| Unit name | Research Skills for International Business and Strategy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRCM0014 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Xiaolong Shui |
| 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’s purpose is to equip programme students with the ability to develop research questions and skills around the units and issues covered in TB1 and TB2. It is also key to prepare them for the Dissertation project. It is critical for students to gain an understanding of the complete research process from identification and justification of a topic to analysis and final dissemination. The ability to produce research-informed and evidence-based knowledge is key to addressing current and emerging challenges in International Business and Strategy.
The ability to question, create, utilise and disseminate research is key in evidence-based decision-making and is necessary for both complex managerial decision-making and policy formation. This is particularly relevant within the field of International Business, where multiple types of knowledge grounded in cultural diversity should inform how graduates and organisations conduct business globally.
How does this unit fits into your programme of study?
This unit will provide students with a grounding in a range of methodologies to surface a meaningful research question grounded in perspectives within International Business and Global Strategy. This will ensure that research is high calibre, reflexive, critical and ethical and sheds new light on policy and industry challenges in the global sphere. For any organisation, the ability of managers, employees and other stakeholders to distil information and produce relevant, rigorous knowledge is critical.
An overview of content
Building on the units studied in TB1 and drawing on those in TB2, students will have experienced a range of International Business, Strategy and contemporary topics from which to surface relevant questions to form the basis of their dissertation project. With the research process as the overarching frame, they will gain a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of conducting research in International Business and Strategy. This unit will link research methods to wider debates within the International Business and Strategy field and demonstrate the use of research in interrogating and informing business practices.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Upon completing this unit, students will be able to critically apply methodologies, frameworks, or lenses in various contexts to co-create research questions and conduct research in a reflexive manner. Students will consider how different types of evidence and insights, history and memory, can be used to inform and address current challenges in International Business and Strategy. The skills learned in this unit will be applicable across a range of professions as students will be able to formulate quality research projects and have developed their writing and dissemination skills.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit will be delivered through ten 3-hour lectorial sessions, blending 2-hour lectures and 1-hour small-group seminar activities. These sessions are designed to critically engage with research ideas, ensuring that students can develop a feasible research proposal with both academic and managerial values through the application of knowledge obtained from the unit.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students are expected to submit an essay in the form of a mini literature review on the chosen topic and research question(s) based on the gaps identified in the related literature. This supports and feeds forward into the summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
The summative assessment consists of a 3,000-word research proposal for the International Business and Strategy Dissertation (100%) [ILOs 1-5].
When assessment does not go to plan
Students who do not pass the unit and who are eligible will be reassessed by submitting a new 3,000-word research proposal. The research proposal topic in the re-assessment must be different from the original assessment topic (100%) [ILOs 1-5].
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. MGRCM0014).
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.
