not to provide a detailed check of your work, nor is it to correct your use of English or your spelling. The supervisors role is to provide general guidance and advice on the content and process of your research project. 3 Timescale of dissertation From past experience, on average, dissertations may take 13 weeks to complete by full-time students: 1 WEEK 2 WEEKS 4 WEEKS 4 WEEKS 1 WEEK 1 WEEK clarify aims and methods background reading (a typical project is likely to have 20-50 Books, articles and internet sources in the reference list) data collection analysis, recommendations and report writing revisions the final week includes supplying a full draft copy to your supervisor before submission, to allow for comments, feedback and any revisions/improvements.

4 Layout of final report 4.1 Structure: See the file on Report structure 4.2 Presentation

4.2.1 Paper A4 size paper (210 x 297 mm) should be used. Plain white paper must be used, of good quality and of sufficient opacity for normal reading. Only one side of the paper may be used. 4.2.2 Layout Margins at the binding edge must be not less than 40 mm (1.5 inches) and other margins not less than 20 mm (0.75 inches). Double or one-and-a-half spacing should be used in typescripts, except for indented quotations or footnotes where single spacing may be used. 4.2.3 Pagination All pages must be numbered in one continuous sequence, i.e. from the title page of the first volume to the last page of type, in Arabic numerals from 1 onwards. This sequence must include everything bound in
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the volume, including maps, diagrams, blank pages, etc. Any material which cannot be bound in with the text must be placed in a pocket inside or attached to the back cover or in a rigid container similar in format to the bound thesis. 4.2.4 Font, Paragraph and Line spacing

Font: Times New Roman (Standard) for body text but any font compatible with the text may be used for headings/sub-headings Spacing: Double spacing

5 Submission date You will be given a deadline for submitting your project. 6 Submission instructions Two bound copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the Course Administrator. You must also submit an electronic copy as a single Microsoft Word file on a CD or DVD. (Please put your name on the CD. If possible, you should include the appendices on the CD or DVD, but this is not essential.)

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