Postgraduate Course: Dissertation - MSc International Human Resource Management (CMSE11288)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | The student will conduct a piece of original research over the summer block on a topic relating to International Human Resource Management, broadly defined as a topic that is related to the material covered in the core course, Multinational Corporations and Comparative Employment Relations, or one of the three option courses specific to the IHRM programme. |
| Course description |
The Dissertation aims to make a study in depth of a topic in which the student is particularly interested in within the field of Human Resource Management. It allows the student to gain experience of planning, designing, executing and reporting a significant piece of individual research. Experience is also gained in the processes involved in research, such as obtaining information from people, securing their co-operation, analysing and evaluating data, framing recommendations, and other methods of field study and data collection. Students learn how to communicate, via a report, complex ideas and information in a coherent and structured manner.
Types of dissertation
There are four types of Dissertation.
Traditional Business research Dissertation: Critically engaging with a body of literature and concepts and designing and conducting research that generates new data or new theory addressing gaps in the literature and adding to the body of knowledge.
Business Report: Reflecting upon business issues gathered from experience in or study of a business setting, which addresses questions chosen by the student from a cited body of literature. Dissertations of this type may be the result of internship, casework or previous experience; such Dissertations may reflect upon business strategy, though without the detail and completeness expected of a Business Plan.
Business Project: Analysis of an issue chosen by a business that provides data for analysis, which the student reintegrates with issues or gaps in general literature. This type of Dissertation is often the result of a work-based project and differs from a Business report in that the research questions and data are the result of negotiation between the business and the researcher.
Business Plan: A fully-costed and complete plan for a business project such as might justify investment against a predicted return.
Student Learning Experience
The Dissertation provides the opportunity for students to engage in a research project and, in particular, the ability to study a specific topic and question, identify the issues and how they may be researched, collect and validate appropriate data, organise and discuss the findings, their reliability and validity and present results in a logical and clear manner.
The Dissertation integrates elements from the course of study and requires students to identify and define a research topic, conduct the research and write it up in a Dissertation format. This is all within a predetermined timeframe, which from start to finish lasts approximately 3 months (May/June through August for 12-month students).
The Business School allocates a one-on-one Dissertation Advisor who will assist each student and provide advice and feedback on the research as it evolves during the various stages of the process.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Other Study Hours 588,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
0 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Private study
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The dissertation is approximately 15,000 words in length.
The grading of the Dissertation follows the University's Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme. The Dissertation should be able to demonstrate technical understanding and be able to integrate knowledge in order to apply it to a research question. Examiners will be looking for a range of attributes when assessing the Dissertation, to include:
-Well-defined objectives and clear focus
-Thorough review and evaluation of relevant previous literature/work
-Methodology and methods appropriate to research focus
-Adequate discussion of methods adopted (including rationale and limitations)
-Rigorous and appropriate analysis of research findings
-Conclusions/recommendations follow on from findings
-Thoughtful engagement with literature and findings
-Contribution to knowledge is clear (includes quality of argument)
-Dissertation is clearly structured
-Dissertation is presented to clear and professional standard
-Non-original work is adequately referenced
-It is clear which parts of the work are the student's own
-The recommendations and action plan are realistic, timely and cost effective
-There is evidence that personal learning has been reviewed, including comments from organisation if appropriate |
| Feedback |
Once students have been allocated to an Advisor, they are under that staff member's guidance throughout the entire process. Guidance is provided as formative feedback but the responsibility for the academic quality of a Dissertation is the student's alone.
Students are required to keep in regular contact with their Advisor. As a minimum they should meet with their Advisor three times. In particular, the following key meetings are required:
-A preliminary discussion of the student's proposal with the Advisor (this will cover, broadly, the feasibility of the idea; possible sources of data and reading; methods of analysis; a plan or timetable). Students are responsible for arranging an appointment with their designated Advisor
-Assessment of progress to date. This is most likely to be a short meeting to discuss data collection and to map out further progress
-Final meeting. In the latter part of the process, students may meet with their advisor to discuss the analysis or interpretation of data collected or to provide feedback on a sample chapter.
The final mark for the Dissertation will usually be available after the final Board of Examiners in October. Individual summative feedback on the Dissertation will be available online via the Dissertation Support System, usually by the end of October.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Study in depth a topic within the field of business studies.
- Plan, design, execute and report a significant piece of individual research.
- Apply the processes involved in research, such as obtaining information from people, securing their co-operation, analysing and evaluating data, framing recommendations, and other methods of field study and data collection.
- Communicate, via a report, complex ideas and information in a coherent and structured manner.
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Reading List
| The dissertation provides the opportunity for the student to apply the knowledge and understanding from taught courses, with additional self-directed reading/research, and the analytical and problem-solving techniques acquired during the study courses, to investigate a specialist interest in greater depth. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Demonstrate skills of researching and writing that are relevant to a subsequent career.
Organise complex arguments and communicate these in an effective manner.
Apply advanced and in-depth knowledge and understanding.
Carry out self-directed reading and research
Apply analytical and problem-solving techniques to investigate a specialist interest in greater depth. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Charmi Patel
Tel: (0131 6)50 8069
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Peter Newcombe
Tel: (0131 6)51 3013
Email: |
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