BE934-6-FY-SO:
Research Project - International Business and Entrepreneurship
2019/20
Essex Business School
Southend Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2019
Friday 26 June 2020
15
23 December 2019
Requisites for this module
BE218
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC N120 International Business and Entrepreneurship,
BSC N121 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N123 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Placement Year),
BSC N124 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N124CO International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year)
The Research Project module builds further on the knowledge and understanding of research philosophy, design and data analysis students gained in BE218 Business Research Methods, as well as a selection of International Business and entrepreneurship modules including BE202 International Business, BE216 international environment, BE216 international business strategy, BE200 Business Creation and Growth, and the newly introduced BEXXX Strategic Entrepreneurship, to give an opportunity to the final year students to carry out an independent research project on international business and entrepreneurship related topic.
From 2016, it is expected that all undergraduate students at Essex Business School (Southend Campus) will complete a research project in the final year of their degree. The project can take a variety of forms, including the traditional dissertation and business plan, but unlike other assignments it involves the students conducting and writing-up a piece of original research. For those majoring in BSc International Business and Entrepreneurship the research project must be in the area of international business and entrepreneurship. The undergraduate Research Project is the equivalent of one full year module and is expected to be about 8.000 words in length. The project runs in parallel with other third year modules. The students will need to apply and be granted ethical approval by the University in order to undertake primary data collection (details and information on Ethical Approval process are available on Moodle).
The supervisor must be assigned by the Group. Once the project has been accepted, the student is advised to meet with their supervisor on a regularly basis. The student must undertake a considerable part of the basic research for the project during the autumn and spring term. In the autumn term, students must complete an interim report on the project. This requires them to provide information about the projects title, the central research question, why it is significant and how it is being approached; research conducted during the Autumn term; main primary and/or secondary source materials being used; and an outline plan indicating the structure of the research project and requirement for ethical approval (if needed).
The project can take a variety of forms, ranging from empirical research using methods such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews and content analysis to library based theoretical work. The students will find that this can be a most worthwhile learning experience, and a good project is a useful reference for postgraduate study as well as outside employment.
The aim of this module is to give students an opportunity to manage a research project from beginning to end under the guidance of an individual supervisor. This will enable students to demonstrate their knowledge on international business and entrepreneurship that they have learnt throughout the three years of their international business and entrepreneurship major (BSc international business and entrepreneurship). Although the emphasis of the project must be in the area of international business and entrepreneurship, the students can also link it with other modules within their programme, including marketing and management science.
In developing the research project students will be using the framework for research skills and the boundaries of their research identified in Business Research Methods module (BE218). Students will be expected to draw on appropriate literature to construct a research framework and theoretical context, explain the logic of research methodology, data collection and draw relevant empirical findings.
On completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate evidence of a thorough and comprehensive understanding of relevant literature in the fields of international business and entrepreneurship;
2. Locate and read relevant literature and produce summaries and critical analysis of the relevant literature, in international business, entrepreneurship and other relevant fields.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking involving the consideration of an alternative approaches and research methods;
4. Apply an appropriate design methodology to achieve aims and objectives of research project.
5. Use Gantt charts and time management techniques to plan and manage a research project.
6. Record plans, ideas, results, and reflections in a written journal.
7. Work as an individual to specify, design research project under the guidance of a supervisor.
8. Demonstrate written communication and analytical skills through the writing of the interim report and reflective journal, and final project report.
The aim of this module is to give students an opportunity to manage a research project from beginning to end under the guidance of an individual supervisor.
In developing the research project students will be using the framework for research skills and the boundaries of their research identified in Business Research Methods module. Students will be expected to draw on appropriate literature to construct a research framework and theoretical context, explain the logic of research methodology, data collection and draw relevant empirical findings.
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Demonstrate evidence of a thorough and comprehensive understanding of relevant literature in the field of management science and entrepreneurship.
Locate and read relevant literature and produce summaries and critical analysis of the relevant literature.
Demonstrate critical thinking involving the consideration of alternative approaches and research methods.
Apply an appropriate design methodology to achieve aims and objectives of research project.
Use Gantt charts and time management techniques to plan and manage a research project.
Record plans, ideas, results, and reflections in a written journal.
Work as an individual to specify and design research project under the guidance of a supervisor.
Demonstrate written communication and analytical skills though the writing of the interim report and reflective journal, and final project report.
Discuss ideas informally with academic supervisors.
No additional information available.
On completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate evidence of a thorough and comprehensive understanding of relevant literature in the fields of international business and entrepreneurship;
2. Locate and read relevant literature and produce summaries and critical analysis of the relevant literature, in international business, entrepreneurship and other relevant fields.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking involving the consideration of an alternative approaches and research methods;
4. Apply an appropriate design methodology to achieve aims and objectives of research project.
5. Use Gantt charts and time management techniques to plan and manage a research project.
6. Record plans, ideas, results, and reflections in a written journal.
7. Work as an individual to specify, design research project under the guidance of a supervisor.
8. Demonstrate written communication and analytical skills through the writing of the interim report and reflective journal, and final project report.
Syllabus
In the first part of the module, students will be sharing the first five lectures with those who are on Capstone (Business) and Capstone (marketing).
In the second part of the module, a supervisor will be allocated to the student to discuss issues and problems that they faced with their research.
Proposed time frame:
Key stages of the Research Project module (Autumn term):
WEEK 2: Research topics are released to the students, Information regarding Ethical approval process is available to Moodle and addressed in Lecture (Week 2)
WEEK 3: Optional modules are formally chosen ( for BBA/IBE)
WEEK 5: Additional workshop (by Samer, Skills Centre) on Critical Writing skills
WEEK 6: Draft Ethical approval form discussed with the supervisor
By WEEK 8: Interim report draft discussed with the supervisor. Ethical approval form submitted.
WEEK 11: Interim report submission (3000 words)
Spring term:
WEEK 16-25 Independent research under supervision, 5 compulsory meetings with the supervisor.
WEEK 30 (Summer term): Submission of the final project.
Learning and Teaching Methods
Including number and format of contact hours, e.g. lectures, seminars, classes, practicals
Specify where students can find this information
There will be five formal lectures in total.
The module leader will be accessible through his/her office hours on a weekly basis throughout the whole year.
Supervisor meetings will take place both in Autumn and Spring term. There will be in total 3 supervisory meetings. The final meeting must be 1-on-1.
The supervisor will:
Provide guidance on the scope, nature and focus of the research topic
Help to provide opportunities for critical discussion of student's work
Monitor progress through meetings and encourage ownership by the student of the project (including form, style and content)
Provide formative assessment of the research project
Assist the student in identifying appropriate literature and sources of information
Make constructive criticisms as appropriate and suggest appropriate alternatives
- Martin Davies. (2014) Doing a successful research project : using qualitative or quantitative methods., Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Research Project - International Business and Entrepreneurship |
|
100% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Manuela Nocker, email: mnocker@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Manuela Nocker
ebshelp-sou@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Konstantinos Tomazos
UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
SENIOR LECTURER
Available via Moodle
Of 10 hours, 10 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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