Master of Business Administration

MC/RE ASSESSMENT

Student Details ( Student should fill the content)

Name
Batch No
Student ID Cardiff Met ID : ICBT ID :

Batch No

Scheduled unit details

Unit code MBA 7004
Unit title Research Methods Assignment -Dissertation Proposal
Assignment Details
Nature of the Assessment REPORT - Dissertation Proposal
Topic of the Case Study GIVEN
Learning Outcomes covered YES
Word count 6000 Words
Due date / Time As communicated in the assessment plan
Declaration
I certify that the attached material is my original work. No other person’s work or ideas
have been used without acknowledgement. Except where I have clearly stated that I have
used some of this material elsewhere, I have not presented it for examination / assessment
in any other course or unit at this or any other institution
Signature Date
Result (Assessor use only)
Marks by 1st Name & Signature of the Agreed Mark
Assessor 1st Assessor

Marks by IV: Name & Signature of the

IV
For Office use only (hard copy assignments)
Receipt Received by
date

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 Master of Business Administration

Name
Batch No
Student ID Cardiff Met ID : ICBT ID :

Batch No

Assignment Type & Title:

For student use: Critical feedback on the individual progression towards achieving the
assignment outcomes

For 1st Assessor use: Assessment feedback

Comments and area for improvement

Name & Signature of Dat

the Assessor : e:

Comments by the IV

Name & Signature of Dat

the IV: e:

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 Master of Business Administration

Research Methods (MBA 7004)

Assignment
Dissertation Proposal

Word limit: 6000 words

Weighting of assessment: 100% total marks

Learning outcomes Covered

 Interpret research findings to inform further research;

 Identify the stages in the formulation of a research project and a dissertation;

 Discriminate between research methods to select investigation suiting

management topics;

 Construct a research proposal.

Task (100% of Total marks)

You are required to prepare a robust research proposal of 6000 words and appropriate
for an MBA dissertation. So the purpose of the proposal is to help you to focus and
define your research plans. These plans are not binding, in that they may well change
substantially as you progress in the research.  However, they are an indication to your
faculty of your direction and discipline as a researcher.

Sequence of the proposal should be as follows

Assessment Criteria

1. Title: 7.5 marks

2. Introduction /Background 7.5 marks

3. Problem identification 7.5 marks

4. Problem justification 10 marks

5. Research problem 15 marks

6. Research objectives 15 marks

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 Master of Business Administration

7. Literature review 15 marks

8. Research methodology 15 marks

9. References 7.5 marks

Marking scheme

Assessm Marking points Very Basic Averag Good Excellent

ent poor attemp e
Criteria t

1 Critical justification of the 0-1 2-3 4 5-6 7-7.5

title
2 Provides critical background 0-1 2-3 4 5-6 7-7.5
information relating to the
social/political/historical/
educational context of the
study.
3 Identify critically the state of 0-1 2-3 4 5-6 7-7.5
uncertainty or dissatisfaction
with present knowledge in the
field
4 This follows from background 0-2 3-4 5-6 7-9 8-10
to persuade the reader that the
study will be useful/
interesting and how it will
help to advance our
knowledge in that field.
5 Critically explain the problem 0-2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12-15
statement

6 State clearly and concisely the 0-2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12-15
purpose of the study

7 This is to show your 0-2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12-15

supervisor/lecturer and
department that you are aware
of significant
writers/researchers in the
field, and to indicate which
issues/topics you will focus on
in your review (this may
change later).Further you need
to show that you can be
judicious in your selection of
issues to focus on and take an

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 Master of Business Administration

approach of critical inquiry.

Literature review is not
expected to be extensive for
the proposal.

You should have done an

initial survey of the main
theorists and a library
information search (CD
ROMs etc) to establish your
directions and formulate a
tentative list of readings

You should demonstrate

critical analysis and review
should be shaped by your
argument and should seek to
establish your theoretical
orientation.
8 Critically describes the 0-2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12-15
research plans
Includes your understandings
of the nature of knowledge
and how this affects your
choice of research approach.

Includes description of and

rationale (brief) for selection
of participants, methods of
data collection and analysis,
and procedures you will use to
ensure ethical practice
9 All studies cited in the 0-1 2-3 4 5-6 7-7.5
proposal should be included
using Harvard referencing
method

REPORT STRUCTURE

 Paper Size : A4
 Word Count : 6000 words
 Printing Margins : LHS; RHS: 1 Inch
 Binding Margin : ½ Inch
 Header and Footer : 1 Inch
 Printing : Single Sided
 Basic Font Size : 12
 Font Style : Arial/Times New Roman

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 Presentation : Bound Document

Important Information for Students

 A hard copy spiral bound document must be submitted to the postgraduate

department and the softcopy of the assignment should be uploaded to ICBT SIS on
or before the deadline. In addition to this the softcopy of the assignment should be
uploaded to the TURNITIN via Cardiff Met Moodle. Students must upload the
softcopy before the hardcopy submission. The submission of hardcopy and
uploading of softcopy must take place on or before 04.30 pm on the submission day.

Please log on to www.icbtsis.lk to upload your assignment.

For TURNITIN submission please log on to www.cardiffmet.ac.uk and submit

through the Moodle (For more information please check your MBA handbook).

 Uploaded softcopy should be named as MBA-(subject number) (followed by the

Cardiff met student ID.

E.g. for Delivering Successful Projects Assignment

MBA-7024 -2000000

 Students are expected to keep a backup of all the assignments. ICBT and Cardiff
Metropolitan University have all the right to re call for soft copy of any assignment
at any time during the course.

 Please note that plagiarism is treated as a serious offence and therefore the work
you produce must be individual and original although may work in groups in some
instances (Please refer to Student Handbook on Plagiarism & Cheating).

 All sources of information must be referenced using “Harvard referencing” where a

reference listing should be included at the end of the assignment.

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 Master of Business Administration

 Please note that the submission date given for this assignment is the final date that
you can upload the assignment. No late submissions are allowed by the system.
(Please refer to the Student Handbook on Assessments - Late Submissions).

 Please refer to Student Handbook on Assignments – Re-submission, mitigating

circumstances procedure.

 Please include the assignment coversheet in your answer. Please avoid copying
assignment question in your answer file.

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