| Unit name | Researching Human Resource Management and the Future of Work |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EFIMM0135 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Vachhani |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is important because it gives students sound knowledge and deep understanding of research skills, research methodology and the ethics and politics of social research. It provides students with an understanding of research design and methods used in management research, focusing on the academic skills needed to conduct research on HRM and the Future of Work. It enables students to explore the purpose and appropriate use of a range of research methods and develop skills in the critical reading of research, the formulation of research questions and in research design. The unit is designed to equip students with knowledge of planning, identifying appropriate methods, conducting and reporting research enquiry suitable for evaluating organisational challenges and opportunities of HRM and FoW research. The unit engages students with in-class discussions, practical activities and thought-provoking, contemporary research issues that shape the relevance of academic literature and design of research studies in the field.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit fulfils the purpose of familiarising students with a variety of important research skills. These are key skills and this unit is designed to develop students’ confidence in critical thinking and writing skills using evidence from the analysis and synthesis of diverse information gained from reviewing literature in HRM and Future of Work. The ability to communicate this evidence in a persuasive manner to diverse audiences in verbal or written formats, both individually and as a group is also important and a key feature of this unit. The unit fits into the programme of study by preparing students for the dissertation and future careers in HRM/Future of Work that enable them to appraise research and appropriateness of methodology in reports and sources of data that leads to engaging in well-informed decision-making.
An overview of content
The content of the unit includes developing students’ academic skills in conducting and writing-up organisational research and enquiry skills. The unit includes: critically appraising research and synthesising knowledge across a wide range of literature; understanding research philosophy; research design; qualitative and quantitative research methods and different dimensions of quality; ethics and politics of social research; and how to craft an excellent dissertation/applied project.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Upon completion of the unit, students will have formed a deep understanding of research skills and the ethics and political of social research that equips them for undertaking their own projects and better decision-making in their future careers by being able to understand the methodology in data and reports presented to them. They will acquire engagement and influence skills through critical thinking and capability in communicating to different audiences. They will have better understanding of ethical tensions, dilemmas and issues in HRM/FoW research and develop personal effectiveness through self-reflective learning and evaluation of information sources.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
ILO 1 - Critically analyse a range of academic perspectives with reference to their role in the creation and use of different types of knowledge
ILO 2 - Discuss how context, culture and the values of the researcher, and others with an interest in the outcome of research, affect the research process and how data are gathered and used
ILO 3 - Make informed decisions about appropriate methodologies, commonly used methods and any particular challenges of undertaking management research in a variety of contexts.
ILO 4 - Appraise the ethical and practical issues arising in carrying out research and take account of these issues when developing a research proposal.
Teaching will be conducted through ten lectures of 2 hours and five tutorials of 2 hours (totalling 30 hours contact time) in TB2. The lectures comprise a combination of talks, reflective activities and think tasks to engage students. Tutorials deepen student’s research skills through a range of practical tasks and activities for developing research design skills, group work, debates/discussions, case studies, and constructing coherent data collection methods. The tutorials aim to facilitate deep academic conversations, follow-up on any questions arising from the lecture and provide in-depth engagement into particular research methods, especially the most commonly used methods in the HRM/FoW research. Optional advice and feedback hour sessions for additional support are available. Students will be required to prepare for the lecture by familiarising themselves with the lecture slides and other resources provided and undertake preparation reading and activities before tutorial sessions. The discussion board on Blackboard will be used to answer questions about the unit, to support/extend discussions facilitated in the tutorials and to strengthen peer interaction.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There will be one main formative assessment. This will take place in the middle of the teaching term and will comprise in-class group presentations based on a journal article chosen by groups that will be critically appraised (ILO 1, 2, 3). Groups will engage in an in-class discussion to facilitate peer learning and feedback. Verbal and written instructor feedback will be given.
Other forms of formative assessment will include readings, case studies, research design and task preparation before each session (ILOs 1, 2, 3 & 4).
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
2,000-word individual assignment (100%): Students are required to write a research proposal. They will choose a topic they have covered on one of the other taught units on the programme and design a coherent and focused research study that builds on, extends or addresses a key topic in HRM/FoW (ILO 3). They will be asked to explain and evaluate key literature then identify a research problem, gap and research question, (ILO 1). Once students have defined a clear research question, they should develop and justify an appropriate research philosophy, design and rigorous methodology that is appropriate to address the research question/problem, drawing on what has been covered on the unit and evidencing their arguments appropriately with research methods resources (ILO 2 and 4). Students should also explain the key audiences for their proposed research, its limitations, researcher positionality and reflection on ethical considerations.
When assessment does not go to plan
Where students fail the unit and are eligible to resubmit, the re-assessment weighting on the unit is the same as the original assessment. This means if the student does not pass the unit overall, then they will be reassessed with a single piece of assessment weighted at 100%, covering all learning outcomes for the unit. The re-assessment will consist of an individual research proposal of 2000 words where the student must choose a different topic and one that is sufficiently different from the original submission to devise and construct a coherent research proposal.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIMM0135).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
