Applied Research Project Management

LEARNING OUTCOMES
The aim of this module is to enable you to conduct a live applied business project that should address a project management problem. This could include a work-based project or a case study or other empirical research that will demonstrate understanding of applied research and the relationship between Project Management Theory and its practical implication in real life. Get Homework Help Now!

Students will need to conduct a research-based project on a topic related to Project Management, to present their findings and provide a list of recommendations. This will involve designing and developing a research project outcome that demonstrates scholarship in the field of Project Management.

In this module students will complete a research project of their own choice. Students will have an assigned project supervisor who will advise regarding the choice of projects for the assessment. These might include applied research on a contemporary project management issue based on primary or secondary research, a work-based project, business simulation, project management report, case study or other empirical research.

The module aims to develop students' critical thinking, methodological, analytical, and writing skills through the research process in undertaking a project. Students must choose a project on offer within the course they are undertaking, and work under the Module Guide 2022/23
p. 6 supervision of the allocated supervisor for a period of 12 weeks. Students will be allocated 6 hours of supervision time. In undertaking an applied project, students will critically engage with literature on their chosen topic, formulate valid questions and objectives, evaluate different methodological alternatives, execute appropriate data collection and analytical techniques, develop academic explanations of their findings and address the project question and objectives originally posed in their study. Students should also be able to provide recommendations for academic theory and/or project management practice as an outcome of their research project.

The applied project aims to help students to understand the dynamics of research, to develop their research skills and test & apply their project management learning through a research work. It provides students with a unique opportunity to specialise in a particular area of project management field and is extremely valuable if students' wish to work in a project management field/industry or undertake research in future study/employment. Overall, the module aims to develop both students' independent research and their employability skills in PM. At the end of this module, students will be able to:

Knowledge
Demonstrate the ability to analyse complex Project Management problems critically and rigorously and make evidenced based management recommendations for an improved Project outcome. (IC) (COI)

Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Project Management theory studied in previous units and practical application. (COI) (IC) (SEI)

Thinking skills
Demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and skills by applying appropriate research strategies and philosophies to organisational issues. (COI) (DP)
Reflect on the benefits and challenges of conducting applied research. (SEI) (EE)
Comprehend the difference between the research methods followed in applied project management contexts. (COI)
Subject based skills
Identify, interpret, and engage in critical analysis and discussion of contemporary Project Management literature. (COI)
Demonstrate the ability to effectively analyse business problems from a Project Manager perspective and make meaningful and where appropriate costed business recommendations that can implemented by Project Managers. (DP) (IC) (CC)
Demonstrate the skills of logical thought, critical evaluation, data analysis and reflection that will enhance influencing and negotiation capabilities as a Project Manager. (DP) (SEI) (EID)

Skills for life
Demonstrate the ability for self-directed learning and the ability to reflect on learning, and emotional and social intelligence, which will inform future practice. (SEI)
Exhibit digital proficiency in computer aided research skills that promotes the effective presentation of research findings and recommendations. (DP)
Understand the ethical behaviour when conducting primary research. (SEI)
Design and present a well-defined and structured report covering the investigation with appropriate and justified conclusions and recommendations, while showing awareness of their limitations. (DP) (IC) (CC)

The following codes identify where a learning outcome meets one of the UEL core Competencies.
Digital Proficiency - Code = (DP)
Industry Connections - Code = (IC)
Social & Emotional Intelligence - Code = (SEI)
Physical Intelligence - Code = (PI)
Cultural Intelligence - Code = (CI)
Community Connections & UEL Give Back - Code = (CC)
Cognitive Intelligence - Code = (COI)
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (EE

The student is ultimately responsible for his/her dissertation project and should see the supervisor as an academic advisor for their work. Supervisors do not necessarily have to be experts in a particular research topic; their role is to supervise the research process itself.

Students have the following responsibilities in the supervisory relationship:

To attend meetings regularly and punctually.
To email draft work in advance of any scheduled meeting.
To treat supervisors with respect and consider their advice.
To inform the supervisor of any difficulties or issues they may be experiencing.
To minimise email contact to essential communication and allow a reasonable period of response.
To be professional and take ownership of their own work.

Assessment
The business project for Masters programmes at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, requires students to conduct applied research under the supervision of an academic member of staff. It is a 6000-word project which accounts for 30 credits of your programme of study.
The expectation is that you will undertake a live applied business project which is appropriate to your vocational area. This could include primary research into a business problem, a workbased project, business simulation, case study or other empirical research. For some course's students will have to select a particular activity based on programme or professional body accreditation requirements (please see below for details).

Applied Research Business Project
If you are undertaking a dissertation style business project, involving primary or secondary research, this section guides you on what is required. Students are required to produce applied research that contains six chapters - Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology (Interviews/Questionnaires/Case Study, etc.), Data Analysis, Conclusions and Recommendations. The nature of research should be applied rather than theoretical and focused on a contemporary business/management problem/issue. Students must evaluate the literature on their chosen topic, formulate a valid (applied) research question and objectives, design an appropriate research methodology, collect relevant primary and/or secondary data, analyse the findings and develop cogent conclusions and recommendations on the basis of their analysis. The following is a brief outline of the approximate length and contents of each section and chapter.

Title
The Title of a dissertation style business project is important. It is, however, expected to evolve with the research process. Students can choose a provisional title for their dissertation proposal and use a working title for their dissertation as they conduct their research. The title should as much as possible encapsulate the topic and approach taken to the research.

Abstract
The Abstract is typically 250-words long and is not included in the 6,000-word count for the dissertation. It should provide the reader with an overview of the focus of the dissertation, the theory incorporated into the project, the methodological approach and data collection, key findings and conclusions and recommendations of the project. The abstract should not contain academic references and is intended to provide a short summary for the reader of the work. Students should invest time into this section, as it's often the very first paragraph an examiner will read.

Research Methodology
The Research Methodology should be 1,000 words in length approximately. In this chapter, the student should re-state the research question and objectives/hypotheses for the benefit of the reader, having completed the literature review the focus of the research project should be made clear. The student should then explain the paradigm the research approach is located in and the research philosophy guiding the inquiry. The nature of the research question will determine the paradigm the project will be located within, and the philosophy which will underpin the ontological and epistemological assumptions of the research approach. Generally, research will be either located in the positivist or interpretive paradigm (although other paradigmatic positions, such as Pragmatism, are possible), and the research methods used in the inquiry will depend upon the research paradigm the work is located within. Students should explain the research methods used and provide a rationale and justification for the research design of the study. They should explain how they have collected their data, and the sampling strategy they adopted for the work. Students should also explain how they have conducted their analysis and interpretation of the data they have generated during the inquiry, and the ways they have ensured the trustworthiness, reliability and validity of their data and analysis.

Data Analysis
The Data Analysis chapter should be 2,000 words in length approximately. This chapter accounts for 35% of the marks, and is a vitally important chapter for the dissertation. In this chapter, the student must analyse the data collected and identify key patterns from the analysis. These can take the form of overarching themes (in qualitative research), hypothesis testing (in quantitative research), or key tabulations from secondary quantitative data using SPSS or other statistical software. Students should read their data with their research question and objectives in mind and ensure that the analysis adequately helps to address the overall aims of the research project. In this chapter, students should also compare and contrast their findings with previous studies for consistency and evaluate the significance of their findings. It is also useful if students formulate a clear thesis (argument) from their analysis of the data collected in this chapter.

Conclusion
The Conclusion chapter should be 500 words in length approximately. In this chapter, students should reflect upon their research question and objectives/hypotheses, and the answers they have developed from the findings of their research project. They should also consider the theoretical (do the findings challenge existing theory?) and managerial implications (what do the findings imply for practicing managers/practitioners/public sector leaders of the research project). Crucially, students must show how they have addressed the research question and objectives they originally formulated for the research project.

Recommendations

The Recommendations chapter should be 500 words in length approximately. It should consider what recommendations would be made on the basis of the findings of the study and the answer to the research question/objectives/hypotheses posed. Students should make recommendations for management practice, wider society (if applicable) and importantly for future research projects, which may be particularly helpful for students undertaking dissertations in future cohorts. Students should also critically reflect upon their findings and consider their implications.