| Unit name | Applied Group Research Project in Human Resource Management and the Future of Work |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRCM0036 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Jeon |
| 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 an optional final assessment of the MSc Human Resource Management and the Future of Work. It will provide students with the opportunity to apply and enhance the knowledge and skills learned during their studies on the programme. The Applied Research Group Project will have both academic value and high relevance for practice, providing students the opportunity to use real-world data and apply theoretical understanding and critical skills in order to find original solutions to societal and industrial challenges. Under the guidance of an academic supervisor, students will work in a group of 4-6 students to provide a substantial piece of research that is theory-driven, has potential for academic originality, and addresses challenges in a specific sector or industry.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The Applied Research Group Project is a substantial piece of work that identifies and investigates a particular question and explores it systematically over a sustained period of time. We will try to match students with projects from external business and third sector partners related to human resource management and/or the future of work. The unit provides students with the opportunity to read extensively and apply research skills to a chosen area of study selected from a range of topics covered on the programme. Additionally, the unit fits into the programme by operationalising the material learnt on the taught units on substantive HRM and future of work topics as well as research methods, devising a coherent research programme and achieving a clear set of objectives.
An overview of content
The content encourages students to build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the Researching Human Resource Management and the Future of Work unit and other units of the programme to develop a coherent programme of research to provide solutions to a real-world problem. The School will identify suitable project briefs which will be open to students to apply for. The organisational partners will help brief and guide the students, although students should be prepared to conduct the projects with a high degree of autonomy and self-direction. Students will work in a small group to collect and analyse data and make evidenced recommendations, presenting the resultant work to identified stakeholders in a dissertation format.
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 a particular research topic, investigated in detail and have produced original research that responds to a particular research problem or research gap. The unit 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. Depending on the topic chosen, students will acquire engagement and influence skills through critical thinking and capability in communicating research to different audiences. They will have better understanding of ethical evaluation and develop personal effectiveness through self-reflective learning and evaluation of information sources.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the unit, students will be able to:
The unit is intended to promote self-directed and collaborative group-based learning and inquiry, under guidance of
a project supervisor. Students will be supported in setting up their teams and ways of working, and support, guidance, and formative feedback will be provided through a series of group meetings that every group member must attend.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Taught units in TB1 and TB2 on the programme are focused on cutting edge research methods and include formative learning in a variety of forms. This unit also builds upon the knowledge, intellectual and engagement skills garnered from the Researching Human Resource Management and the Future of Work unit. Dissertation preparation sessions and Q&A sessions on the unit handbook also supplement the unit. Academic supervisors will provide verbal feedback on draft reports.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
GROUP research proposal and project plan based on organisation’s brief 10% (guide 1,000 to 2,000 words) (ILO 1,2,3)
GROUP project report and presentation, written and designed for the partner organisation 50% (guide 5,000 words) (ILO 4,5,7)
INDIVIDUAL academic, critical and reflective account of the project, demonstrating an integration of the organisation’s challenge, the research approach/project plan, findings and insights with the relevant published academic literature 40% (guide 3,000 words) (ILO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
When assessment does not go to plan
When assessment does not go to plan There are different scenarios that might entail the need for resubmission by an individual member of a group or the whole group. Each case would need to be considered by the dissertation coordinator, programme director and PGT team in collaboration, and the resubmission arrangements would be agreed by the School Exam Board. Resubmission would be decided after all components of assessment have been marked.
First, the two group-based assessment elements – the team project proposal (10%) and the team project report and presentation (50%) – are both must-pass assessment components for this unit. Consequently, if deemed eligible for reassessment by the School Exam Board in accordance with the university’s regulations and procedures, these can both be retaken by the entire group if failed on the first attempt. These retakes will be identical in format to the original assignments. Depending on the nature of the failed first attempt, these reassessments could ether entail a revised version of the first submitted attempt or an entirely new piece of work.
Second, in cases where an Individual student fails the unit overall due to the quality of their individual reflective assignment (40% towards total unit mark); this assignment can be retaken when the student is deemed eligible for reassessment by the School Exam Board in accordance with the university’s regulations and procedures. This retake will be identical in format to the original assignment. Depending on the nature of the failed first attempt, this reassessment could ether entail a revised version of the first submitted attempt or an entirely new piece of work.
In exceptional circumstances where individual participation in group work has been prevented throughout the unit or a group is unable to work together, individual students work on an alternative library-based standalone dissertation (100%; 10,000-12,000 words, including 2000 words reflective section (Learning Outcomes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
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. MGRCM0036).
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.
